Meghan Markle 'Returns To Acting' After Business Flops

Meghan Markle has quietly returned to the screen, agreeing to a cameo in an Amazon MGM comedy and prompting fresh debate over whether her acting career is reopening.

The Duchess of Sussex was reportedly seen on set in Pasadena, California, on 05 November 2025 for the film Close Personal Friends, a comedy starring Lily Collins and Brie Larson, marking her first on-set acting appearance since leaving Suits ahead of her 2018 wedding. Insiders describe the cameo as small and low-pressure, and say Markle appeared relaxed and cordial with cast and crew.

Her participation comes amid years of high-profile media ventures that have moved her away from scripted drama and toward producing and lifestyle projects, a shift she framed publicly as intentional in earlier interviews. Yet the cameo has been framed by studios and outlets as a cautious re-entry rather than a full return to acting.

A Low-Key Comeback an a Star-Strewn Set

Close Personal Friends reunites an established creative team and a cast that includes Lily Collins, Brie Larson, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding, and is directed by Jason Orley from a script by Isaac Aptaker. Production began this autumn in London and Los Angeles, with additional casting announcements through October and principal photography continuing into November.

According to those on set, Markle's role is short and self-referential; she is listed to appear as 'herself,' which fits a strategy often used by public figures who wish to test the waters of a return while limiting exposure. Studio sources said the cameo felt 'right' to those involved and that confidentiality was emphasised around the creative choice.

For the production, a cameo by the Duchess adds headline value without the logistical complexity of a lead role. For Markle, it offers a collaborative, familiar environment: many who left full-time performing cite the camaraderie of crews and the focused, time-limited nature of cameos as attractive when balancing family life and other commitments.

Reconciling 'Done With Acting' With a Cameo

Markle's return has been juxtaposed with a clear earlier statement that she had stepped away from acting. In a high-profile interview with Variety in October 2022, she was asked whether she would consider acting again and replied: 'No. I'm done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not.' That comment signalled a pivot toward producing and philanthropic work, rather than a categorical refusal to appear on camera.

Industry commentators say cameos do not contradict such a stance. A short, self-contained part can be consistent with an expressed intent not to resume acting as a career while still allowing an intermittent return. Sources connected to the film described this particular opportunity as 'gentle' and appealing precisely because of its brevity and tone.

The nuance matters because it reframes public expectations: a cameo or small role is not the same as a career reactivation, but it is also a visible invitation to both fans and studios to imagine future possibilities. Whether Markle treats this as an isolated project or a stepping stone will be watched closely.

What This Means For Markle's Career Path

This cameo is best read as a cautious experiment rather than a definitive career volte-face. It shows how contemporary media careers are increasingly hybrid: a mix of producing, selective on-camera work, and brand ventures rather than exclusive allegiance to acting or to any single industry role.

If the cameo provokes positive on-set experiences and receives constructive reception, it could open the door to future selective appearances. If it underlines the reasons she stepped away, it may remain a singular moment.

Either way, the decision to accept a small, self-referential role reveals the controlled way public figures can now manage comebacks and conservative re-engagements with Hollywood life.