Patrick J. Adams has revealed new details about the audition that landed Meghan Markle her breakout role in “Suits.” According to Adams, it was all about easy chemistry.
The “Suits” star, 43, spoke about Markle’s audition on the second episode of his new SiriusXM show, “Sidebar: A Suits Watch Podcast,” which he hosts with Sarah Rafferty, who played Donna Roberta Paulsen on the USA Network series. Adams, it turns out, worked with Markle, 43, on a “terrible, terrible pilot” before their time together on “Suits.” “There was a setting up of a romantic relationship in the pilot of that particular pilot too,” the actor said.
“And then we never saw each other again. The pilot failed. It was terrible and went away.
And so we had never seen each other nor spoken to each other again.” Years later, Adams booked the lead role of Mike Ross on “Suits.” As he was the first to be cast, the show’s producers were still searching for the actress who would play Rachel Zane, a paralegal and Ross’ love interest.
Ross acted as a scene partner for the actresses who made the final round of auditions — colloquially called a “chemistry read.” As the name indicates, this final test determines whether sparks fly between the actor who already has the job and the auditioning hopefuls. Adams recalled being surprised when he saw Markle at the chemistry reads.
“She was right there and she said, ‘Hi.’ And I went, ‘Oh my God! So good to see you!'” According .