Just In: Suits’ Star Meghan Markle Was Unsure About Becoming an Actress Because of One Cliché About L.A. Girls….See More

Before Suits, Meghan Markle hesitated to pursue acting as she didn’t want to be the cliché L.A. girl yet, fate led her to Hollywood.

Before Meghan Markle became a household name as Rachel Zane on Suits, she was just another ambitious college student trying to figure out her place in the world. But acting wasn’t always the obvious choice for her.

In fact, it was almost an afterthought. Instead of immediately heading to auditions after high school, Markle took a different approach, one that led her to politics, diplomacy, and even a stint at the U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires.

Her story isn’t one of overnight success, but rather of calculated risks, unexpected opportunities, and a little bit of fate. Let’s dive into how this L.A. native went from international relations student to television star.

Meghan Markle always had big dreams, but those dreams didn’t initially include Hollywood. As a student at Northwestern University, she was passionate about theater but equally fascinated by global affairs.

Her love for politics led her to double-major in theater and international relations, a mix that seems unusual but, perfectly suited to her future as both an actress and a public figure. In an interview with MarieClaire.com, she said,

I had always been the theater nerd at Northwestern University. I knew I wanted to do acting, but I hated the idea of being this cliché—a girl from L.A. who decides to be an actress. I wanted more than that, and I had always loved politics, so I ended up changing my major completely, and double-majoring in theater and international relations.

By her junior year, Markle had completed most of her credits and decided to apply for an internship at the U.S. Embassy and soon found herself in Buenos Aires, working amid Argentina’s economic crisis. At just 20 years old, she was rubbing shoulders with top officials, even participating in a motorcade with then-Secretary of the Treasury Paul O’Neill.

For a moment, Markle was convinced her future lay in politics. She saw herself taking a serious path, maybe even ending up in an office in Washington, D.C. However, fate had other plans for her, which may end up with her being the next Oprah.

After returning home to Los Angeles for Christmas, Meghan Markle met a college friend who introduced her to a talent manager. Unlike the long and winding road many aspiring actors take, hers was a surprisingly quick detour into success. The manager watched a student film she had been in and immediately saw potential. According to Markle,

He saw a student film that I had done and said, ‘You know what, you’re going to make money, and I’ll take 10 percent, and I think you should stick around.’ I was really spoiled because I booked my first audition right away, so it’s the biggest tease because you think, ‘Oh, this is easy.’ All things considered, I’m so grateful and fortunate that I have a show now that’s doing well, but it’s not easy. It was definitely a struggle.

Of course, the entertainment industry is never that simple. While her early success was thrilling, Markle quickly learned that booking roles consistently was a challenge.

She juggled small parts, and auditions, and eventually, her perseverance paid off. In 2011 even though Markle claims she whiffed her audition, she landed the role that would define her acting career, paralegal Rachel Zane on Suits.

The rest is history. Markle’s journey to stardom may not have been the traditional Hollywood tale, but that’s exactly what makes her story so fascinating. From motorcades to auditions, she embraced every twist and turn along the way, proving that sometimes the best paths are the ones you never planned for.