Before she became a duchess and later a "financially independent" duchess, Meghan Markle was an actress.
Pre-royal wedding, Meghan was best known for her role as Rachel Zane on legal drama Suits but her acting career had much humbler beginnings.
Meghan's IMDb documents all her one-off appearances, nonspeaking roles and blink-and-you'll-miss-her cameos, but the Duchess of Sussex successfully evolved from a Deal or No Deal briefcase model – which makes headlines every year thanks to resurfaced images of her in a Santa outfit – to the lead in two Hallmark movies, and a crucial cast mate of Harvey Spector.
Here's a look back at Meghan's acting career, from the beginning to the end.
Tori Amos music video.
In 1999, Meghan made her music video debut as an extra in Tori Amos’ video for 1000 Oceans.
Meghan is visible at 0.37 and 0.57 seconds. She earned $600 for two days of shooting.
She later auditioned for a Shakira music video too, but didn't get a call back.
General Hospital.
Meghan stared as Nurse Jill in a 2002 episode General Hospital, the show where her parents met while her mother Doria was a makeup artist and her father Thomas was the show's lighting director.
She had a few lines and appeared in the background of other scenes.
Century City.
Century City was a sci-fi legal drama set in the year 2030. Only five episodes aired in 2004 before the show was cancelled, but Meghan appeared alongside future Oscar and Emmy winner Viola Davis.
A Lot Like Love.
Meghan had a blink-and-you'll-miss-it role in this 2005 Ashton Kutcher rom-com. Her character, known only as 'Hot Girl', sits next to Ashton on a plane.
Love, Inc.
Meghan appeared in an episode of this short-lived TV show in 2005 as a subway station worker.
The War At Home.
In 2006 Meghan guest starred on The War at Home as Susan, who the main character Dave had a crush on.
CSI: NY.
Meghan appeared in a 2006 episode of CSI: NY as Veronica Perez, a character who cleaned the homes of businessmen in lingerie.
Deal or No Deal.
In 2007 Meghan appeared as the holder of a case on four episodes of Deal or No Deal.
Feigning excitement over $5? Some of the best acting of her career.
She was also featured in a Christmas episode, which is why, every December images like this resurface:
90210.
Roughly 10 years before she would walk down the aisle to marry Prince Harry and become the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle had a role in the 2008 90210 reboot.
You might not remember her face or her character (who is officially listed on her IMDB page as ‘Wendy’), but many people will remember the scene because it was a bit... risqué .
In the scene, it's Annie Wilson's (Shenae Grimes) first day of school and she suddenly sees her old friend and crush Ethan Ward (Dustin Milligan) sitting in his car. Annie waves hello, and Ethan looks slightly panicked. It's then you see the face of a 26-year-old Meghan Markle rise from Ethan's lap, and look at Annie with a confused expression.
...Yeah.
Fringe.
In 2009 Meghan appeared as junior FBI agent Amy Jessup in the second series of J.J Abrams' sci-fi series Fringe.
Originally believed to be a new secondary character, the show's writers went in a different direction and Meghan's character did not return after just two episodes.
The League.
Playing a character also named Meghan in a 2009 episode of The League, Meghan flirts with the main character.
CSI Miami.
Four years after her CSI: NY appearance, Meghan had a guest spot as Officer Leah Montoya on the Miami series. Her character runs into a burning building to save a child, but the building collapes and she gets stuck inside and is rescued by paramedics.
Remember Me.
In 2010 Meghan had a small role in this Robert Pattinson movie, as a bartender named Megan.
Horrible Bosses.
Just before Suits debuted in 2011, Meghan played a FedEx worker named Jamie who flirts with Jason Sudeikis in Horrible Bosses.
In the scene, he asks if they are on a hidden-camera show because Markle is "too cute to just be a FedEx girl."
Suits.
Meghan's breakout role came in 2011 as paralegal Rachel Zane on Suits. Appearing in 108 episodes from 2011-2018, Meghan's character married Mike (Patrick J. Adams) in the season seven finale.
She departed the show in 2018 to focus on her wedding and new royal life.
Dysfunctional Friends.
Meghan appeared as a photographer named Terry in this movie. She tells off a male model during a photoshoot, saying "This is not porn - this is for the Sunday paper."
Clips from the movie have vanished from the internet, but you can see her at 1.38 in the above trailer.
Castle.
Meghan appears in a 2012 episode of Castle where victims of a serial killer are found dressed as fairytale characters. She is found asleep, dressed as Sleeping Beauty.
Then in a plot twist... *spoiler alert* she is discovered to be the killer, who silences friends who know a secret about her past.
Random Encounters.
Meghan stars in 2013 movie Random Encounters, about a couple who have a chance encounter that develops into romance, but they must fight for their relationship to survive the craziness that is show business.
The film made headlines in 2018 just before Meghan's wedding to Prince Harry, as it features a few... risquè scenes including one where she undresses another character.
When Sparks Fly.
Ah, Hallmark movies.
In 2014's When Sparks Fly, Meghan plays a journalist who goes back to her hometown for a story and ends up reconnecting with her ex.
Anti-Social.
Meghan's final film appearance was in 2015 thriller Anti-Social. She stars as a model and the devoted girlfriend of Gregg Sulkin's character, who ends up tangled in his questionable activities.
Dater's Handbook.
Meghan's second Hallmark movie, and her final acting credit excluding her final few seasons of Suits, was Dater's Handbook. She plays a woman who changes herself to fit the rules of a dating guidebook, as part of her quest to find a husband.
Little did she know...
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This article was originally published on January 22, 2020 and has been updated.
Feature images: YouTube.
Top Comments
Other than suits, she’s a bit player. Hence why now she wanted to use her title to get better roles.
You missed one. She was also in an early 2000's episode of without a trace as the friend/love interest of a guy who keeps changing identities and goes missing.