Seven years after stepping away from acting, Meghan Markle is officially heading back to the big screen. Variety confirms the Duchess of Sussex has a cameo in Amazon’s upcoming ensemble comedy Close Personal Friends, which is currently filming in Los Angeles.
The film boasts a starry cast led by Lily Collins, Jack Quaid, Brie Larson, and Henry Golding, with an eclectic supporting lineup that includes Melissa Villaseñor, Natasia Demetriou, Anna Konkle, Patti Harrison, Jack Shalloo, and Dustin Demri-Burns. While Markle’s role remains under wraps, her appearance marks her first on-camera performance since leaving Suits in 2018.
What Close Personal Friends Is About
Close Personal Friends centers on a “regular” couple who cross paths with a celebrity couple during a getaway to Santa Barbara. The foursome quickly hit it off, but as the vacation vibe turns into real-world connection, boundaries blur and tensions rise. The setup promises a sharp, modern comedy of manners about fame, parasocial dynamics, and the awkward etiquette of new adult friendships.
The movie is directed by Jason Orley, whose grounded, character-first comedies include Big Time Adolescence and I Want You Back. The screenplay is by Isaac Aptaker, based on a story he developed with Orley. Aptaker and frequent creative partner Elizabeth Berger are producing, a pairing known for deftly balancing heart and humor across projects such as This Is Us and Love, Simon.
With production underway in Los Angeles, the project is shaping up as an actor-friendly playground: a conversational, situational comedy anchored by a mix of A-listers and comedic scene-stealers. Markle’s cameo fits squarely into that design, adding a burst of star power without giving away any narrative surprises.
The Creative Team Behind The Comedy
Orley’s knack for smart, observational storytelling should pair well with Aptaker and Berger’s proven instincts for relationship-driven comedy. That trio’s collective track record suggests Close Personal Friends will aim for more than broad laughs, mining the humor that surfaces when ordinary lives brush up against celebrity culture.
It’s also a canny showcase for the cast. Collins (Emily in Paris), Quaid (The Boys), Larson (Captain Marvel), and Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) each bring distinct comic sensibilities, while Villaseñor, Demetriou, Konkle, and Harrison are reliable laugh generators capable of spinning memorable moments from even brief appearances. In a film about clashing worlds and shifting boundaries, that blend of charisma and comedic precision is the whole point.
Meghan Markle’s Screen Career, Then And Now
Before she married Prince Harry in 2018 and stepped away from acting, Markle spent seven seasons on USA Network’s legal dramedy Suits as paralegal-turned-lawyer Rachel Zane (2011–2018). The role anchored her TV career and later helped power the series’ massive streaming resurgence, introducing Suits to a new wave of viewers.
Her feature credits include Remember Me (2010), Horrible Bosses (2011), Dysfunctional Friends (2012), and Anti-Social (2015). On television, she appeared in 90210, Fringe, CSI: Miami, and Castle. At the time of her Suits exit, Markle framed the transition as a natural evolution. “It’s a new chapter, right?” she told Page Six about leaving the series. “I’ve ticked this box, and I feel very proud of the work I’ve done there, and now it’s time to work with [Harry] as a team.”
Even after stepping away from on-camera roles, Markle stayed active in entertainment through Archewell Productions, the company she founded with Prince Harry. Under a first-look deal with Netflix, she has executive produced nonfiction projects including the leadership-focused docuseries Live to Lead. Earlier this year, Markle also launched a lifestyle series, With Love, Meghan, on the streamer, continuing to build her producing portfolio.
Why This Cameo Matters
Markle’s appearance in Close Personal Friends is a measured return—strategic, splashy, and low-pressure. A cameo allows her to re-enter the industry on her own terms, without the heavy lifting of carrying a movie or series regular role, while still engaging with a buzzy creative team and a top-tier ensemble.
It also dovetails with the kind of contemporary, relationship-driven projects that defined her pre-royal résumé. In a comedy about fame-adjacent awkwardness, Markle’s presence carries a naturally meta charge, but the film’s high-concept premise and densely packed cast suggest the focus will remain squarely on the story—not on winking at real-life headlines.
For Amazon, Close Personal Friends slots neatly into a slate that often leans into star-forward comedies with filmmaker voices, while for Markle, it signals a deliberate broadening of her entertainment footprint beyond producing. Whether this is a one-off or the beginning of a more sustained on-screen return, it’s a notable moment that brings her back to the medium where she first broke through.
Close Personal Friends is currently in production in Los Angeles. Additional details, including Markle’s character and a release window, are being kept under wraps. Expect more updates once Amazon sets a date and the studio starts rolling out first-look materials and a trailer.
