Meghan Markle on Netflix’s Success of ‘Suits’: ‘Isn’t It Crazy?’

Even Meghan Markle I can’t figure out what made his old USA Network drama “Suits” stand out on streaming services this year, but he’s here for it.

While walking the red carpet in Variety’yes Women’s power event on Thursday, Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was informed by Varieties Senior entertainment writer Angelique Jackson said the legal drama has already crossed 45 billion minutes streamed on Netflix and Peacock combined, according to Nielsen’s latest weekly streaming report, released Thursday.

“Isn’t that wild?” said Markle, who played paralegal Rachel Zane on “Suits.”

Markle said she has “no idea” what has caused the renewed interest in the series, but then ventured a guess: “It was fantastic to work on, with such a fantastic cast and crew. We had fun. I was on this for seven seasons, quite a bit. But it’s hard to find a show you can watch that many episodes these days, so that might have something to do with it. But good shows are eternal.”

While Markle retired from “Suits,” which aired for nine seasons between 2011 and 2019, when she became engaged to Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in 2018, she has since returned to Hollywood, this time as a producer. The former actress and her husband are developing film and television projects through their Archewell Productions banner, which has an overall deal with Netflix (coincidentally, one of the streaming houses for “Suits”).

To date, the Sussexes have released three projects with the streamer: the documentary “Heart of Invictus,” the documentary series “Live to Lead” and the autobiographical project “Harry & Meghan,” and Markle teases more to come, with a focus in titles they invoke. emotional responses in viewers.

“Things that make people feel… I was going to say ‘good,’ but it’s more than that, things that make people feel something, right?” Markle said. “And feel a sense of community. But we have “A lot of exciting things on the agenda. I can’t wait until we can announce them, but I’m really proud of what we’re creating. My husband loves it too. It’s really fun.”

Watch Markle’s full interview with Variety in the video above.

Markle, who was to be honored at the class of 2022 VarietyWomen’s power Last September, but three weeks before the issue was published, Queen Elizabeth II, grandmother of Markle’s husband, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, died at the age of 96. Instead of being included in the Power of Women issue, after the official mourning period, Markle attended a new interview with Variety, which was published as a cover story on October 19, 2022.

The 2023 Power of Women edition was released Wednesday and features honorees Lily Gladstone, Billie Eilish, Carey Mulligan and Fantasia Barrino, as well as featured women. profiled in the annual Women’s Impact Reporthighlighting leaders in the entertainment industry.

In addition to celebrating Barrino, Gladstone, Mulligan and Eilish on Thursday Variety Power of Women presented by Lifetime event at Citizen News in Los Angeles, Variety He also honored LuckyChap co-founders Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara with the Producer of the Year award.