Working as a Calligrapher
Meghan’s secret talent for calligraphy is one of the most surprising things about her. She’s was so good at it that she even earned some rent money using her creative skill. She told Esquire magazine: “I used to do it for Dolce & Gabbana’s celebrity correspondence over the holidays. I would sit there with a little white tube sock on my hand so no hand oils got on the card, trying to pay my bills while auditioning.”
Meghan continued: “I’m glad that in the land of no one seeming to appreciate a handwritten note anymore that I can try to keep that alive.” She picked up the hobby in Catholic school, where she “always had a propensity for getting the cursive down pretty well.” And luckily for her, the likes of Robin Thicke and Paula Patton paid her well for wedding invitations.
Enjoying Single Life
Meghan’s schedule certainly looked pretty busy, but the reality was she enjoyed a fairly laid-back lifestyle. She would post countless images of her relaxing at the beach in between the times when she was shooting for Suits. Life for Meghan was all about having fun times.
As we can see from this photo, her dogs would often come along for the ride. Working as a reoccurring character on the USA Network legal drama afforded her a cushioned lifestyle and not a lot of work hours. And that suited a newly-single Meghan just fine.
Fairy Godmother Duties
In one Instagram photo, Meghan showed her followers what a night in was like while on godmother duty. She’s snuggled in bed with her “fairy goddaughter” Rylan, eating dinner off of a portable tray. Fashion enthusiast and lawyer Benita Litt is a close friend and mother to Rylan.
Meghan enlisted Rylan and Rylan’s sister Remi to be flower girls at her wedding in 2018. She’s especially close to Benita and her family, having also celebrated Christmas with them in 2016 at their Los Angeles home. We’re thankful for it because what other occasions would we see the Duchess in her pajamas!
Style Aficionado
It probably won’t come as a surprise to learn that Meghan used to be a keen shopper. Before she was very well known she would traipse around from shop to shop and could easily spend a whole day trying clothes on. Here are some photos she posted online of her rummaging through clothes racks.
As we can see from her outfits, she loved an accessory. Sometimes Meghan would don a heavy leather jacket and shades, and sometimes she’d opt for a girly swing coat and cloche hat. And of course, she had money from Suits to sustain her expensive designer tastes.
She Didn’t Want To Be a Cliché
In this photo, Meghan’s pictured sitting on the steps of her Suits trailer, soaking up the sun. “As an actor, you spend so much time just trying to get a job,” she told Esquire in 2018, which made her appreciate her ongoing role so much more. Meghan was also aware of how cliché her career choice had been, but that only made her more determined.
Meghan told Marie Claire in 2018: “I had always been the theater nerd at Northwestern University. I knew I wanted to do acting, but I hated the idea of being this cliché – a girl from L.A. who decides to be an actress.” She continues: “I wanted more than that… so I ended up changing my major completely and double-majoring in theater and international relations.”
Audition Life Is Hard
Audition life was tough for Meghan, and she had to pay her dues to get to where she was. She recalled her early lessons in showbusiness: “I was really spoiled because I booked my first audition right away, so it’s the biggest tease because you think, ‘Oh, this is easy.’” Time would show her how it’s actually one of the toughest professions to succeed in.
Meghan told an interviewer in 2018: “I have a show now that’s doing well, but it’s not easy. It was definitely a struggle.” She was thankful that her character on Suits wasn’t just a pretty face. “Look, my very first audition was for ‘Hot Girl #1’ in some movie. It’s the ultimate for me that the writers are able to go ‘Sure, you can be a pretty girl, but there’s so much more to her.’”
Meghan’s Early Inspiration
Meghan actually grew up visiting filming sets as a little girl. Her dad was the lighting director and director of photography for Fox’s Married… with Children, and it had a big impact on her. “Every day after school for 10 years, I was on the set of Married… with Children, which is a really funny and perverse place for a little girl in a Catholic school uniform to grow up,” she told Esquire in 2018.
The show was too provocative for young Meghan to watch, but she soaked up what she could on set with her dad. The mystery and glamor attracted her so much that in her adult years, she chose to study theatre over politics. Meghan had initially wanted a career in international relations, before sacrificing it for a career in entertainment.
The Fashion Designer Friend
Meghan’s love of fashion drew her to like-minded people. Pictured with friends on a holiday in Spain, Meghan poses with two besties Markus Anderson and Misha Nonoo. Misha is a successful fashion designer who was named one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 in 2015. It pays to have fashion-forward friends in showbusiness.
