Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, born Rachel Meghan Markle on August 4, 1981, in Los Angeles, California, is an American former actress, media personality, entrepreneur, and a prominent member of the British royal family by marriage. She is best known for her seven-season role as Rachel Zane on the legal drama Suits and for her high-profile marriage to Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles III. Since stepping down from royal duties, she has built a multifaceted public life as a podcast host, author, and lifestyle entrepreneur.

Raised in Los Angeles, Meghan attended Northwestern University, where she studied theater and international relations, graduating with a double major. Her acting career began with small roles in television and film, but she achieved widespread recognition when she was cast as Rachel Zane on Suits in 2011. During her time on the show, which ran for seven seasons until 2018, she also cultivated a significant social media presence, founding the lifestyle blog The Tig in 2014, which she maintained until 2017. The platform allowed her to discuss fashion, food, travel, and social issues, particularly women’s rights and social justice, laying the groundwork for her later philanthropic work. In 2011, she married film producer Trevor Engelson, but the couple divorced in 2014.

Meghan’s relationship with Prince Harry became public in 2016, and they were married on May 19, 2018, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle, becoming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The couple welcomed two children, Archie and Lilibet. In January 2020, they announced their decision to step down as senior working members of the British royal family, a move widely described as "Megxit." They relocated to Southern California and established Archewell Inc., a hybrid for-profit and charitable organization based in Beverly Hills. In March 2021, Meghan and Harry participated in a much-publicized interview with Oprah Winfrey on Oprah with Meghan and Harry, where they discussed their experiences within the royal family.

Following her departure from royal life, Meghan expanded her creative and business ventures. She authored the children’s book "The Bench" in 2021, hosted the podcast Archetypes in 2022, and starred in the Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan that same year. In 2025, she launched the Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, showcasing her interests in cooking, gardening, and entertaining. Her lifestyle and cooking brand, As Ever, was officially launched in April 2025, further cementing her status as a media personality and entrepreneur. Throughout her career, Meghan has remained a polarizing but influential figure, known for her advocacy on women’s issues, racial justice, and mental health.