Meghan Markle, the former American actress, is trying out a new role this year: local singer.
The Duchess of Sussex's upcoming Netflix series, “With Love, Meghan,” has been postponed to March 4 due to the Los Angeles wildfires. Ahead of its premiere, the former “Suits” star was compared to Martha Stewart and Nigella Lawson, two lifestyle gurus who overcame bad press.
But some royal experts believe the mother-of-three has a long way to go before she is welcomed into the coveted circle.
Meghan Markle postpones release of lifestyle series due to California wildfires
Mindy Kaling appears on Markle's new show, which premieres March 4. (Netflix)
“Meghan's team has helped her put a huge amount of positive marketing and branding into her Netflix series,” British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital.
“Over time you may achieve lifestyle success,” Chard said. “However, this will take a long time because Meghan’s personality does not fit this nice image.”
According to reports, Meghan Markle filmed her series in a rented Montecito pad near her home. (Netflix)
“It feels inauthentic,” Chard said. “It's as if she's trying to fit in somehow by playing a very old-fashioned housewife role… very strange and depressing. She's spoken poorly and abandoned the majority of her family and friends, and that certainly does not conjure an image of love and joy.”
Some royal experts have compared Meghan Markle to Nigella Lawson (left) and Martha Stewart (right), two lifestyle gurus who successfully revamped their brands after the scandal. (Getty Images)
The comparison between the three women was first made by New York Times. She noted that Meghan's plan to take control of the lifestyle follows a “lucrative” scheme that has worked for both Stewart, 83, and Lawson, 65.
The newspaper reported that both women were once at a public crisis center.
Nigella Lawson leaves Isleworth Crown Court on December 5, 2013, in Isleworth, England. The Italian sisters Francesca and Elisabetta Grillo, who worked as assistants to Nigella Lawson and Charles Saatchi, were accused of defrauding them. (Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)
In 2004, Stewart served a five-month prison sentence after being convicted on charges related to insider trading, including obstruction of justice and conspiracy. After serving some time, she rebuilt her brand and made a comeback as a successful entrepreneur and television personality.
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Martha Stewart was released from federal prison on March 4, 2005. (James Devaney/WireImage/Getty Images)
Lawson's failed marriage to the millionaire art collector Charles Saatchi, and their stormy home life was the subject of tabloid newspapers. Things escalated when he was photographed grabbing her by the throat outside a London restaurant, and their divorce quickly followed in 2013.
While testifying at the trial of two of her former assistants that year, the famous chef admitted in court that she had taken cocaine but denied that she was a habitual user.
Like Stewart, Lawson put the past behind her and started over. She has come out on top with a new cookbook and has appeared on several cooking specials. These days, it's more famous for going viral after its unique pronunciation of the word “microwave.”
English chef and food writer Nigella Lawson attends a book signing and lunch at Taxi Kitchen restaurant in Melbourne, during her tour of Australia, January 24, 2018. (Scott McNaughton/The Epoch via Getty Images)
“Martha Stewart is a pioneer in her field,” Chard said. “She achieved great success not only through her talent but through being herself and her tremendous persistence and determination. She was… innovative and wowed her audience.
“The same can be said for the very lovable Nigella, who is a wonderful cook and hostess. She also has a more mysterious, original and fun personality.”
Martha Stewart attends the 2023 Sportswear Swimsuit Edition Launch Party at Hard Rock Hotel New York on May 18, 2023 in New York City. I made the cover that year. (Noam Galai/Getty Images for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit)
“I find Meghan's lifestyle series outdated,” he said absently. “She needs to add more to make her offering fresh and interesting. It would also be helpful to have her as a trained expert in the field. People can then buy into the brand she builds instead of being suffocated by smoke and mirrors.”
Before joining the British royal familyMegan had a lifestyle blog called The Tig. It closed after her engagement to Harry in 2017. One of her first initiatives as a member of the royal family was partnering with Hubb Community Kitchen for a fundraising cookbook.
