Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s dramatic decision to split their time between the UK and the US and step back from royal duties last year meant that they were freed up to spend more time with some of their famous friends across the pond. Not least actress Abigail Spencer, who was spotted on a New Year’s Day hike with the pair in Vancouver when they settled there after leaving the UK. So, who is Meghan’s former Suits co-star? Here’s everything you need to know.
How old is Abigail Spencer?
Abigail is 39 years old, the same age as Meghan. Their bond can be traced back further than their acting days: they were born just hours apart from each other on August 4 1981.
Abigail grew up in Santa Rosa County Florida, the daughter of pro-surfer Yancy Bailey Spencer III.
What have I seen her in?
Abigail began her career playing Rebecca Tyree on daytime soap opera All My Children in 1999. She has also had guest roles on several TV shows including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, How I Met Your Mother and Mad Men.
Abigail went onto play Gena Brune in the second season of True Detective and was the star of sci-fi caper Timeless. The buzz around the actress continues: she followed a stint in TV hit Grey's Anatomy with a part in femme fatale thriller series Reprisal.
How does she know Meghan?
The friends are said to have met at an audition over a decade ago. 'I saw her and was like, "Who is this gorgeous girl?"' Abigail said of their first encounter. 'She was just so stunning and there was just something about her.'
Later, they would bond filming the American legal drama Suits. In the show, Meghan played senior paralegal Rachel Zane, and Abigail played Dana "Scottie" Scott, a recurring character on the show from 2011-2019.
Did she attend the royal wedding?
Abigail joined a glut of other A-Listers for Harry and Meghan’s wedding, spotted entering St George’s Chapel with fellow actress Priyanka Chopra. She’s stayed tight-lipped on what the event was like to attend, but has hinted on what she gave Meghan as a wedding gift: 'I think what [Harry and Meghan] would love is [for people] to donate to one of the charities that they are involved in.'
She also attended Meghan’s star-studded New York baby shower for Archie last year along with tennis superstar Serena Williams and make-up artist Daniel Martin.
And she's also a florist?
Abigail has just branched into floristry and is raising money for Meghan's Archewell Foundation with one of her bouquets in her Icons collection. The Hollywood Reporter states that she created the line 'to honour incredible change-makers in history' including the Gloria, the Stacey, the Jacinda and the Soul Sister, which she says 'is in honour of my best friend.' She does not go as far as to say that this relates to Meghan, but the sales to benefit Archewell.
Is she tied to the royal family any other ways?
You don’t have to be a staunch royalist to make the connection between Abigail and a famous English Spencer. Sharing a surname with Princess Diana, the actress hasn’t ruled out the possibility of a deeper relation with the royal family. She told Parade: 'My grandmother swears [we are], but I’ve never done any digging.' The actress went onto say: 'I did meet a lot of Spencers [in England] and I am a Spencer, so who knows?'