Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, is reportedly in discussions to join the cast of Netflix's "The Gentlemen" for its third season, a move that experts suggest could represent a return to her acting career after years of pursuing various professional identities post-royal life.
While no deal has been finalized, reports indicate that talks are in their early stages for the Guy Ritchie-directed series. This potential return to scripted acting would follow a small cameo appearance in the 2025 comedy "Close Personal Friends." For years after stepping back from royal duties in 2020, Markle embarked on a path of reinvention, exploring roles as a producer, podcaster, lifestyle entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Experts note that a return to acting might underscore a perceived difficulty in establishing a lasting identity outside her initial career.
"If she returns now, it raises the obvious question — what happened to all those other identities she tried on after leaving royal life?" Kinsey Schofield, host of YouTube's "Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered," told Fox News Digital. Schofield listed "podcaster, producer, lifestyle entrepreneur, philanthropist, media mogul" as some of the roles Markle has pursued, adding that "returning to acting would suggest that the most viable professional identity Meghan has found may ultimately be the one she walked away from."
Doug Eldridge, founder of Achilles PR, echoed this sentiment, telling Fox News Digital that Markle's potential Hollywood comeback could highlight a challenge she has faced for years: finding a sustainable identity once the cameras stop rolling. "This has been the lingering problem for Meghan all these years: what is her identity?" Eldridge said. "She's ridden a carousel of career horses. Yet for all the rotations, nothing has seemingly stuck."
Markle's recent ventures have seen mixed results. Her Spotify podcast, "Archetypes," concluded after one season, and her planned Netflix animated series "Pearl" was scrapped. Her lifestyle brand, initially launched as American Riviera Orchard, underwent a relaunch and rebranding. Furthermore, her Netflix lifestyle series, "With Love, Meghan," was confirmed in March 2026 to continue as seasonal specials rather than a full third season.
Dan Wakeford, founder of Celebrity Intelligence, suggested that a return to acting might be a strategic move. "The most interesting path forward for Meghan, and several sources raised this unprompted to Celebrity Intelligence, is a return to acting would actually be a wise move," he said. "Find an extraordinary script the way Demi Moore did with 'The Substance' and do something that shocks people. Get away from this princess arc and go back to what you loved and what made you famous in the first place."
Markle began her acting career with minor roles before securing a regular role as Rachel Zane in the legal drama "Suits." She left the show in 2017 following her engagement to Prince Harry. Schofield noted that while acting has a clear foundation for her, the success of any return hinges on her ability to embody a character rather than drawing attention to herself. "The question is whether the spectacle surrounding Meghan ultimately serves the story or overwhelms it," Schofield commented. "The real test is whether anybody wants to see Meghan's character again once the novelty wears off."
Despite past statements, including a 2022 remark to Variety that she was "done" with acting, the possibility of her re-entering the industry has generated significant attention, reflecting her enduring public profile.
Meghan and Prince Harry plan to spend an extended period in the U.K. this autumn, with a spokesperson confirming their business operations will remain U.S.-based and they will retain their California home. People magazine reported that the potential acting project contributed to the decision to return to Britain.