'I'm a PR expert and this is why Meghan Markle's return is a desperate call for attention'

Meghan Markle's shocking return to acting after eight years was described as a desperate call for "attention" by a PR expert. The Duchess of Sussex was spotted on set in Los Angeles, filming a movie that will feature other Hollywood A-listers.

Meghan is set to play herself in Jason Orley's Close Personal Friends, which boasts Lily Collins, Brie Larson, Jack Quaid - son of Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid - and Brit Henry Golding among its cast. The film is about two couples-one famous and one not-who meet in Santa Barbara and become fast friends, and Meghan is reportedly going to make a cameo appearance.

Now, a PR expert was cautious of Meghan's next move and said it can be confusing to her fans as it doesn't necessarily align with the image she has been trying to promote in the last couple of years.

The Duchess has ventured out in the business world in the last year, launching her lifestyle brand As Ever and promoting herself as a female founder.

Renae Smith, founder of The Atticism, told the Express: "What makes it risky is the tone. Will she lean into self-awareness and play an exaggerated, cheeky version of herself?

"That could actually work (to a degree) as people love it when celebrities show they can take a joke. Or will she double down on that overly polished, 'perfect housewife' image we saw in the Netflix series, or, heaven forbid, the weird podcast version?

"Because those versions of her have become a bit of a cultural punchline. If she goes that route, it'll only confirm what critics already think: that she's not relatable and doesn't get the public mood."

The PR expert added that her latest move risks blurring the line when it comes to the narrative she wants to project, saying that it could end up making it look like a desperate call for attention.

Ms Smith explained: "Strategically, it's confusing too. She's spent the past couple of years trying to reposition herself as a businesswoman and philanthropist, then as an influencer/lifestyle brand - but definitely not a performer.

"So this move muddies the narrative: is she building a brand, or chasing relevance? My guess is she's going for 'anything that will get attention'."