Meghan Markle was shortlisted as Daniel Craig’s next Bond Girl – before romance with Harry made her ‘unattainable’

MEGHAN Markle was once shortlisted to be a Bond Girl, The Sun can reveal.

The actress, 36, caught the eye of 007 producers in her role as Rachel Zane in US legal drama Suits last year.

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Bosses wanted a glamorous actress for the upcoming films and thought Meghan would be a perfect fit.

Also on the shortlist was Baywatch stunner Ilfenesh Hadera, 32, who they thought could become one of Daniel Craig’s love interest in the upcoming 007 film Bond 25, which will be released in 2019.

But Meghan’s then-fledgling relationship with Prince Harry, 33, ruled her out of the role, as producers believed she would be unattainable.

She would have joined the long list of previous Bond girls, including Lea Seydoux, 32, and Eva Green, 37.

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A film source said: “Meghan fits the role of a Bond girl perfectly. She’s glamorous and sexy and a good actress.

“The role more recently has gone to actresses deemed to be rising stars, and Meghan certainly was seen as that before her relationship with Harry became public.

“The brief was to find a glamorous rising star, specifically someone American or Canadian.

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“Producers had narrowed down her and four other actresses on a shortlist last year with Bond 25 in mind. But the minute her relationship to Harry came to light they assumed she was out of the running so it soon became a list of four.

“Her engagement effectively spelt an end to her acting career too so that was the final blow.”

Earlier this year bookies offered odds on Meghan to be a Bond girl after a flurry of bets.

At one point she was as short as 16/1, with Aussie actress Margot Robbie the favourite at 9/2.

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But last month The Sun revealed how she had quit showbiz altogether, telling her agent and Hollywood friends she is not interested in any further acting or other paid work following her engagement.

The writers of US legal series Suits confirmed she was leaving the programme after more than seven years in the drama.

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Kensington Palace also confirmed that Meghan will be giving up her charity work with the United Nations, plus her role as patron at organisations including World Vision Canada and One Young World.

When asked in the couple’s first interview about giving up her career, a smitten Meghan replied: “I don’t see it as giving anything up. I just see it as a change.”

Last night a palace spokesman declined to comment.