There’s an old saying in Hollywood that you’re only as good as your last hit.
When Meghan Markle made her triumphant return to the red carpet at the prestigious Power Of Women Gala last week alongside stars like Margot Robbie, Carey Mulligan and Leo DiCaprio, the significance was lost on no one.
It’s been almost a year since the Sussexes’ company, Archewell Productions, released the controversial six-part series “Harry & Meghan” on Netflix.
The show covered their relationship from courtship to exit as senior royals and remains Netflix’s highest-rated documentary debut.
But a year is a lifetime in Hollywood.
Since that show, Archewell has struggled to find a follow-up hit. A series about world leaders, Live To Lead, was a ratings flop. A show about Harry’s “passion project”, the Invictus Games – titled Heart Of Invictus – was deemed “worthy but boring” by critics.
Meghan’s animated children’s series Pearl was canceled, and then the couple’s $20 million podcast deal with Spotify was infamously canceled, with an executive branding the couple “gribbers.”
This all made Meghan’s “surprise” appearance at Thursday’s powerhouse dinner all the more meaningful. The Duchess, 42, beamed as she shared how “thrilled” she was to be back home in LA, adding: “We have so many exciting things coming up.” I can’t wait until we do can announce them, but I’m just very proud of what we’re doing. “My husband loves it too, which is really fun.”
In a city where image is everything, Meghan’s solo appearance – casually elegant in a £1,250 one-shoulder Proenza Schouler dress – is the start of what the MoS has been told is a “strategic effort” to make her one again important player in her life to make her own law.
It’s been almost a year since the Sussexes’ company, Archewell Productions, released the controversial six-part series “Harry & Meghan” on Netflix. But a year is a lifetime in Hollywood
When Meghan Markle made her triumphant return to the red carpet at the prestigious Power Of Women gala last week, the significance was lost on no one
Some believe it’s a calculated attempt to quell persistent rumors that Netflix plans to “quietly” let its $100 million contract with the Sussexes expire when their contract ends in 2025 – which is the death knell could mean for their Hollywood ambitions.
Eric Schiffer, who runs one of Hollywood’s leading crisis management firms, said: “It’s clearly time for a relaunch of the Sussex brand, and Meghan’s solo appearance speaks volumes about the direction they’re heading in.”
“Last year wasn’t great for her. For studio executives, it doesn’t matter if you’re a duchess or a bouncer, it’s the bottom line that matters, and Archewell desperately needs a hit.
“When the Sussexes first arrived in the States there was great sympathy, but they squandered that goodwill.” Americans don’t like whiners. We like a can-do attitude, and Meghan proved that last week. She walked the red carpet like the pro she is and she worked the room.
“I believe this is about positioning her as an independent, powerful woman who exists in her own right, rather than just someone famous for marrying a prince.”
Schiffer believes Meghan’s performance was “staged down to the smallest detail,” adding: “Professionally, she seems to be abandoning Harry and going it alone.”
In fact, from the moment Meghan arrived at the event at LA’s Mother Wolf – a celebrity hangout frequented by the likes of Beyoncé and Madonna – her every move seemed to be carefully choreographed.
She was photographed with two of the most powerful women in Hollywood: Janet Yang, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the organization behind the Oscars) and Pearlena Igbokwe, who runs Universal Studios.
Meghan sat at a table in the middle of the room, near Leo DiCaprio, and sat next to her “super agent” Brad Slater, who also looks after actor Ben Affleck’s career.
Aside from Meghan, media coverage of the event, which kicks off Hollywood’s awards season, focused on the Oscar favorites. The Duchess, who had nothing in particular to promote other than her brand, was not on the official guest list.
For Hollywood, however, the $64,000 question is: What will the Sussexes do next?
“The truth is that a lot of people think the couple screwed up,” an executive at a major Hollywood studio told me. “In Hollywood, Harry is seen as someone stuck in the past and consumed by resentment. Meghan is still capable of attracting a lot of attention, but the challenge for her now is converting that attention into cash.
Meghan’s animated children’s series Pearl was canceled, and then the couple’s $20 million podcast deal with Spotify was infamously canceled, with an executive branding the couple “gribbers.”
The Sussexes have been pilloried for their apparent hypocrisy in taking private jets while preaching ecotourism
In a city where image is everything, Meghan’s solo appearance is the start of what the MoS has described as a “strategic effort” to make her a power player in her own right again
“It’s very telling that the only major success they had was destroying Harry’s family, as they did in the Oprah interview, in the Netflix series and in Harry’s book.” When they came to LA, There was a lot of excitement, but now the question is: What else do they have to sell?”
