Maya Jama, the presenter of the reality dating show Love Island, has secured a role in the upcoming second season of Guy Ritchie's Netflix series, The Gentlemen. The news follows reports that an offer for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, to appear in the third season of the same show had been withdrawn.
Jama, 32, described her role in The Gentlemen as a "safe entrance point" into acting, a long-held ambition. She auditioned for the series last year and was cast within two weeks. To prepare, she worked with a drama coach, stating her intention to avoid subpar performances. In the trailer for the second season, Jama is depicted as a gangster's moll, trading her usual glamorous attire for a tweed shooting outfit to play Aisha, the wife of a criminal associate of the series' lead character, Eddie Horniman, played by Theo James.
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Reports surfaced over the weekend that Meghan had been offered a part in the third season of The Gentlemen. However, royal author Tina Brown claimed the offer was subsequently withdrawn due to an intense backlash in Britain, making it untenable for the production to proceed. Brown suggested this development does not bode well for Meghan's acting comeback. In 2022, Meghan told Variety magazine that she had no plans to return to acting, although sources close to her had indicated advanced discussions for the third season of The Gentlemen.
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The second season of The Gentlemen is set to premiere on September 3. The trailer for the new season shows Theo James's Eddie aiming to regain full control of his estate by confronting Bobby Glass, played by Ray Winstone. The plot involves Eddie and Susie (Kaya Scodelario) working within Bobby's operation, with underlying ambitions to expand their criminal enterprise and potentially "decriminalize marijuana," as suggested by Bobby. Giancarlo Esposito also returns as a character who advises Eddie to forge his own path.
The series trailer also introduces Hugh Bonneville as Lord Hawthorne, alongside Jama's character. Bonneville and Jama are new additions to the second season.
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Meghan's potential return to acting had been cited by some sources as a reason for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's reported plans to move back to Britain with their children. However, commentators have suggested that any acting role for Meghan could present complications for the Royal Family. Baroness Wheatcroft commented on BBC Radio 4 that while Meghan might be a good actress and attract roles, she must be careful not to embarrass the royals in subsequent interviews.
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Before her marriage to Prince Harry, Meghan had a seven-season run as Rachel Zane in the drama Suits. She also has a minor cameo in the upcoming film Close Personal Friends. A role in Ritchie's The Gentlemen would have marked a more substantial acting return. Netflix and a spokesperson for the Duchess declined to comment on the reported withdrawal of the offer.
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Reports of Ritchie considering Meghan for a role were met with significant online criticism. Some viewers warned of boycotts and decreased ratings if she were cast. A source at Disney studios noted that Meghan is a polarizing choice and could alienate a large portion of the audience. Royal author Tina Brown believes that the intense backlash made it impossible for Ritchie to proceed. Meghan and Prince Harry's previous deal with Netflix, signed in 2020, was not renewed after 2023, despite their documentary Harry & Meghan being a popular initial release. Subsequent projects like the lifestyle show With Love, Meghan and Prince Harry's polo series reportedly did not achieve similar success.
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Despite challenges in mainstream television and streaming, a West End PR expert suggested that Meghan could find success in theater, noting that several West End managements had inquired about her potential to sell tickets.