The Duchess of Sussex has posed with two of the most powerful women in Hollywood and hinted heavily at a TV and film comeback while mingling with Tinseltown glitterati at a ‘mom’s night out’ gala in Los Angeles last night.
Wearing an expensive camel off-the-shoulder Proenza Schouler dress paired with a slicked bun and $895 Aquazzura heels, the Duchess of Sussex said on the red carpet that she and Prince Harry were working on ‘exciting’ new projects and ‘can’t wait to announce them’.
The former actress, 42, said she was ‘really proud’ of what Archewell Productions – the production company she founded with Harry – had created so far, including the Netflix docu-series Harry & Meghan and her Archetypes podcast for Spotify.
Meghan appears to have posed for pictures with two people who both happen to be Hollywood players. She was all smiles as she stood next to Janet Yang, the American film producer who made her name working for Steven Spielberg and now the current President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
During the meal Meghan smiled for a photographer as she sat next to Pearlena Igbokwe, the Nigerian-born chairman of Universal Studio Group who runs the gigantic NBC TV network.
Meghan was among famous faces including Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, Margot Robbie and Carey Mulligan at Variety magazine’s star-studded Power Of Women party. Leonardo DiCaprio and Oprah Winfrey also attended.
Brand and culture expert Nick Ede told MailOnline it was no accident that ‘shrewd player’ Meghan posed with two of the most powerful women in Hollywood – and says it is big hint that she is pushing to do more TV and film.
The recent writers’ strike means studios are desperate for content, and it is telling that the Duchess chose to praise the ‘everlasting impact’ of Suits, the show she made her name on, Mr Ede said.
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Pearlena Igbokwe, chairman of Universal Studio Group, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, at an event attended by Hollywood power-players last night
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Meghan with Janet Yang, American film producer and president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
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Meghan last night at Variety magazine’s Power Of Women gala dinner and awards
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Laughing out loud, the former actress clearly loved being on the red carpet at the event
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Meghan smiles for the assembled press in Los Angeles yesterday evening
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Harry did not attend the event with her at the Italian restaurant Mother Wolf
A return to acting would see her earn up to £1million an episode on US channels – although a Sussex spokesman denied this was part of her plans earlier this month.
Producing a film would bring home £2million-plus, as well as royalties on top if it was a box-office hit. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame could also be in the offing, Mr Ede claimed.
‘Now that the SAG strike is over Hollywood is going into overdrive to produce new content and Meghan riding high on the fact Suits is a sleeper hit on Netflix and has found a new generation of fans is looking to move back to her first love acting’, he said.
‘Not only is a part in a movie or returning series lucrative, it could establish Meghan as a serious player in Hollywood where she may act and produce too. She’s always said she loved acting and playing a character may be the perfect way for her to shut her detractors down and shine in a starring role.
‘She’s a shrewd player and this power move will play to her strengths. With her references to Suits and her posing with some of Hollywood’s elite power women she’s going in a direction that could earn her millions and perhaps even a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.’
On a night where she also praised the ‘everlasting impact’ of her TV series Suits, Meghan said: ‘We have so many exciting things on the slate. I can’t wait until we can announce them, but I’m just really proud of what we’re creating. My husband is loving it too, which is really fun.’
The former actress did not reveal what the projects are – but told Variety on the red carpet that she wants to create ‘things that make people feel’ as well as create ‘a sense of community’.
Multiple sources have claimed Meghan is about to announce a new project. She has been much more visible on the LA scene recently, including two nights watching Beyonce. She also flew on a private jet with Harry and friends to see the final performance of Katy Perry’s Las Vegas residency.
Her ‘mom’s night out’ at the Variety gala in LA came hours after Sussex insiders told MailOnline that Harry and Meghan had nothing to do with Omid Scobie’s new book Endgame. They also denied that Mr Scobie was part of the ‘Sussex Camp’. The journalist tweeted last night: ‘I’m not “Meg’s pal”, the Sussexes have nothing to do with it.’
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The mother of two is said to be looking to make a move in Hollywood as she and her husband attempt to build on their brands and media careers
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Meghan praised the legacy of Suits – but her team has insisted there will be no return to acting
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Experts believe that Meghan’s relaunch is imminent, and could see her returning to the screen
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The 42-year-old appeared to attend the Los Angeles event without her husband, Prince Harry
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The Duchess of Sussex teased that she and Harry have new projects in the pipeline
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Meghan was a Variety cover star last year, but was unable to attend the gala in 2022 due to the Queen’s death
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Excerpts of Endgame, out later this month, have infuriated Buckingham Palace officials. It claims that Harry ‘remained in the dark’ about the Queen’s health in her final moments because of his family.
It also reopens Royal Family wounds in the aftermath of Megxit, branding Charles III ‘unpopular’, William ‘power hungry’ and says Harry was ‘betrayed by his own family’.
Meghan was a Varity magazine cover star last year and was among those garlanded in 2022, but was unable to attend the event last year due to the death of the Queen.
Entertainment Tonight asked her if it was ‘mom’s night out’, and the mother-of-two laughed and replied: ‘Exactly.’
She was asked by Variety what she was working on, and said it was projects ‘that make you feel’ – adding that she could not wait to speak more about her forthcoming work.
She said she had ‘no idea’ why Suits suddenly regained popularity.
‘It was great to work on,’ she said. ‘Such a great cast and crew. We had a really fun time. I was on it for seven seasons, so quite a bit.
‘But it’s hard to find a show you can binge-watch that many episodes of these days, so that could have something to do with it.
‘But good shows are everlasting.’