Such a critical analysis may be fair, but it ignores the fact that there is still a tremendous amount of glare surrounding the couple. However, they are not spared the bitchy comments that are part of Hollywood’s lifeblood.
It’s very telling that her only major success is destroying Harry’s family
The Sussexes have been pilloried for their apparent hypocrisy for using private jets while preaching ecotourism and for demanding privacy in interviews while seemingly violating their privacy – and that of the royal family.
An episode of the TV series “South Park” makes fun of the Sussexes and shows them on their “Worldwide Privacy Tour.”
The animated sitcom “Family Guy” mocked the couple’s $100 million Netflix deal and showed Harry and Meghan on sun loungers outside their $14.5 million Montecito mansion. In the episode, a butler hands the prince his mail with the words: “Sir, your millions from Netflix for…no one knows what.”
So it’s no surprise that Meghan announced what she called “upcoming projects” on Thursday evening.
But what exactly are these “exciting things”? The world is none the wiser than last year when she told online magazine The Cut that she was returning to Instagram and was “ready for her next gig.”
Some claim from Team Sussex that there have been leaks suggesting Meghan is close to major endorsement deals with companies like Dior and Chanel – but none have materialized so far.
Meanwhile, the Duchess posted a five-star review on the website of online coffee brand Clevr Blends, in which she invested in 2020.
Under a photo of Meghan with CEO Hannah Mendoza, the Duchess wrote of the powdered latte drinks: “One of my favorite ways to start and end each day.” The recommendation appeared under a Black Friday discount offer. The drink promotion is a far cry from Meghan’s political ambitions, which appear to have stalled.
When she and Harry moved to LA in 2020, they had a meeting with California Governor Gavin Newsom, a potential Democratic candidate for next year’s US presidential election, where Meghan expressed her desire to become more politically involved.
The couple were also courted by the Kennedy family, who gave them an award for their work to “combat institutionalized racism” within the royals.
Meghan’s friend, veteran feminist Gloria Steinem, has said privately that the former “Suits” actress has a “brilliant” understanding of politics and is encouraging her to campaign in support of the Democratic Party next year. A major Democratic donor said: “I wouldn’t dismiss Meghan’s political ambitions, but she is very focused on her producing career at the moment.”
The Sussexes have been viewing properties in the LA area as they want to have a base close to Hollywood studios
The Duchess has reportedly lost 15 pounds in recent months and is enjoying life in Montecito, where she regularly drives her son Archie to school
Others are more positive. For her, Meghan’s red carpet foray reinforces the fact that she’s doing well in her home state of California, where she grew up
Meghan is currently producing Archewell Productions’ adaptation of Carley Fortune’s bestselling novel Meet Me At The Lake for Netflix. Although it is still in the early stages, Meghan is said to have been “actively involved” in all aspects of the project, from budget to casting.
Kinsey Schofield, an LA-based royal podcaster, believes Meghan missed a golden opportunity to announce the next step in her career last week. “Meghan has always chased the limelight, which Harry resents.” She wants to be a Hollywood power player.
“It seemed strange to her that she wasn’t using the gala to promote something important. This made her appearance seem like another frivolous photo op.”
Others are more positive. For her, Meghan’s red carpet foray reinforces the fact that she’s doing well in her home state of California, where she grew up.
Her father, Thomas Markle, an Emmy-winning lighting director, said: “It doesn’t surprise me that she’s gone back to something she knows.” She hasn’t been very successful in other ventures, so she now relies on her Hollywood credits. Knowledge to save your money.”
The Duchess has reportedly lost 15 pounds in recent months and is enjoying life in Montecito, where she regularly drives her son Archie to school and has been photographed taking her daughter Lilibet trick-or-treating on Halloween. Longtime friends like Suits co-star Abigail Spencer are regular visitors, as is her mother Doria.
The Sussexes have been viewing properties in the LA area as they want to have a base close to Hollywood studios. And there are rumors that they would like to have a third child, although Harry previously said that they would not have more than two children in order to save the planet from overpopulation.
In 2019, Meghan famously told ITV’s Tom Bradby: “Just surviving something isn’t enough, is it?” That’s not the meaning of life. You must thrive. “You have to feel happy.”
Hollywood entrepreneur Schiffer said: “Meghan has a plan.” Whatever you think of her, you have to admit that she looks great. She’s clearly fine.
“But maybe it’s time someone asked Harry if he’s okay too.”