Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle, known formally as Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, has built a multifaceted career that spans Hollywood acting, British royalty, and media entrepreneurship. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she is the daughter of Thomas Markle, a lighting director and director of photography, and Doria Ragland, a social worker and yoga instructor. Markle graduated from Northwestern University with a double major in theater and international relations, laying the groundwork for both her acting career and her later humanitarian work.

Markle worked steadily in Hollywood for over a decade, landing small roles in films and television shows before her breakthrough as Rachel Zane in the USA Network legal drama Suits, which ran from 2011 to 2018. Her portrayal of the sharp, stylish paralegal made her a recognizable face and earned her a comfortable income in Hollywood. During this period, she also ran a popular lifestyle blog called The Tig and served as a Global Ambassador for World Vision Canada.

Her life changed dramatically in 2016 when she began dating Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. They married on May 19, 2018, at Windsor Castle in a globally televised ceremony. Markle became a working member of the British Royal Family but the couple stepped back from their senior royal roles in January 2020, eventually relocating to Montecito, California. Their departure, and the subsequent interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021, became one of the most discussed media events in recent memory.

Following their departure from royal duties, Meghan and Harry signed major deals with Netflix and Spotify, collectively worth over $100 million. Their Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan became one of the platform’s most-watched documentaries. Meghan launched her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, in 2024, venturing into food products and homeware. Together with Harry, she continues philanthropic work through their Archewell Foundation. The couple has two children, Archie (born 2019) and Lilibet (born 2021).