Meghan Markle Returns to the Screen Narrating Disney Documentary 'Elephant'
Meghan Markle has made her post-royal debut as a voiceover actor for Disney in documentary 'Elephant.'
- After reports surfaced in January the Meghan Markle had signed a deal with Disney to do voiceover work in exchange for charitable donations, we're finally getting a look at her first project.
- The film follows a family of elephants across the Kalahari Desert. The trailer doesn't have Meghan's voice so we'll have to wait to watch.
- Meghan and Prince Harry's relationship with Disney extends beyond the professional; They were gifted a personal animation after son Archie Harrison was born that is just too cute.
Oooh this is exciting! As first reported by People, former Suits actor and former senior royal Meghan Markle has officially debuted as a voiceover actor for Disney: Disneynature just tweeted a trailer for their documentary Elephant. Here's the basic synopsis:
"Elephant follows African elephant Shani and her spirited son Jomo as their herd make an epic journey hundreds of miles across the vast Kalahari Desert. Led by their great matriarch, Gaia, the family faces brutal heat, dwindling resources and persistent predators, as they follow in their ancestor’s footsteps on a quest to reach a lush, green paradise."
Annnd I'm already crying.
In January, it was reported that Meghan had entered into a deal with Disney to do voiceover work in exchange for charitable donations to a cause of her choice. There'd been reports in March that Meghan could also return to acting as soon as the fall and has been looking for agents, so this might be the start of quite a lot of work for the former senior royal.
She and husband Prince Harry have a history of support for elephants as well as other animals native to Africa and animals that are endangered. Their choice to work has garnered controversy among fans and royals, but this seems pretty in keeping with Meghan's focus on highlighting causes that are important to her. Apparently this is also in recognition of Earth Month. Seriously, her narration is going to garner so many views for the film, I bet.
Here's the trailer (although this is just a teaser and we don't actually hear her voice):
Two new movies, two unforgettable journeys. Start streaming Disneynature’s Elephant, narrated by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, and Disneynature’s Dolphin Reef, narrated by Natalie Portman, on April 3, only on #DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/N0yW0e7Lv6March 26, 2020
When Meghan and Harry attended the Lion King premiere in London, they were heard pitching this kind of work to director Jon Favreau:
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"Next time, anyone needs any extra voiceover work, we can make ourselves available," it sounds like Harry says.
Meghan responds, "That's really why we're here, to pitch."
"Anything like that," Harry says. "Just not Scar. That's a no to Scar."
Harry also appeared to pitch former Disney CEO Bob Iger:
So, as expected, it sounds like Disney absolutely leapt at the chance. I cannot wait to watch.
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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.
Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.
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