How Meghan Markle went from a working actress to a royal to an executive producer for a new Netflix show

Erin McDowellAug 4, 2021, 21:56 IST

From a number of smaller acting roles and a breakout role on "Suits" to becoming a duchess and leaving the royal family, Meghan Markle's career has evolved greatly over the years.MICHELE SPATARI/Getty Images

Meghan Markle, who turns 40 on August 4, began working as an actress in the early 2000s.
When she married Prince Harry in 2018, she took her new role as a duchess seriously.
However, Markle has since relinquished her royal responsibilities and is working with Netflix as an executive producer.

1993: An 11-year-old Meghan Markle made her first TV appearance, speaking out against a "sexist" Procter & Gamble commercial for Ivory dishwasher soap.

Meghan Markle on a "Nick News" segment. Inside Edition/YouTube

1995: Before making it big as an actress, Markle worked at a frozen yogurt shop called Humphrey Yogart.

Joe Pugliese/Harpo Productions; Humphrey Yogart

2002: Markle landed her first official TV acting credit as Nurse Jill, a small role in "General Hospital."

Meghan Markle in "General Hospital." ABC

Throughout the early 2000s, Markle landed a number of one-time roles on shows like "CSI," "The League," and "Knight Rider," as well as a recurring role on "90210."

Meghan Markle in 2006. Billy Farrell/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

2005: Markle worked as a freelance calligrapher - she even did the wedding invitations for Paula Patton and Robin Thicke's 2005 nuptials.

Meghan Markle. WPA Pool/Getty Images

2007: Markle appeared as one of the briefcase girls on "Deal or No Deal."

Meghan Markle on "Deal or No Deal." NBCUniversal

2009: Markle starred in a 2009 Tostitos commercial.

Meghan Markle. Chris Jackson/Getty Images and Frito-Lay

2010: Markle acted alongside Robert Pattinson in "Remember Me" as a bartender.

Meghan Markle in "Remember Me." Warner Bros.

2011: Markle's life changed after earning her breakout role as Rachel Zane on "Suits."

Meghan Markle on "Suits" in 2017. Ian Watson/USA Network/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty Images

2014: Markle started a lifestyle blog called "The Tig," named after her favorite wine.

Meghan Markle cooking in the kitchen on an official royal engagement. CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

2016: Meghan Markle appeared as a guest judge on Food Network's "Chopped Junior."

Meghan Markle on "Chopped Junior." Food Network Australia

November 27, 2017: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced their engagement to the public, making the actress a duchess-to-be.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry after announcing their engagement. Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images

November 29, 2017: Immediately following the engagement announcement, it was officially confirmed that Markle would be exiting "Suits" after seven seasons.

Meghan Markle in her final episode of "Suits." Universal Cable Productions

May 19, 2018: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on their wedding day. Ben Stansall - WPA Pool/Getty Images

2018-2019: Markle and Prince Harry embarked on a number of royal appearances and charitable trips as part of the royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool/Getty Images

January 2020: The couple shared their decision to be "financially independent" and take a "step back" from the royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in January 2020. DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/WPA Pool/Getty Images

March 2020: Now living in Canada, Markle and Prince Harry returned to the UK for their final engagements as senior royals.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in March 2020. Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

September 2020: It was announced that Markle and Prince Harry, who had moved to California in July, had signed a landmark production deal with Netflix.

Netflix. Photo by Britta Pedersen/picture alliance via Getty Images

October 2020: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry founded Archewell Inc., which includes the couple's nonprofit charitable foundation and a media production company.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images

February 19, 2021: Buckingham Palace confirmed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would no longer work on behalf of the royal family.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend the Mountbatten Music Festival at Royal Albert Hall on March 7, 2020. SIMON DAWSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

May 17, 2021: Meghan Markle made a cameo in the official trailer for Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey's new docuseries about mental health, "The Me You Can't See."

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in the trailer for "The Me You Can’t See." Apple TV

June 8, 2021: Meghan Markle published her first children's book, "The Bench."

Meghan Markle and the cover of her book "The Bench." Facundo Arrizabalaga - Pool/Getty Images, Penguin Random House

July 14, 2021: It was announced that Meghan Markle will serve as an executive producer for the Netflix children's series "Pearl."

Meghan Markle. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

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