Aside from being the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle is known for playing Rachel Zane in Suits, but before landing the role, she had a difficult time searching for mixed-race parts in Hollywood. Markle’s acting career officially began in 2001 when she appeared in two episodes of General Hospital. She went on to have small roles in other TV shows (like CSI: NY, 90210, and Fringe). However, her breakthrough didn’t come until she was cast to play Rachel in Suits in 2011. Per Deadline, Markle characterized everything that came before the USA Network series as a “chapter of self-doubt.”
While speaking with Emma Grede on her Aspire podcast, Markle reflected on her time as an “auditioning actress” in Hollywood. The Duchess of Sussex has commented on her struggles in show business before, but she goes further into her experiences before joining the Suits cast during her interview with Grede. More specifically, Markle recounts her problems with trying to find mixed-race roles (she is half-black and half-white). Check out Markle’s full quote below.
“I was an auditioning actress — and this was well before Suits — [and] you have to think: at that time, there were certainly not a lot of mixed-race parts. If I was going in for an audition, it was either — you have to remember, this was a very different time than it is now — girl next door. That was typically blonde-haired, blue-eyed, and a certain look, but because I’m half-white, I would also be submitted for those roles. And then if it was a character that had any sort of ethnicity, there was always a bit of an edge to those characters, but I’d be submitted for those roles. And I also, to a lot of people in casting, they thought I was Latina.
That is a lot to chip away at your self-esteem. That is really hard. I went through my chapter of self-doubt as an auditioning actor and beyond that. When you’re so consumed by what everyone around you thinks of you, that can be a really hard way to live.”
Rachel Is An Iconic Character
Although Markle is known by many as a member of the Royal Family, she has also made her mark via her starring role as Rachel in the Suits cast. However, as Markle revealed, she had to work hard to find work that could suit (pun not intended) her identity. Markle’s hard work paid off, though, given the actress’s success with the USA Network legal drama. Her honesty regarding her struggles beforehand only adds to her reputation within the Suits universe.
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Rachel is one of the best characters in Suits. Her determined, headstrong attitude was inspiring to watch (as was her opposites attract romance with Mike Ross, of course). Similar to Markle, Rachel made a name for herself as she had something to prove, which often meant taking the path less traveled. Ultimately, no one can deny that Rachel had a significant impact on Suits and the other characters, and the same could be said for Markle. Despite the adversity she faced while working as an auditioning actress, Markle cemented her legacy in Suits and Hollywood as a whole.
Our Take On Markle’s Hardships In Hollywood
Markle’s Experience Is Sad Quite Common
It’s easy to acknowledge Markle’s legacy via her role as Rachel in the Suits franchise, but it’s also important to address the hardships she faced before landing the part. Unfortunately, Markle’s struggles weren’t all that unique, especially in the 2000s. There weren’t many mixed-race roles for her or other actresses of mixed race to audition for in the 2000s. Markle didn’t fit a certain “look” that many producers and casting directors wanted, and as a result, it took her some time before finding something that worked. Markle ultimately found Suits, allowing her to open up about her difficult experiences.
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Suits
7/10
Release Date
2011 – 2019
Network
USA Network
Showrunner
Aaron Korsh
Directors
Anton Cropper, Michael Smith, Christopher Misiano, Kevin Bray, Roger Kumble, Silver Tree, Cherie Nowlan, John Scott, Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Emile B. Levisetti, Félix Enríquez Alcalá, Valerie Weiss, James Whitmore Jr., Jennifer Getzinger, Kate Dennis, Terry McDonough, Maurice Marable, Adam Davidson, David Platt, Dennie Gordon, Gregor Jordan, Julian Holmes, Kate Woods
Writers
Aaron Korsh, Genevieve Sparling, Daniel Arkin, Ethan Drogin, Sharyn Rothstein, Jon Cowan, Erica Lipez, Justin Peacock, Nora Zuckerman, Lilla Zuckerman, Chris Downey, Garrett Schabb, Kristin Rusk Robinson, Sean Jablonski, Ian Deitchman, Paul Redford, Michael L. Kramer
Gabriel Macht
Harvey Specter
Sources: Deadline, Aspire