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Meghan Markle is back on set!
On Nov. 5, the Duchess of Sussex, 44, was spotted on the set of the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios film Close Personal Friends in Pasadena, California, where she will play herself. The movie stars Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding. The Sun was first to report the news.
“Meghan was on the set today,” an insider tells PEOPLE. “She has a small part. She seemed very relaxed and happy. She introduced herself to everyone and was very sweet and down-to-earth.”
PEOPLE has reached out to a spokesperson for the Duchess of Sussex for comment.
The role marks Meghan’s first return to acting since royal life. She left her role on Suits eight years ago, after announcing her engagement to Prince Harry.
A studio source 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,” the source said. “Everyone involved is super-excited, and have been sworn to secrecy about her involvement.”
The Duke of Sussex is also reportedly on board.
“Prince Harry is, of course, really supportive and quite simply wants Meghan to do whatever brings her joy,” the source said.
News of the movie was announced in August, with the names of Larson, Collins, Quaid and Golding all attached. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the comedy will follow a couple who befriend a famous couple during a trip to Santa Barbara — creating another connection to Meghan.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to the Santa Barbara enclave of Montecito in 2020 after stepping back from their royal roles in the U.K. in 2020. They continue to live in the community with their children, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.
John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock
Harry and Meghan first met in 2016 when the future Duchess of Sussex starred on Suits during the show’s original run on USA Network. She later stepped back from acting after they announced their engagement. They tied the knot in a royal wedding in 2018.
Joe Scarnici/MLB Photos/Getty
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In her 2017 engagement interview alongside Harry, Meghan spoke about stepping back from acting to move to the U.K. to be with him.
“I don’t see it as giving anything up, I just see it as a change,” she said then.
“It’s a new chapter. Right. And also keep in mind I’ve been working on my show for seven years. So we’re very very fortunate to be able to have that sort of longevity on a series and for me, once we hit the 100-episode marker I thought, you know what, I have ticked this box and I feel really proud of the work I’ve done there and now it’s time to, as you said, work as a team with you,” she said, referring to Harry.
