Meghan Markle expressed her astonishment at the unexpected resurgence of her former USA Network series, “Suits,” on streaming platforms this year. The Duchess of Sussex, attending Variety’s Power of Women event, learned from Variety’s senior entertainment writer Angelique Jackson that the legal drama had surpassed 45 billion minutes streamed on Netflix and Peacock combined, according to Nielsen’s latest weekly streaming report.
Surprised by the success, Markle, who portrayed paralegal Rachel Zane in “Suits,” couldn’t pinpoint the cause of the renewed interest but speculated about the enduring appeal of the show due to its stellar cast and crew. Reflecting on her seven seasons on the series, she suggested that the binge-worthy nature of the show, coupled with its timeless quality, might contribute to its popularity in the current landscape of limited binge-watchable content.
Although Markle left “Suits” in 2018 upon getting engaged to Prince Harry, she has since returned to Hollywood as a producer alongside her husband. Operating under their Archewell Productions banner with an overall deal with Netflix, the couple has already released three projects, with more in the pipeline. Markle hinted at forthcoming endeavors that aim to evoke strong emotional responses and a sense of community among viewers.
While initially slated to be honored in the 2022 class of Variety’s Power of Women, Markle’s inclusion was postponed due to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Harry’s grandmother. A subsequent interview with Variety was published as a cover story on October 19, 2022.
The 2023 Power of Women issue, released on Wednesday, featured honorees such as Lily Gladstone, Billie Eilish, Carey Mulligan, and Fantasia Barrino, along with profiles of accomplished women in the entertainment industry. The Variety Power of Women event in Los Angeles also recognized LuckyChap’s co-founders Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley, and Josey McNamara with the Producer of the Year Award.