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Meghan stopped briefly for questions and laughed and said ‘yes’ when asked if it was a ‘mom’s night out’
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Meghan wore an expensive camel off-the-shoulder Proenza Schouler dress
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Meghan said Prince Harry was ‘excited’ about new projects they were working on
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When asked about Archewell’s work, which included the Netflix documentary about her and Harry and her Archetypes podcast, she said: ‘I’m just really proud of what we’re creating’
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Glamorous gals! Margot Robbie looked stylish as ever
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Dua Lipa was also at Variety’s star-studded Power Of Women event in Los Angeles last night
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Emily Blunt was chic in a white dress with feather sleeves
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Riley Keough looked sensational in a gold and white dress matched with gold boots
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Carey Mulligan on the red carpet
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Meghan at a table during the ceremony held at the Italian restaurant Mother Wolf
Meghan was asked what was ‘driving the things you put out in the business’.
She replied: ‘Things that make people feel… I was going to say things that make people feel good, but it’s more than that. Things that make people feel something, right? And a sense of community.
‘But we have so many exciting things on the slate, I can’t wait until we can announce them. I’m just really proud of what we’re creating.’
The Duchess said that she was appreciative of other women in showbusiness supporting each other.
‘This industry is so special and you see how many women use the platform that they have and channel it for good.
‘And the more we support each other, it amplifies the work, amplifies our community – and I’m just thrilled to be back in it.
‘And be able to sit in this room, be in such good company tonight.
‘And also to focus so much on how this is the crossroads of entertainment meeting philanthropy. So it’s really close to my heart. It’s going to be a fun night.’
This year’s honorees included Carey Mulligan, singer Fantasia Barrino, Killers Of The Flower Moon star Lily Gladstone, and Billie Eilish – who performed What Was I Made For alongside her brother Finneas O’Connell.
The magazine presented a Producer of the Year Award to Margot Robbie, who produced Barbie, and an Alumni Award to Emily Blunt.
Other attendees, Variety reported, included Leonardo DiCaprio, Dua Lipa, Emerald Fennell, Oprah Winfrey and Riley Keough.
Eilish sported a black hair-do with dyed red roots, paired with a black blazer ensemble and a matching headscarf, while Saltburn star Mulligan opted for a black off-the-shoulder dress with a short bob haircut.
Mulligan posed with British actress Emily Blunt, who was wearing a white sparkly number with feathered sleeves, who said she ‘cry-wept’ at Mulligan’s performance in Maestro, which she also described as ‘one of the best things’ she’d ever seen.
Similarly, on the red carpet Mulligan said she ‘worships’ Barbie star Robbie, who wore a black off-the-shoulder dress paired with a classic red lip.
Speaking about her production company following the end of the Sag-Aftra US actors’ strike, Robbie said: ‘I don’t have much of a voice right now but we really believe (in) people with original ideas and original voices, people like Emerald (Fennell) with Saltburn and Greta (Gerwig) with Barbie.
‘They are both such visionary directors with such original voices and they had such an original take on the story they wanted to tell and committing to that on the side of it coming out can seem scary but when you do, amazing things happen.’
The red carpet also saw singer-songwriter and actress Dua Lipa showing off a red silk strappy dress with a bow.
Speaking about her work on film director Matthew Vaughn’s forthcoming comedy spy caper Argylle, starring Henry Cavill, she said: ‘No music for this one, just focusing on the acting.
‘I had the most fun, honestly being on a motorcycle doing all the stunts, it was just so much fun and working with Henry was amazing and Matthew is just such a great director, so I really thoroughly enjoyed that experience.’
The soiree came as the Sussexes attempted to deny Scobie’s claim in his new book that Meghan and Prince Harry were kept in the dark about the Queen’s impending death.
death.
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The Duchess opted for a floor-sweeping beige gown
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Meghan wore her favourite Cartier bracelet and carried a black clutch bag
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The 42-year-old slicked her hair back for the glamorous Hollywood event
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Margot Robbie was presented with an award for her work producing the film Barbie
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The Australian actress produced the film alongside her husband, Tom Ackerley, and Josey McNamara
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Robbie was joined by her husband Tom Ackerley, 33, for the bash
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Margot Robbie and Dua Lipa looking glamorous on the red carpet
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Dua Lipa, 28, thrilled in a busty red hot silk gown that tied at the front. She co-ordinated the dress with her fiery auburn tresses, which were styled in light waves
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Riley Keough was also among those attending yesterday evening’s event
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Actress and singer Sofia Carson is seen arriving at the gala in Los Angeles
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Carson, 30, wore a dramatic patterned number for the evening
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Emily Blunt, 40, wore a chic white sequin dress with fun feather sleeves and gold heels
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Blunt was pictured with a stylish Carey Mulligan, 38
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Margot Robbie and Carey Mulligan at the celebrity award ceremony
In an excerpt of Endgame, Scobie alleges that Prince William feels that he has ‘lost Harry and doesn’t want to know this version of him’.
Scobie, who previously released a biography on the Sussexes entitled Finding Freedom, said Harry, 39, and his 42-year-old wife Meghan had ‘no idea’ the Royal Family were preparing for the Queen’s death last year.
Yet MailOnline understands that Meghan and Harry are categorically denying any suggestion they are ‘affiliated’ with the book.
They are also denying that Scobie – who has been friendly with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex – is part of the ‘Sussex Camp’.
Experts have said that the Sussexes’ favored royal reporter’s new book is threatening a potential thawing in relations between the King and his youngest son.
The denial came after Harry and Meghan offered an olive branch to the King on his 75th birthday.
Harry is believed to have telephoned his father on Tuesday – and they have reportedly agreed to chat again next week.
The Duchess of Sussex is also said to have spoken to her father-in-law from their home in California while the couple’s children – Archie, four, and Lilibet, two – recorded a video of themselves singing happy birthday to their grandfather.