“It seems inauthentic. Like she's trying to fit in somehow by playing a very old-fashioned housewife role… very strange and depressing. She's spoken poorly and abandoned the majority of her family and friends, and that certainly doesn't conjure an image of love and joy.”
Meghan Markle, who played Rachel Zane in “Suits,” had a lifestyle website called The Tig. It was closed after her engagement to Prince Harry. (Robert Ascroft/USA Network/NBCU Image Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
But over the years, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have made headlines for airing their grievances. After moving to California in 2020, they gave a TV interview with Oprah Winfrey where they detailed their struggles with royal life. Then in late 2022, they unveiled their controversial Netflix docuseries “Harry & Meghan,” followed by Harry’s provocative memoir “Spare.” Each launch highlighted new allegations about their time as royals.
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Oprah Winfrey gave an exclusive interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2021 where they revealed their struggles with royal life. (Harpo Productions/Joe Pugliese via Getty Images)
Some experts believe that taking on a completely different role – one that has already been played several times – will be more difficult.
“Martha Stewart was really the first mover in this space and, some would argue, created the entire lifestyle industry,” Doug Eldridge, an agent, celebrity branding and marketing expert and founder of Achilles PR, told Fox News Digital.
Office workers in London watch the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's controversial documentary “Harry and Meghan” on December 8, 2022. (Jonathan Brady/PA Images via Getty Images)
“In the three decades since … the industry has become increasingly saturated,” he said. “That doesn't mean Meghan can't carve out her own corner of the lifestyle market, but doing so will be much harder than it was just a decade ago. It's like swimming in a lane with three other swimmers, versus 35 people carrying pool noodles.” “And they move so vigorously, it's hard to distinguish – let alone control – when the place is this crowded.”
Several royal experts have said that Meghan Markle has a lot to learn from the professionals who came before her. “Martha Stewart was really the first mover in this space and, some would argue, created the entire lifestyle industry,” Doug Eldridge, an agent and celebrity branding and marketing expert, told Fox News Digital. (Netflix/Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images)
“You'll have to adjust your movement or swim in a completely different direction,” Eldridge added.
British royal expert Hilary Fordwich She told Fox News Digital that she doesn't feel like the 43-year-old has found her niche yet. She claimed that the series actually seemed to miss the mark in showing Meghan's true side.
Watch: Meghan Markle will never win over the British public again, author claims
“Meghan should instead focus on her brand,” Fordwich explained. “She's very thin, so she should capitalize on that in her brand… Americans, and indeed many around the world, would accept her being as thin as she is… It's impossible to have her figure while indulging in sugar and cake and the like. Who should She shares how she has such a figure, and is clearly showing off a food she rarely eats instead.
Meghan Markle announced her new Netflix show via her recently launched Instagram page. (Netflix)
“Also true to the brand, You have landed a princeFordwich said. “How about she be completely original for once and give single women her tips on how to land an eligible bachelor?” Many also want to act. How about how to get acting jobs?”
“In other words, she has to be true to her character,” Fordwich added.
But not everyone agrees.
“It's about connecting with friends… making new ones… and just learning,” Meghan Markle said in the trailer for her Netflix series. (Netflix)
“I think it's the opposite – what can Martha and Nigella learn from Meghan?” Royal expert Ian Pelham-Turner told Fox News Digital.
“Meghan wins constantly, because her compassion for real people is enormous,” he said. “When she started cooking with Muslim women and then created fundraising opportunities, she won the hearts of ethnic communities – that's the real Meghan.
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Meghan Markle resides in the wealthy coastal city of Montecito. (Getty Images)
“Nigella and Martha are very good. They use their intelligence to communicate. Megan communicates from the heart,” he said. “It's up to the Americans…whether she succeeds. I hope she wins. She deserves it too.”
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, helps prepare food at the launch of a cookbook containing recipes from a group of women affected by the Grenfell Tower fire on September 20, 2018. (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)
“With love, Megan” is The Duchess of Sussex's first solo hosting gig Project for Netflix. Last year, she also dropped a glimpse at her upcoming lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard. Many of her celebrity friends showed off her strawberry jam on Instagram.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
