Meghan Markle's Unfiltered Journey on 'Suits': From Unexpected Stardom to Extraordinary Success
Discover Meghan Markle's candid reflections on her time as Rachel Zane in the hit legal drama 'Suits' from 2011 to 2016 Gain insight into her journey, as she shares her thoughts on the incredible impact the show had on her life
Meghan Markle was a renowned actress in the United States before she embarked on a journey across the pond for love. Her notable accomplishment was securing a significant role in the popular legal drama series called Suits, which aired on the USA Network. The show, spanning from 2011 to 2020, took place in a fictitious law firm situated in New York City. It revolved around the character of Mike Ross (portrayed by Patrick J. Adams), utilizing his photographic memory to secure a position at the firm as he persuades lawyer Harvey Specter (played by Gabriel Macht), despite lacking a college degree.
Markle played the role of Rachel Zane, a driven paralegal and the daughter of a highly skilled lawyer in the city (played by Wendell Pierce). As the story progressed, she developed a romantic connection with Mike, portrayed by Adams. However, her character bid farewell to the series in 2018, marking the end of season 7.
In a 2017 interview with BBC, the series creator Aaron Korsh disclosed that he had already decided to write off Markle's character earlier as a precautionary measure, long before she made the final decision to relocate and marry Prince Harry, which occurred in May 2018.
We made the decision to prioritize Meghan's well-being and wished for positive experiences in her life. This would most likely involve her leaving the show. Therefore, we planned for that scenario, as it would be easier to reverse if necessary, rather than assuming she would stay indefinitely and then discovering she intended to leave. The only conceivable way to write a character out of the show in such a situation would be through a dramatic event, like being hit by a bus.
Please scroll down to read all of Markle's statements about her tenure on Suits throughout the years:
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Everything Meghan Markle Has Said About Her Time on ‘Suits’ Over the Years: ‘I Never Thought My Life Would Be That Awesome’
Before she crossed the pond for love, Meghan Markle was a successful actress in the states — landing her biggest role on the legal drama Suits.
The USA Network series, which aired from 2011 to 2020, was based in a fictional New York City law firm and centered around Mike Ross (played by Patrick J. Adams), a college dropout with a photographic memory who managed to secure a job with attorney Harvey Specter (played by Gabriel Macht) through his impressive communication skills.
Markle starred as Rachel Zane, an ambitious paralegal and the daughter of one of the city's top lawyers (portrayed by Wendell Pierce). Over time, her character developed a romantic relationship with Mike. However, she departed the series in 2018 at the end of season 7.
Series creator Aaron Korsh revealed in a 2017 BBC interview that he preemptively wrote Markle off the show before she ultimately decided to join her now-husband, Prince Harry, across the pond. Korsh explained that the decision was made in order to prioritize the positive experiences in Meghan's life, which likely meant her departure from the show. This strategic approach allowed for a more seamless exit, rather than having to abruptly write her character out through an extreme event like getting hit by a bus.
Scroll below to read everything Markle has said about her time on Suits over the years:
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2013
In 2013, the author of Bench expressed his view on Rachel, considering her to be a wonderful friend. According to him, when you have a deep connection to the character you portray, it becomes much easier. He confessed that he supports Rachel and feels like a fan.
Furthermore, Markle elaborated on why the relationship between her character and Adams' character was so successful. She revealed that prior to Suits, she worked on a pilot every year, including one with Patrick J. Adams, who portrays Mike Ross on the show, around six years ago. Markle described their characters as opposites - Adams' being rough-around-the-edges and hers being polished - which created a tension of whether they would ever end up together.
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July 2013
Expressing her gratitude, the California native enthusiastically shared with Esquire her sheer luck in being involved in the legal drama. "I consider myself incredibly fortunate as, as an actor, the majority of the time is dedicated to searching for employment opportunities," she effused.
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July 2013
Markle disclosed a strong bond with her fellow actors outside of the set. "I believe this camaraderie greatly contributes to the show's immense triumph. One can sense the genuine harmony both on and off the screen," she conveyed to Esquire during the interview.
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2015
Markle told Glamour UK that Suits “became my education of designers” over the years.
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February 2016
"In the show, you may catch a glimpse of me wearing luxurious $5,000 Tom Ford skirts, but my personal wardrobe at home does not consist of such extravagant pieces. It is important to me that I remain grounded and stay connected to the real world," Markle explained to Ebony when discussing the disparities between herself and Rachel.
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October 2016
After being told “no” for years, Markle revealed she was blessed to land her role on Suits.
“Suits isn't anything like what I had imagined. I never anticipated my life turning out to be so incredible!" she shared with Create & Cultivate founder Jaclyn Johnson during an Entertainment Tonight Q&A.
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November 2017
The actress from Horrible Bosses expressed her gratitude in an interview with the BBC after getting engaged to Harry. She mentioned that the cast and crew of the popular show on the USA Network felt incredibly lucky to have been part of a long-running series.
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November 2017
The star of A Lot Like Love discussed her decision to leave the series, stating, "I don't perceive it as sacrificing anything. I view it as a transition. It signifies a fresh beginning, doesn't it?" During a joint interview with BBC, she further added, "I have accomplished what I set out to do and have a great sense of pride in my contributions. Now, it's time for me to collaborate with [Harry] as a partnership."
