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The former director of the hit series Suits, which starred Meghan Markle as paralegal Rachel Zane for seven years, has shared an insight into what the Duchess is like on set

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Seven years after appearing on our screens as an actress, Meghan Markle is set to make a surprise return to acting, according to new reports this week.

Before her relationship with Prince Harry, the Duchess of Sussex was predominantly known for her work in front of the camera, with her role as paralegal Rachel Zane in the legal drama Suits, from 2011 to 2018, shooting her further into the spotlight.

After she started dating Harry in 2016, Meghan stepped away from acting to pursue a life as a royal – that was until they both sensationally stepped down as senior members in 2020 and moved to California. Sources now suggest she’s gearing up to return to her previous profession, reportedly joining the cast of Close Personal Friends alongside Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Brian Tyree Henry and Jack Quaid.

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Reports suggest Meghan will be appearing as herself in the Amazon MGM Studios production, which centres on two couples – one famous, the other not. An insider told The Sun: “This is a massive moment for Meghan and signifies a return to doing what she truly loves. She has been swamped with offers, but this one 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.”

They claimed that everyone connected to the project had been required to maintain strict confidentiality. Meanwhile, her husband, the Duke of Sussex, is reportedly fully behind his wife’s screen comeback and has been urging her to pursue “whatever brings her joy.”

It comes after Tim Matheson, who directed the first series of Suits, revealed just what the Duchess was like backstage. He told Fox News: “I never had to worry about a scene she was going to be in. I knew that she’d bring a performance that was just right.” And in response to Meghan’s decision to leave the acting world behind after meeting Harry, Tim said it “was a bold move on her part”.

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Earlier this year, Meghan confessed that she sometimes longed for her days in front of the camera. And while Harry remains incredibly supportive, he revealed that one particular scene involving Meghan has stayed with him. In his bombshell memoir, Spare, the Duke wrote: “I’d witnessed her and a cast mate mauling each other in some sort of office conference room. It would take electric shock therapy to get those images out of my head.”

Meghan has also been candid about her journey as an actress, acknowledging the struggles she faced early in her career. Despite attending numerous auditions, she faced repeated rejection from directors, which she says damaged her confidence. In an interview with Vanity Fair in October 2022, Meghan dropped a tantalising hint about potentially returning to acting. She told the publication: “I left Suits right after the 100th episode, in 2018. I didn’t think I’d ever be in the entertainment industry again. But the entire culture has changed; streamers have changed things.

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“The ability to create zeitgeist moments like we had in the ’90s – where everyone would tune in at the same time for a show or gather for one moment? – that doesn’t happen anymore. When I was doing Suits, that character, Rachel Zane, was in your living room with you while you were in your pyjamas eating Chinese takeout. That’s how connected the experience felt then. But to create a cultural moment or conversation requires something different today. Podcasting has been really interesting in that way. It might be one of the only remaining forums where people are alone to listen. Where else do you have that opportunity?”.

Modestep’s Josh Friend described his “weird” experience of touring with Lostprophets before disgraced paedophile frontman Ian Watkins was jailed. It comes after the singer was killed

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A musician who toured with Lostprophets has opened up about his “weird” experience working with disgraced singer Ian Watkins.

Josh Friend, whose band Modestep supported the Welsh rockers in 2011, was speaking after vile paedophile Watkins was killed in prison last month while serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences. Speaking to Andrew Gold in an interview broadcast on the Heretics YouTube channel, Josh said he found Ian’s behaviour odd, but assumed it was just the usual egocentric rockstar stuff.

According to Josh, the tour was unlike any he’s been on since, with a notable lack of camaraderie, and even a level of coldness from Watkins and his bandmates. Josh said: “I think they were struggling to sell tickets. This was in like 2011, and that was our peak, so we had just dropped a song that was on the A-list on BBC Radio 1 and it was clear we would be able to sell them a lot more tickets on the tour, so we were contacted.”

