Meghan Markle is opening up about the challenges she faced early in her acting career due to her biracial identity. In a candid interview on the Aspire podcast with entrepreneur Emma Grede, the Duchess of Sussex shared how difficult it was to land roles and how the industry’s narrow standards impacted her confidence.
Typecast and Overlooked: Meghan’s Audition Experience
Before achieving fame through her breakout role as Rachel Zane in the hit legal drama Suits (2011), Meghan revealed she went through countless auditions only to be rejected time and again. Despite being sent for roles described as “girl next door,” she said casting directors often favored actresses with blonde hair and blue eyes — a standard she didn’t fit, despite being half white.
“At that time, there were hardly any roles written for mixed-race women,” Meghan explained. “If I auditioned for something labeled as ‘girl next door,’ I was often overlooked because I didn’t have the traditional look they wanted.”
She added that when characters were written with ethnicity in mind, the roles usually carried a certain “edge,” further limiting her opportunities.
A Different Time in Hollywood
Meghan emphasized how different the casting landscape was before conversations around representation gained traction in Hollywood. “This was well before Suits,” she said. “The industry wasn’t as inclusive. If a role was written for someone ethnic, the character often had to be edgy or troubled—it was never just the girl next door.”
Her reflections struck a chord with podcast host Emma Grede, who expressed surprise at the lack of roles available for biracial actors. Meghan reiterated that the industry at the time had few nuanced opportunities for someone who didn’t fit a single racial category.
Climbing the Ladder in Hollywood
Before Suits brought her global recognition, Meghan appeared in a variety of television series and films. Her early acting credits include guest roles on CSI: Miami, Fringe, and appearances in movies like Get Him to the Greek, Remember Me, and Horrible Bosses.
Despite the struggles, Meghan’s persistence ultimately paid off. Her journey has since become a powerful story of resilience and breaking barriers in an industry that’s only recently begun embracing diversity in a meaningful way.
