Summary
- Meghan Markle played Rachel Zane in Suits for seven seasons before leaving due to her relationship with Prince Harry.
- Jenna Coleman originally auditioned for the role of Rachel Zane but was ed over for Meghan Markle. Coleman went on to have an impressive career, including roles in Doctor Who and Victoria.
- There were rumors of Jenna Coleman being romantically linked to Prince Harry, which adds an intriguing twist to the fact that she almost played the same role as Meghan Markle in Suits. Both actresses are now successful in their careers.
It is difficult to imagine anyone else but Meghan Markle playing Rachel Zane in Suits, but another famous actress was almost cast in the series regular role. Markle starred as Rachel for seven seasons in the USA Network television series before she exited the show during the season 7 finale because of her growing connection with the British royal family. The actress was dating Prince Harry at the time, and once they got engaged, her duties regarding her relationship with him and his family meant that she had to leave Suits in 2018.
Rachel started as a paralegal during Suits season 1 and immediately struck a connection with Mike Ross (although she insisted she would never date him in the beginning). Her career blossomed over the course of the series as she ed the LSAT, got into Columbia Law School, ed the bar exam, and became a licensed lawyer. At the end of the USA Network television show, Rachel and Mike had married and moved to Seattle, where the couple jumped on the opportunity to head up a victim-oriented legal firm. However, Rachel's journey could have been very different had she been played by another actress.
Jenna Coleman Auditioned For Rachel Zane In Suits
Jenna Coleman originally auditioned for the role of Rachel Zane when the Suits producers were casting the characters. Somewhere down the line, she was ed over for the part, and Meghan Markle landed the role. It all worked out for the best, seeing as Markle was great as Rachel, and Coleman went on to have an impressive career. After auditioning for Suits, Coleman was cast as Clara Oswald in Doctor Who, a role she debuted in the British series in 2012. The actress also starred in Victoria, The Serpent, Me Before You, and The Sandman. Additionally, Coleman is set to appear in Wilderness in 2023.
A Jenna Coleman Dating Rumor Makes Her Suits Audition Even More Interesting
The fact that Jenna Coleman almost played Rachel Zane in Suits, a role that ultimately went to Meghan Markle, is a bit funny since Coleman and Prince Harry were previously rumored to be romantically linked. According to Vanity Fair, Coleman and Prince Harry shared a close friendship in 2015, which was a year before he met Markle. The rumors claimed that the two never officially dated but that there was the potential for them to become more than friends. Ultimately, Coleman didn't get the role of Rachel in Suits, and Markle did, but the two actresses are thriving in their respective careers.
Source: Vanity Fair