Meghan Markle Breaks Silence on Hollywood Rejection: “I Wasn’t White Enough — or Ethnic Enough”

LOS ANGELES — Meghan Markle is getting candid like never before.

The Duchess of Sussex, 43, opened up on the podcast Aspire with Emma Grede, reflecting on her early struggles in Hollywood—and the painful reality of being racially ambiguous in an industry obsessed with stereotypes.

“There weren’t a lot of mixed race parts,” Meghan said. “And when there were, I didn’t look quite right for them either.”

Before she was a royal, a global household name, or even a lead on Suits, Meghan was just another working actress pounding the pavement in Los Angeles. But she says her background—biracial, California-born, with a Black mother and white father—left her caught between identities in an industry with rigid casting norms.

“If they wanted the ‘girl next door,’ she was blonde and blue-eyed. If they wanted someone ethnic, they wanted grit or ‘edge.’ I didn’t fit either,” she said. “Some casting directors thought I was Latina. Others just didn’t know where to place me.”

That racial ambiguity, Meghan revealed, cost her countless roles. Even when she was submitted for multiple auditions, the rejection rate was crushing.

“Thirty auditions might mean thirty no’s. That takes a toll. It really chips away at your self-worth.”

A Hollywood Problem That Still Lingers

Meghan’s comments come at a time when Hollywood is still reckoning with its legacy of whitewashing and typecasting. Despite recent pushes for diversity, many actors of color—especially those who don’t fit neatly into a racial box—still struggle to land mainstream roles.

“She’s talking about something that hasn’t gone away,” said Dr. Rebekah Hayes, a media studies professor at UCLA. “Biracial and multiracial actors often face what we call ‘identity erasure’—they’re either not seen at all or expected to fit into pre-defined categories.”

Meghan’s own career didn’t take off until 2011, when she landed the role of Rachel Zane on USA Network’s Suits. Even then, she says, the rejection had already taught her to develop thick skin.

Turning Pain Into Power

Now a mother of two, media producer, and entrepreneur, Meghan says those early experiences shaped her values—and her confidence.

“I had imposter syndrome for a long time,” she admitted. “And I still do, some days. But as a mom, I know I have to model self-worth for my kids.”

Since stepping back from royal duties, Meghan has launched a flurry of creative projects. Her Netflix cooking show With Love, Meghan premiered this spring. She recently wrapped Confessions of a Female Founder, a podcast spotlighting women in business. And she just launched her lifestyle brand, As Ever, with a focus on wellness and intentional living.

Still, she says the lessons from her audition days continue to guide her.

“You have to be the example. That means confidence. That means authenticity. That means joy,” she said. “You can’t fake that—not with kids watching you.”

From “Suits” to Sussex to Streaming Star

Meghan’s journey from casting rejections to palace drama and back to media moguldom has been anything but conventional.

Her previous comments on racism in the royal family—most notably the infamous 2021 Oprah interview, in which she and Prince Harry alleged that a senior royal expressed concerns about their baby’s skin tone—caused global headlines. But this latest revelation adds a new layer to her story: the private wounds she endured before stepping into the global spotlight.

“People know the headlines,” said podcast host Emma Grede during the episode. “But not everyone understands the heartbreak that came before the fame.”

Now, it seems, Meghan Markle is ready to own both.