Why it’s not cool that Meghan Markle was asked to lie about her age

'I think if anyone has a problem then it’s their problem, not mine...'

From the editors of LOOK

How old is Meghan Markle? Well, shouldn’t we actually be asking: why is that even important?

It’s no secret that there are some terrible standards in the film and TV industry; the allegations against Harvey Weinstein has shed a lot of light on sexual harassment and the treatment of women, the gender pay gap is an ongoing issue, and there’s also been a lot of talk about the lack of diversity on-screen.

Meghan Markle might be engaged to royalty, but she started out her career in Hollywood. The Suits actress has always been pretty straight-talking when it comes to the issues of the world, and ageism in the media industry has also been on her radar.

Speaking in 2015, Meghan described how she was once advised to lie about her age in order to increase her chances of landing a role.

The Sun reports that, at the time, she said: ‘I think that as women actors, the industry can assume they have a shelf life.

‘I’m always told, ‘Don’t say your age’. I’m 33 and I’m really comfortable with that. I think if anyone has a problem then it’s their problem, not mine.’

YAS. What a fist-pump line that is.

‘I think in television, you are seeing a shift of women who are not in their 20s who play strong women,’ Meghan reportedly added.

The bride-to-be, now 36, also described how a director once requested that she buy him a cheesecake when auditioning for a job. Er.

Highlighting how male film bosses can sometimes exert their positions of power over younger actors, she reportedly also said: ‘I had $20 in my bank account. There was this audition for this film and the director said, ‘You know I think you’re really something, but if you want to get the part you should bring me some cheesecake’.

‘And I was like, "I’m sorry?". So I spent my last money on this cheesecake and I didn’t get the part.’

She added: ‘There are these power-hungry people that take advantage when you are young and impressionable and want it so badly.’

Really not cool. We think it’s safe to say that neither your age, nor your taste in dessert, should have any bearing on how suited you are for a job.