Patrick J Adams birthday - Everything Meghan Markle’s ex co-stars have said about royal

Since stepping into the global spotlight as the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle has been the subject of endless media attention. As her Suits love interest, Patrick J Adams marks his 43rd birthday, we take an inside look into his friendship with the Duchess of Sussex.

But long before her royal ties, Meghan was carving out a career in Hollywood, appearing on various TV shows and films.

From her breakout role on Suits to her time working on smaller projects like Random Encounters and Anti-Social, Meghan built strong relationships with her co-stars, many of whom have since spoken publicly about their experiences with her.

While the media often portrays Meghan as polarizing amid her rift with The Royal Family, those who worked closely with her describe a woman who is kind, driven, and prepared for success.

From Gregg Sulkin gushing over her "classy" demeanour to Abigail Spencer recounting their deep friendship, Meghan’s former co-stars have not shied away from sharing their opinions of her.

Here’s what they had to say about the woman who went from Hollywood actress to royal.

Patrick J. Adams
Patrick J. Adams, who played Meghan Markle’s love interest on Suits, has been one of her most outspoken defenders.

When Meghan was accused of bullying palace staffers, Adams took to Twitter, denouncing the "racist, slanderous vitriol" that he believed was unfairly targeting her.

He also condemned Buckingham Palace for announcing an investigation into the allegations, stating that Meghan was the true victim in the situation.

Adams wrote, "It sickened me to read the endless racist, slanderous, click baiting vitriol spewed in her direction from all manner of media."

He also criticised the royal family, describing them as "way overdrawn on credibility and apparently bankrupt of decency".

Although Adams admitted that he hasn't contacted Meghan since she became a royal, saying he felt "intimidated" by her new status, he has expressed openness to collaborating with her on future projects​.

Gina Torres
Gina Torres, who also starred in Suits, noted that the distance between them has grown since Meghan married Prince Harry.

Torres mentioned that while the cast keeps in touch via a group chat.

At the 2024 Golden Globe Awards, Torres revealed that the royal wedding sparked a mini Suits reunion among the cast.

Speaking with Variety's Marc Malkin on the red carpet, Torres shared that the cast has been in touch, saying, "Our text thread is insane right now, so it's very exciting."

When Malkin suggested they invite Meghan Markle to join them, Torres explained, "We don't have her number. We just don't, so she'll see. She'll watch. She'll be happy that we're here."

Wendell Pierce
Wendell Pierce, who played Meghan Markle’s father in Suits, reflected on their friendship and the few times they have reunited since she became a duchess. Pierce revealed that when he saw Meghan and Prince Harry last year, the couple appeared "very much in love."

He gushed to People: “When [Meghan] came into town, she got an award last year, I had a chance to say hello and wish her and Prince Harry well and wish the children well.

“They look very much in love and were very happy, so that’s the most important thing.” Pierce added that working with Meghan on the USA network legal drama – which aired from 2011 to 2019 – was “a blast” and revealed that he’s reunited with the 42-year-old duchess a “few times.”

“I’ve gotten to see her just a few times since, and we’ve been able to reminisce and so it’s real, we have fond memories of working together,” the Wire actor said.

Gregg Sulkin

Wizards of Waverly Place actor Gregg Sulkin got to know Meghan Markle during their time co-starring in the 2015 crime drama Anti-Social. On Fair Game with Kristine Leahy in 2019, Sulkin, a proud Brit, expressed his excitement that his American co-star had earned a place in his country’s history. He also noted that she exuded royal qualities long before her duchess days. "Everybody does know her as a princess, but in real life, she genuinely is also like a princess," Sulkin said. "She is one of the classiest, the nicest, one of the most sincere and genuine people I've ever met."

