Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has been advised to take control of her career commitments and make better decisions for herself moving forward, according to Mark Boardman, an entertainment expert and founder of MarkMeets Media. This advice comes as the Duchess's popularity has seen a significant dip in both the U.S. and the U.K. following a series of revelations against the royal family.
Markle, who played Rachel Zane for seven seasons in the legal series "Suits," has maintained a low profile despite the show breaking a new Nielsen streaming record as the most-watched TV show in a week after it was added to Netflix's library in June. Amid speculations of a reboot of the series, Boardman suggested that Markle could seize this opportunity to return to film or TV.
Boardman emphasized that Markle needs to make career choices that align with her family life if she wants to reignite her popularity and dwindling fanbase. He also noted that these decisions could lessen the strain on her marriage to Prince Harry, who is also at a crossroads in his career.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have faced criticism following their explosive Oprah interview in March 2021, the release of Markle's "Archetypes" podcast on Spotify in August 2022, and the "Harry & Meghan" Netflix series in December 2022. The most controversial project, however, was Prince Harry's memoir "Spare," which was released in January 2023 and contained intimate details about the royal family and their views on his relationship with Markle.
Following public backlash, the Sussexes underwent some staff changes at their non-profit organisation, Archewell Foundation. The departures of the head of content, Ben Browning, and head of marketing, Fara Taylor, signaled a shift in focus for the couple from "look back" projects to future-oriented ones.
Boardman acknowledged that the Sussexes' move to California was primarily for privacy. However, he pointed out that their proximity to Hollywood could provide Markle with ample opportunities to return to TV or film, allowing her to reestablish her identity as a Hollywood star in the U.S.
Regarding a potential "Suits" reboot, Boardman stated that the return of key cast members, including Markle's character Rachel Zane, could be crucial in recreating the magic of the original show. However, Markle has previously stated in an interview with Variety that she has no intention of returning to acting.
Despite this, Boardman believes that Markle will be closely monitoring any reports surrounding 'Suits' and may be considering other projects for 2024.