According to an interview Misha gave in 2017, the women bonded over more than just fashion when they met. Their views on gender equality and female empowerment drove their relationship initially: “We were seated next to one another at a lunch, and we got along like a house on fire. I love her to death. She is the coolest girl in the world.”
Heart of Gold
Meghan’s own successful dog adoptions have motivated her to raise awareness for it. “As a proud rescue dog owner, I know from personal experience the joy that adopting an animal into your home can bring,” she once wrote online. In this Instagram photo, she cuddles up to her rescue Beagle, Guy.
When Meghan moved to London to live with Prince Harry, she only brought Guy along with her, leaving Bogart with a friend. She never explicitly stated why, but she probably had good reason. And it wasn’t long before Harry and Meghan adopted another rescue from a shelter. The way she sees it, “The role that we, as people, play in rehoming and rescuing these animals is vital.”
Foodie For Life
Meghan’s Suits character Rachel was written to be a fellow food lover, just like Meghan in real life. “I’m a foodie in real life, so the creator made Rachel a foodie,” she told Esquire magazine. “I pride myself in figuring out how to elevate a dish with a little preserved lemon, or then a sprinkle of Maldon salt.”
Meghan thinks her love of good food comes from her down-to-earth upbringing. She explained to the interviewer: “I’m a California girl, right? I grew up with that farm-to-table dining before it was sweeping the nation. I do think there’s some value to really throwing yourself into food and embracing where it comes from.”
It’s New York Fashion Week
Meghan didn’t need Harry to get her VIP access. She had already cultivated a trendy group of friends with great access. In early 2015, she posted this photo on Instagram along with the caption: “Another day of #NYFW celebrating the amazing Misha Nonoo.”
One of her best friends, fashion designer Misha Nonoo, was showing her design at New York Fashion Week and asked Meghan to sit in the front row in one of her designs. She opted for this stylish two-piece and sought out a professional stylist for the finishing touches.
The Partner In Crime
Meghan really valued her friendship with Jessica Mulroney. They were around the same age, had a shared passion for fashion, and had similar ambitions. Jessica worked as a fashion stylist and marketing consultant at various times, but she also aspired of breaking into showbiz.
Jessica has previously made small appearances on television, notably Good Morning America and CityLine. Most recently, she hosted the reality TV show I Do, Redo, where she was introduced as a celebrity influencer. It’s no wonder the two women got along so well. As Meghan put it on Instagram, Jessica is the “best partner in crime.”
Rubbing Shoulders With Famous Faces
Meghan did actually still have her personal Instagram up when she started dating the royal prince. Things were getting more serious, but no one had approached her yet about deleting it from the internet. In photos like the one below, we can see how her lifestyle started to change once Harry came into the picture.
In this image, Meghan poses for a photo with tennis sensation Serena Williams. Dating Prince Harry had its perks – she got to rub shoulders with the top celebrities and Hollywood A-listers. For an aspiring actress who was still trying to work her way up the showbiz ladder, it was an amazing opportunity to strike up some coveted friendships.
On and off Set Besties
During her time working on Suits, she struck up several close friendships. One of her best off-screen relationships was with actor Rick Hoffman, who played Louis Litt in the legal drama. He may have been quite a few years older, but Meghan was plenty mature for her age.
Meghan posted this photo in the summer of 2015 and wrote: “Nothing better than time with Rick Hoffman.” They used to attend the same parties and events or go out for drinks as a pair. He even attended Meghan and Harry’s royal wedding in 2018, although he was pictured looking unimpressed on the day.
Her Travel Hacks
Meghan isn’t the type of girl to go backpacking on vacation. She travels exclusively in style, and photos like this one from her deleted Instagram prove she’s always been that way. And there are a few items that she never travels without. In a post for her blog in 2016, she wrote: “The foremost issue is self-care. It’s easy to run yourself ragged, hopping from one locale to another…”
She also told her readers: “When I get on a plane I always use some quick hand wipes or a travel sanitizer spray to wipe it all down,” and added that she puts “a little Neosporin on a cotton swab” and coats the inside of her nose. Allegedly, it “creates a barrier for germs and also lubricates the skin in the nose.” Allegedly. Read page 4 for Meghan Markle doing Mid night girls work