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The tour was a great chance for Modestep to boost their profile. But as the tour got under way, Josh noticed unusual behaviour from Ian. One thing in particular that struck him was Watkins’ self-isolation. He said: “Even from the first soundcheck, things were just a bit off. Since then, I’ve done a lot more touring and you always try to treat people like family and make it fun for everyone, but it was clear that there was tension in the air amongst everyone.” Oddly, Josh said Watkins was never present at soundchecks, leaving the rest of his band to prepare for the show.

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He also said the other Lostprophets members were “not friendly” and that there was a “weird atmosphere from the get go”. At the time he put the frostiness down to rivalry stemming from the headline act’s fears Modestep could upstage them. However, when Watkins’ depraved acts later came to light, he realised the band “probably had a lot more to deal with”. Quizzed further on Watkins’ behaviour, Josh said the singer was rarely seen with the rest of the group. Instead he was “chauffeured around by the tour manager”. Josh said he had just one interaction with Watkins over the course of the six-week tour.

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At some point in the tour, Josh said Watkins’ voice had to be added to a backing track, due to him not being able to sing. He said Watkins’ behaviour was erratic and “you could tell his mind was elsewhere”. Watkins, 48, died after being stabbed in the neck at HMP Wakefield, also known as Monster Mansion, last month.

Footballer Chloe Kelly stole the show at the Women of the Year awards as she stepped out in a sheer bejewelled gown… before swapping it for a comfy tracksuit

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Chloe Kelly was a knockout on the red carpet of the annual Women of the Year awards. The braless footballer stepped out in a sheer gown, but before the night was over, she’d swapped it for a comfy tracksuit.

The awards ceremony was held on the evening of the 6 November. Chloe, who wowed the nation with her stellar performance at the Euros, turned up in a gamourous bejewelled gown. The silver dress had a slit that almost reached her hip and a hood that sat neatly on the top of her head.

Choosing to go braless, Chloe made sure her dress had silver petals and pearl embellishments that were artfully placed to cover the nipples. She went for clear perplex heels with silver diamonds encrusted along the toe. Her hair was pulled into a slick ponytail.

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The footballer soon ditched the gown for a brown tracksuit though, opting to head home in comfort. She paired the tracksuit, which featured a zip-up jacket with a white stripe along the sleeves, with chunky white trainers and a green tote bag.

Chloe plays as a forward for Arsenal and the England national team, the Lionesses, in the Women’s Super League. In the final of the Euros this year, she came on as a substitute and provided a cross that led to Alessia Russo’s goal. The game went to penalties, and Chloe scored the penalty that secured England’s victory.

At the event, Chloe won Sportswoman of the Year. She later reflected on her career and the popularity of women’s football, which skyrocketed in recent years, especially after their success at the Euros this summer. She told The Independent: “We’re on the billboards, and we’re on the pitches in stadiums, and when we’re on TV, so the girls can see us whenever they want.”

This comes as other Lionnesses appear to be going to war with each other. Goalkeeper Mary Earps is set to release an autobiography that detailed her time with the team and made some comments about her teammate Hannah Hampton and manager Sarina Wiegman.

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In extracts from the book, Mary claimed that she told Sarina she was rewarding “bad behaviour” by recalling Hannah to the squad after previously dropping her for “disruptive and unreliable” behaviour.

This caused controversy and division amongst other footballers and managers, as Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor slammed the goalkeeper for her words. “With what I read in terms of the comments coming from Mary Earps, it’s not acceptable to not show respect to your team-mates or managers.”

Former striker Ellen White added that she felt “uneasy” and “nervous” because of the situation. “I feel like we almost have this unwritten oath when you’re in a team, that the togetherness and what happens in the dressing room, in training, and in your bubble, stays within the team and that environment,” added Ellen on the Women’s Football Weekly podcast.

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“Mary has gone into what she wanted to. What I would say is when Sarina came in, we built a culture, philosophy, togetherness, and that family-like feel so it felt unbreakable and beautiful at the same time. It just feels like that has been penetrated a little bit and that is quite hard to take.”

Chloe doesn’t appear to have commented on the situation between Mary and Hannah. And while it continues, she seems set to receive official honours, alongside her team, in the near future. Last month, Kier Starmer said “recognition is coming” for the Lionesses.