Former Suits actress Meghan Markle said she is “thrilled” to have returned to the entertainment industry with her and husband Prince Harry’s production company.
The Duchess of Sussex appeared on the red carpet of the Variety Power of Women event in Los Angeles on Thursday evening, to celebrate the accomplishments of women in entertainment.
Wearing a camel, off-the-shoulder dress paired with a slicked bun, Meghan said she is “really proud” of the projects Archewell Productions has created so far, including docu-series Harry & Meghan – while also teasing future projects.
Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex talks about the success of #Suits and the projects she hopes to make. | Variety #PowerOfWomen presented by @lifetimetv https://t.co/oGSpRQ4GyP pic.twitter.com/KV0kmvZjYV
— Variety (@Variety) November 17, 2023
Meghan told Variety on the red carpet that she wants to create “things that make people feel” as well as create “a sense of community”.
“We have so many exciting things on the slate,” she said.
“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 42-year-old posed alongside famous faces including Billie Eilish, Margot Robbie and Carey Mulligan at the star-studded event on Thursday.
Variety's 2023 Power of Women honorees Carey Mulligan, Lily Gladstone, Fantasia Barrino and Billie Eilish pose for their class photo. https://t.co/S6CxvFimBm pic.twitter.com/VK5Mts57JJ
— Variety (@Variety) November 17, 2023
She said: “I think the more we support each other it just amplifies the work, amplifies our community and I’m just thrilled to be back in it and to be able to sit in this room and be in such good company tonight.”
Meghan’s arrival follows the launch of the final series of Netflix’s The Crown, which focuses on the death of her mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales.
It also comes after royal writer Omid Scobie made claims about her husband, the Duke of Sussex, ahead of the publication of his new book Endgame.
Meghan Markle arrives at Variety Power of Women presented by @lifetimetv pic.twitter.com/NYtc9fusaG
— Variety (@Variety) November 17, 2023
The Power of Women honourees this year included British actress Mulligan, who opted for a black off-the-shoulder dress with a short bob haircut, and US singer-songwriter Eilish who was sporting a black hair-do with dyed red roots, paired with a black blazer ensemble and a matching headscarf.
British actress Emily Blunt, who was wearing a white sparkly number with feathered sleeves, received the power of women alumni award at the event for her “dedication to helping children overcome stuttering through education resources”.
“I am grateful to shed light on [stuttering] because it is a disability that lives very often in the shadows alongside its friends: fear and shame and humiliation,” says Emily Blunt at Variety #PowerOfWomen presented by @lifetimetv. https://t.co/kffe0T5TTQ pic.twitter.com/uoYy84DKLo
— Variety (@Variety) November 17, 2023
During her speech, Blunt said: “It is a disability that lives very often in the shadows alongside its great friends – fear, shame and humiliation.
“…A stutter is like an imposer that is living in your body that doesn’t pay rent, ever.”
Meanwhile Barbie star Robbie, who was styling a black off-the-shoulder dress paired with a classic red lip, received the producer of the year award alongside her husband Tom Ackerley and producer Josey McNamara for their production company LuckyChap Entertainment.
Robbie said on the red carpet: “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.”
Margot Robbie talks about what LuckyChap Productions has learned from the success of #Barbie. | Variety #PowerOfWomen presented by @lifetimetv https://t.co/eUPIx1s7pz pic.twitter.com/I54KY7Mxac
— Variety (@Variety) November 17, 2023
Flowers Of The Killer Moon star Lily Gladstone was also honoured during the event, alongside US singer Fantasia Barrino – who was excited to spot Titanic star Leonardo DiCaprio in the audience while giving her speech.
Taking to the stage to present co-star Gladstone with her award for advocating for indigenous women’s rights, DiCaprio said: “I fervently hope we’re entering a new era in which actors like Lily, who embody this authenticity and undeniable truth in their own storytelling, take centre stage.
“Because Lily’s not just an actor, she’s also an activist.”
The ceremony also saw Eilish, who became emotional when she took to the stage to collect her award, perform her hit song What Was I Made For? alongside her brother Finneas O’Connell.
