Meghan Markle hopes her lucrative deal with Netflix can win her an Oscar. A friend has revealed winning an Oscar is the Duchess of Sussex's big dream in Hollywood.
The friend told Daily Mirror that Markle used to practice her acceptance speech for the prestigious awards ceremony in Hollywood. But her absolute biggest dream is to actually land an EGOT - the grand slam of awards where one wins an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony in one year.
Markle and Prince Harry signed a production deal with Netflix to make documentaries, feature films and children's shows that would bring about change. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be working behind the cameras. They don't have any plans to be on-screen talent for films or TV.
There is speculation the couple got $150 million from the deal though the financial details weren't disclosed. Following the announcement, industry sources said the deal was likely not more than $2 million since Harry and Markle aren't going to be content creators.
Harry and Markle won't be writing scripts or developing stories but will be working as producers. The sources said that those getting the big bucks are the storytellers, such as Shonda Rhimes, Kenya Barris and Ryan Murphy, who all have above $100 million deals with the streaming platform.
However, former President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama also scored a Netflix production deal that was pegged as a multimillion contract. Under their production outfit, Higher Ground, the Obamas actually won their first Oscar for Best Documentary in 2020 for the film American Factory.
Sources said Harry and Markle are following the Obamas' post-White House career trajectory. Aside from their Netflix deal the couple also signed with the Harry Walker Agency. It's the same agency that handles the Obamas' speaking engagements.
Meanwhile, sources said Harry and Meghan didn't inform Queen Elizabeth of their production deal with Netflix. Her Majesty is apparently wary of royal family members embarking on projects like this because there might be blowback on the royal institution.
The Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and her ex-daughter-in-law, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, had production deals that eventually failed. Sources think Harry and Markle would go the same way - but then Queen Elizabeth knows her grandson can't be swayed.
