Meghan Markle Branded As 'Down-To Earth' On Set Of New Film, With Prince Harry 'Supportive' Of Her Return

Meghan Markle is confirmed to be making a significant return to the film industry, nearly eight years after leaving Hollywood.

The duchess will reportedly be appearing in the upcoming movie, "Close Personal Friends," alongside Lily Collins and Brie Larson.

Now, sources claim Meghan Markle was right at home on set as she looked "happy and relaxed," with Prince Harry fully supporting her acting return.

Meghan is reportedly in high spirits as she steps back into the acting world, nearly eight years after ditching Hollywood to join the British royal family.

The 44-year-old Duchess of Sussex is said to be playing a version of herself in the upcoming film "Close Personal Friends," written by "This Is Us" creator Isaac Aptaker and directed by Jason Orley.

Filming is currently underway in Pasadena, California, with co-stars Lily Collins, Brie Larson, and Jack Quaid also spotted on set.

According to a production insider who spoke to People Magazine, Meghan appeared "very relaxed" during filming.

"She has a small part. She seemed very relaxed and happy. She introduced herself to everyone and was very sweet and down-to-earth," the insider noted.

Another source revealed to The Sun that the project marks "a massive moment" for Meghan and "signifies a return to doing what she truly loves."

While she has received numerous offers since stepping back from royal duties, this one reportedly "just felt right."

"It is Meghan's way of gently putting her toe back in the water and seeing how she enjoys being back on set," the insider explained. "Everyone involved is super-excited, and has been sworn to secrecy about her involvement."

Prince Harry is said to be fully behind his wife's decision, with the source noting, "He's really supportive and quite simply wants Meghan to do whatever brings her joy."

Before joining the royal family and becoming the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan was best known for her breakout role as Rachel Zane in the hit legal drama "Suits" and appeared in films such as "Horrible Bosses," "Get Him to the Greek," and "Remember Me."

In past interviews, she's spoken candidly about her early struggles in Hollywood, explaining that while she went to countless auditions, repeated rejections often wore down her confidence and self-esteem.

Reflecting on her "Suits" breakthrough, Meghan once wrote in a 2015 blog post that the role "changed her life forever," recalling how her "cheeks still hurt from smiling" on the day she got the job.

However, as her romance with Harry blossomed and became public in late 2016, her future on "Suits" began to shift.

According to biographer Tom Bower's 2022 book "Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between the Windsors," showrunner Aaron Korsh had already planned to write Meghan's character, Rachel Zane, out of the series by the end of the 2017 season, both to refresh the storyline and to accommodate Meghan's transition into royal life.

Meghan eventually stepped away from acting after announcing her engagement to Harry. The couple went on to wed in a highly publicized royal ceremony in 2018.

During their joint engagement interview in 2017, Meghan opened up about her decision to leave Hollywood and move to the U.K., describing it not as a sacrifice but as a natural transition.

"I don't see it as giving anything up, I just see it as a change," she explained. "It's a new chapter."

She went on to note that after spending seven years on "Suits" and reaching the 100-episode milestone, she felt fulfilled with her work.

"I thought, you know what, I have ticked this box and I feel really proud of the work I've done there, and now it's time to, as you said, work as a team with you," the duchess said, referring to Harry.

In a 2022 interview with Variety for its Power of Women issue, Meghan was asked if she would ever consider returning to acting.

She replied, "I'm done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not."

At the time, however, Meghan had already begun re-engaging with on-screen storytelling through her and Prince Harry's Netflix docuseries "Harry & Meghan," directed by Liz Garbus.

Reflecting on the project, Meghan said she valued working with a director she deeply respected, even if the documentary presented their story through a different lens.

"It's nice to be able to trust someone with our story — a seasoned director whose work I've long admired — even if it means it may not be the way we would have told it," she shared. "But that's not why we're telling it."

She also noted how refreshing it was to be back in a creative environment, saying, "My husband has never worked in this industry before. For me, having worked on 'Suits,' it's so amazing to be around so much creative energy and to see how people work together and share their own points of view."