Meghan Markle Reveals Struggles with Race and Auditions in Candid Podcast
Meghan Markle Spills the Tea on Her Tough Early Days in Hollywood
In a tell-all interview with entrepreneur Emma Grede on her Aspire podcast, Meghan Markle opened up about the struggles she faced as an actress of color in early days in Hollywood.
The Duchess of Sussex revealed that she was often rejected by directors and auditioned for roles that were "typically blond-haired, blue-eyed, and a certain look" - because of her mixed race heritage. The 41-year-old mother-of-two recalled how she would get plenty of auditions but was regularly told no, which took a toll on her self-esteem.
Meghan, who eventually rose to fame as Rachel Zane in US legal drama Suits, said: "When I was auditioning, you have to think at that time there were certainly not a lot of mixed race parts. If I was going in for an audition - you have to remember this was a very different time than it is now - it was Girl Next Door. That was typically blond-haired, blue-eyed and a certain look."
But Meghan's experiences didn't stop there. The former actress revealed that she would often be submitted for roles that required a specific ethnic look, simply because of her mixed race heritage. She said: "I'd be submitted for those roles and I also, to a lot of people in casting, they thought I was Latina. So I share that because, and I've shared this before, because it was a numbers game."
Meghan's candid confession comes as no surprise to fans who have heard her speak about the challenges she faced in Hollywood. In an earlier episode of Confessions of a Female Founder, she revealed: "I heard 'no' all the time, especially because I wasn't cookie cutter for a specific type. At the start of my auditioning career you were either the black girl or the while girl or the Latina girl. Everything was typecast, so being mixed I could get into a lot of rooms, that meant as a numbers game I heard 'no' even more."
Meghan's Journey to Self-Discovery
But Meghan's journey didn't stop at her early struggles in Hollywood. The Duchess also opened up about the self-doubt and imposter syndrome she experienced throughout her life. She said: "You can't have an imposter syndrome around. You have to be so authentically the role model and the example of confidence, self-forgiveness, kindness, fun - all of those things, you can't fake that."
Meghan's journey to self-discovery has been a long one, but she credits her motherhood with helping her find her true self. She said: "When you're so consumed with what everyone around you thinks of you, that can be a really hard way to live. But as a mom, I want to set an example for my children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, about how they think about themselves."
Meghan's Entrepreneurial Ventures
In the interview, Meghan also spoke about her entrepreneurial ventures since leaving the royal family. When asked whether she had any skills from her acting career that were transferable into the "new entrepreneurial world" she's in, Meghan replied: "Of course. I mean, again, having a thick skin - partnerships and the value of having great relationships when what you're building certainly lots of different SKUs (stock keeping units) is key."
Meghan also revealed that she learned the importance of "booking the room" during her acting days. She said: "A piece of advice I was given years ago as an auditioning actress was don't try to book the part, book the room. Meaning it doesn't matter if you don't get that role, you might not be right for it, you might remind the director of an ex-girlfriend that broke his heart."
Meghan's Take on Her Public Narrative
The Duchess's words echoed those of her dear friend, tennis champion Serena Williams, who once told her: "A lie can't live forever." Meghan recalled: "She told me years ago, a lie can't live forever. Eight years is a long time, but not forever."
The Full Interview
You can listen to the full interview on Aspire podcast, where Meghan dishes out more juicy gossip and opens up about her life as an actress, mother, and entrepreneur.
