Meghan Markle 'shortlisted' for Bond role before engagement
Meghan Markle has her future set as part of the Royal Family, but film producers had different ideas before she and Prince Harry announced her engagement: as a Bond girl.
Creatives behind the forthcoming 25th James Bond film had considered casting the Suits actress in the follow-up to Spectre.
Markle, 36, announced that she would be retiring from acting after she and Harry wed in April. She hasn't worked on any film or television projects since completing filming on the seventh series of US legal drama Suits earlier this year.
According to The Sun, Markle caught the eye of Bond producers who were after a Canadian or American actress to play the next Bond Girl. Her name was among that of Ilfenesh Hadera, the 32-year-old Baywatch actress, to become one of Daniel Craig's love interests in the 2019 film.
An industry insider said: "Meghan fits the role of a Bond girl perfectly.
“The role more recently has gone to actresses deemed to be rising stars, and Meghan certainly was seen as that before her relationship with Harry became public.
“The brief was to find a glamorous rising star, specifically someone American or Canadian."
As soon as it became apparent that Markle was dating Prince Harry, producers realised that the role would not be feasible.
