Royal carpet to red carpet: Meghan Markle returns to Hollywood with a cameo in Amazon’s new comedy

Meghan Markle is set to appear on screen once again, marking her first acting role in more than seven years. The Duchess of Sussex will make a cameo in the upcoming Amazon MGM comedy film Close Personal Friends, which is currently being filmed in Los Angeles.

The film stars Lily Collins, Jack Quaid, Brie Larson, and Henry Golding, and is directed by Jason Orley from a screenplay by Isaac Aptaker, based on a story co-developed by Aptaker and Orley. The project is produced by Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, who previously worked with Orley on Amazon MGM’s romantic comedy I Want You Back.Close Personal Friends reportedly centres on a regular couple who meet a celebrity couple while on a trip to Santa Barbara.

The two pairs quickly form a friendship, but as the relationship deepens, personal boundaries begin to blur, leading to awkward and comedic situations. The cast also includes former Saturday Night Live performer Melissa Villaseñor, along with Natasia Demetriou, Anna Konkle, Patti Harrison, Jack Shalloo and Dustin Demri-Burns.

Meghan Markle’s return to acting

Before marrying Prince Harry in 2018, Meghan Markle was best known for her role as paralegal Rachel Zane in the legal drama Suits, in which she appeared for seven seasons.

She also held supporting roles in films such as Horrible Bosses and Remember Me. After her marriage and transition into royal duties, Markle stepped away from acting.In 2020, she and Prince Harry stepped back from senior royal roles and moved to California. Since then, the couple has focused on media projects through their company Archewell Productions, which holds a first-look deal with Netflix. Through this partnership, Markle has executive produced documentary series including Polo, Live to Lead and her lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, which released its second season in 2025.Markle’s part in Close Personal Friends is described as a cameo, indicating a selective and deliberate step back onto the screen rather than a full acting comeback. The film does not yet have a confirmed release date, but her involvement marks a notable moment in her post-royal public life.Whether this appearance leads to further acting roles has not been announced. It does indicate that Markle remains open to on-screen creative work alongside her ongoing production, philanthropic, and media endeavours.