When it was revealed that Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were dating, people had a lot of question of course. One question that remained a little up in the air was "what is going to happen to her career?" Markle was a mainstay on the hit show Suits, and her acting career could only get bigger at the news of her royal romance.
However, and perhaps obviously, Markle put her acting career on hold and more or less retired from the business. Marrying into the royal family means a certain standard to be upheld, and being a Hollywood actress would get in the way of that. Markle hasn't really spoken much about her career, other than during her and Harry's initial engagement interview.
“I don’t see it as giving anything up. I just see it as a change,” she said at the time. “It’s a new chapter, right? And also, keep in mind, I’ve been working on [Suits] for seven years. We were very, very fortunate to have that sort of longevity on a series. I’ve ticked this box, and I feel very proud of the work I’ve done there, and now it’s time to work with [Harry] as a team.”
Since then, she's been mum (literally!) on the subject, although according to Lion King star Billy Eichner, Markle did make a joke about her career trajectory at the premiere of the movie. Eichner, who is gaining a lot of buzz for his work as Timon, had a lengthy conversation with Markle at the premiere and talked about it during his interview on Today with Hoda and Jenna.
“Meghan and I both went to college together — we were both theatre majors at Northwestern. We didn’t know each other when we were there, but we were there at the same time,” Eichner explained. “In the middle of this huge royal premiere you’re looking at, right there we’re having a very casual conversation about our acting teachers at Northwestern.”
According to Eichner, Markle congratulated him on his Hollywood career—he's appeared on TV and has his own show—and Eichner tried to return the favor.
“And she said, ‘Well, things took a little turn,’" Eichner recalled with a laugh. “She was lovely, and they were so cool and down to earth. You would never know that they’re royals.”
In another interview, Eichner said that meeting the royal couple involved a lot of prep work.
“We were all kind of nervous, even Beyoncé,” the Billy on the Street star explained. “What makes you nervous is that the days leading up to it, they email you a protocol of how you’re supposed to greet Prince Harry and Meghan. You’re supposed to say, ‘Your Royal Highness,’ you can’t speak until your hands are in a handshake with his.”
Even addressing Markle felt odd to him.
“Your Highness sounds a little weird and bowing feels weird,” Eichner recalled. “In my head, I’m like, ‘What do you call her?” I kept thinking she’s Princess Markle, but that sounds like a character on Super Mario Brothers. I completely freaked out."
Clearly Markle is right, her career has taken a turn, but I think if 10 years ago you had told her she wouldn't be acting anymore because she'd be married to a Prince and have a beautiful new baby...she'd be okay with it.