During an interview with Access, where Sulkin was supposed to be promoting A Cinderella Story: A Christmas Wish, he couldn’t resist showering Meghan with more admiration. "If there's one person I would want to represent our country, it would be her," he enthused. Although her Cinderella story didn’t exactly end with her staying in the kingdom she married into, Sulkin’s fondness for her remains unwavering. He once told Vanity Fair, "Out of all the actresses I've worked with in 12 years, I think [Meghan is] my favourite." And honestly, that’s worth more than any crown, right?

Abigail Spencer

In a 2018 chat with ET, Abigail Spencer spilled that her bond with Meghan Markle runs deeper than just friendship—they actually share the same birthday. The pair, who both starred on Suits, didn’t initially meet on that set. In fact, Spencer revealed their first connection happened years earlier during auditions for a different gig. "She was just so stunning and there was just something about her," Spencer gushed.

After bombshell reports in 2021 about bullying claims made against Markle by a palace adviser, Spencer was quick to jump to her friend's defense. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she penned: "She's been there for me — and physically held me — in my darkest hours: After my dad died. After a gut-wrenching breakup, she brought me into her home & nursed me back to health."

Spencer also made an appearance in the tell-all Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, where she fondly reminisced about the moment the royal dropped the bombshell that she was dating Prince Harry. The revelation happened at the swanky Bergdorf Goodman while they sipped champagne.

"It was very clear from the moment that she told me about him that they were in love and that they were gonna go to the ends of the earth to be together," Spencer remembered.

Abby Wathen

Abby Wathen formed a strong off-screen friendship with Meghan Markle while working together on the 2013 romcom Random Encounters.

Their bond was rooted in their similar relationship experiences. "Meghan and I bonded because I was married and she was getting married," Wathen recalled in the 2017 documentary Prince Harry and Meghan: Truly, Madly, Deeply.

Wathen revealed she was invited to Markle's 2011 wedding to producer Trevor Engleson, but couldn't attend. When both of their marriages ended around the same time, their connection deepened.

"We bonded on that too," Wathen shared, adding, "I was destroyed, but she was empowered. She took her power back." Reflecting on Markle's resilience and ambition, Wathen remarked, "I think she kind of always knew that she would be successful."

Howie Mandell

The host of "Deal or No Deal," comedian Howie Mandel, has admitted that he has no recollection of Markle from their time working together.

"I don't remember her to this day," he said on Piers Morgan Uncensored in 2022.

However, while they didn't become besties back then, Mandel spoke out in support of Markle after her comments about his game show were criticised.

"I don't think Meghan is complaining. I think Meghan just said she wanted to do more," he told Us Weekly. Mandel also revealed that he can relate to the Duchess of Sussex.

"They had this pyramid of 26 beautiful, intelligent women standing there just staring at me like I was a piece of meat ... I felt like I am more than this," he quipped.

Amanda Schull

When New Idea spoke with Amanda Schull about her Suits co-star Meghan Markle's relationship with Prince Harry, Schull didn't focus on the royal connection.

Instead, she praised Meghan, saying, "I don't know [Harry] personally, but he's a very lucky man to have Meghan in his life because I can only say wonderful things about her."

Interestingly, when Schull joined Suits, it was Markle who was the one impressed by her.

Markle quickly transitioned from an inquisitive fan to a respected colleague.

Schull admired her work ethic, stating, "Every single time I worked with Meghan she was so prepared and so focused with her work on camera." Off camera, Schull described Markle as "always such an open, lovely, generous person from the very first day I met her."

Keith Robinson

In a 2018 interview with BBC Radio 5, actor Keith Robinson said that Harry is a fortunate man to be married to his on-screen wife in real life.

Robinson praised Markle's work ethic and attitude — as well as her appearance as he played her on-screen husband in the pilot series The Apostles.

"It's not hard to kiss a beautiful woman, so I'm glad they casted a beautiful woman to play my wife," he confessed.

Filming love scenes can be awkward, but Robinson thought that he and Markle vibed as co-stars.

"She was very into it, very giving. It wasn't a hard sell for me at all," he said (via the Daily Mail). "We had some pretty intense scenes."