General Hospital: Why Meghan Markle’s Nurse Jill Role Matters Now
Former General Hospital Actress Meghan Markle – YouTube
General Hospital headlines haven’t recently carried news about the fact that Meghan Markle started her acting career on the ABC daytime drama. But, recent news that the wife of Prince Harry returns to filming a new movie, brings an opportunity to remind folks where she started out. The Amazon MGM movie is currently filming, and is titled Close Personal Friends.
A Small Part
Not everyone remembers Meghan on GH. In fact, it was a very small part and came with less than five sentences to speak. In November 2002, which is now 23 years ago, Meghan appeared as Nurse Jill. Although she never confirmed it, it’s generally believed that her dad Thomas Markle landed her the role because of his involvement with the lighting crew.
Meghan as Nurse Jill – General Hospital – ABC Via Nancy Lee Grahn Instagram (1)
Meghan as Nurse Jill – General Hospital – ABC Via Nancy Lee Grahn Instagram
Well if he got his daughter in front of the cameras for the first time, she certainly doesn’t seem very grateful. After all, the word on the royal family street is that she doesn’t have any contact with him at all. Later, as everyone knows, Markle appeared in Suits as Rachel Zane, and she also filmed a few other movies before her Netflix series.
The Storyline In 2002
The storyline of GH back in 2002 showed Meghan Markle’s small role was confined mainly to the background scenes in Port Charles hospital. She appeared alongside Jax Jacks (Ingo Rademacher) and Mac Scorpio (John J. York).
Meanwhile, the main drama unfolded with AJ Quartermaine (Billy Warlock) trying to win back Courtney Matthews (Alicia Leigh Willis). Meanwhile, Brenda Barrett (Vanessa Marcil) turned to Jason Morgan (Steve Burton) as her health declined. Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) faced down Luis Alcazar (Ted King) about her sister Kristina’s death.
Nancy Remembers Markle
In August 2021, Nancy Lee Grahn recalled Meghan Markle acting her little part on General Hospital. At the time, she shared some screenshots of the then former actress who married a royal and lives in Montecito.
In her caption, she seemed to be rather admiring, saying, “Look who played a nurse on #GH. She was a lovely young [woman] then, and still is.”
Well, lots of younger viewers in their early 20s didn’t know that Meghan was once Nurse Jill. Notably, she seldom mentions General Hospital in her many interviews as she attempts to build an empire as an entrepreneur and role model. Plus it was a long time ago. When she filmed for ABC, Markle would have been about 21 years old.
A Short-Lived Role
It seems that Meghan only played the role of Nurse Jill for two episodes. Then, the character disappeared from GH and never returned. So, no recasts happened.
There is some confusion over whether the scenes aired in 2002 or 2001, but that’s irrelevant after all these years. Probably, as Meghan was studying at Northwestern University at the time, the bit-part role gave her an opportunity to get a foot in the door of the acting world.
Did you know that Meghan Markle got her start on GH? Will you watch her new movie? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all our General Hospital cast news and updates.