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Meghan Markle has become a client of the world famous talent agency, which represents a group of her best friends, including Serena Williams. As Newsweek has learned, this is a "significant" step in reclaiming its position at the center of the entertainment industry.
The news that Meghan has joined the all-star cast of WME (the former agency of William Morris) was confirmed by the conglomerate on Thursday after Variety ran a story that the duchess was "trying to do her best."
“We are honored to announce that WME now represents Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in all areas,” the organization said on Twitter. "The agency will focus on creating commercial projects in various areas of the agency and its wider ecosystem, including film and television production, brand partnerships and more."
Meghan retired from the entertainment industry after her engagement to Prince Harry in 2017, fulfilling her obligations to star in the legal drama Suits .
The future duchess said at the time that she felt ready to leave after completing 100 episodes of the show. "I checked that box and I'm very proud of what I did there and now it's time to join you [Harry] as you said," she said in an engagement interview.
The couple returned to the entertainment world in 2020 when they stepped down from their positions in the monarchy, citing problems with family members, the royal family and the British tabloids.
They claimed they wanted to be financially independent. This prompted them to take on media projects such as creating Archewell Productions and Archewell Audio, as well as producing content for streaming giants Netflix and Spotify.
In 2022, Meghan expressed her desire to expand the production side of her business, sparking particular interest in "romcoms". According to Mark Boardman, entertainment expert and founder of MarkMeets, signing with WME shows that the king is taking important steps towards his goal.
"The move shows Meghan is once again interested in pursuing new opportunities as WME is a leading talent agency with connections and experience in the entertainment industry that can help her achieve high-profile projects," Boardman told Newsweek .
“Secondly, being represented by one of the best agencies can increase your exposure and help you rebuild your brand in the industry.”
"It's important to remember that Meghan had a successful acting career before she got married," he said, "and signing with a talent agency is a logical step for anyone looking to continue or expand their career in the entertainment industry."
© Dan Kitwood/Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for a photograph at Westminster Abbey in London on March 9, 2020. The couple founded a production company after leaving the monarchy. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
While Meghan is on her way to major brand deals, producer opportunities and even a chance to relaunch her old lifestyle blog The Tig , there's no return to action on the horizon.
An article in Variety , detailing the signing with the agency, stated that "acting will not take center stage" and follows an interview in which Meghan said she "finished" her on-screen appearance in October 2022.
"I finished. You will probably never say never, but definitely not,” he said.
"It's not entirely clear what Meghan stands for," Boardman said, adding that the Duchess would be the "public face" of Harry and Meghan's power couple, at least as it's presented in the entertainment industry.
WME reported that only Meghan has joined the all-star list, not to mention Harry, who is equally involved in the couple's media ventures and is set to launch a new Netflix series, Heart of Invictus, this year.
“It’s not clear why Prince Harry was so bad at drawing,” Boardman said. “I hope he acts… maybe he did/will and that remains to be seen. Alternatively, you have chosen other career opportunities, or you simply don't want to be represented by the same agency as Meghan.
“Meghan will be the couple's public face when it comes to their recreational activities. Although the couple have previously stated that they would like to work together on various projects, it is likely that they will continue to work together in some capacity. Job."
Since leaving the royal family in 2020, Meghan's main outlet has been her solo podcast Archetypes , which explores the labels women have in today's society in 12 episodes that air from March to November 2022.
Although the season ended in November and won the People's Choice Award, a second series has yet to be announced.
Newsweek has reached out to Meghan Markle's representatives via email for comment.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek's royal correspondent in London. You can find him on Twitter at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on the Newsweek The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have any questions about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry or your family that you would like answered by our experienced royal correspondents? Email: royals@newsweek.com. We look forward to hearing from you.
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