Ray Winstone has laughed off rumours that Meghan Markle could be joining the cast of The Gentlemen, appearing genuinely stunned when the Duchess of Sussex‘s name was raised in connection with Guy Ritchie‘s hit Netflix crime drama.
The actor, who plays crime boss Bobby Glass in the series, was asked about the speculation during an appearance on The Romesh Ranganathan Show.
And it is fair to say he was not expecting the question.
When asked whether he knew if Meghan was starring in The Gentlemen, Winstone replied: ‘What? Who? I’ve never met her.’
The 69-year-old then appeared shocked by the suggestion that the former Suits star could feature in a future series.
‘What in the Gentleman? Oh shut up! I don’t think so. Who spreads these rumours, we’ve got to find them.’
The comments come amid weeks of speculation that Meghan, 45, could be considering a return to acting, with reports linking her to a possible role in the third season of Ritchie’s stylish crime series.
The rumours intensified last month after reports suggested the Duchess, who returned to live in the UK with Prince Harry, was interested in making a comeback to acting.
Ray Winstone, who plays crime boss Bobby Glass in the series, was asked about the speculation during an appearance on The Romesh Ranganathan Show
Prince Harry and Meghan visit the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne in April
The Gentlemen has now officially been renewed for a third season, with creator Guy Ritchie saying the show’s expanding world and ambitions made another instalment feel inevitable.
Yet the stars of the show have been far from convinced that Meghan will be joining them.
At the London premiere of season two last week, Vinnie Jones was asked about reports that Meghan could appear in the next series.
In his typically direct style, British actor and former professional footballer Vinnie said: ‘I think it’s hot air.’
He added: ‘We’ve got a lot of pretty women in this series, so I’m not sure there’s room for any more.’
Theo James, who plays aristocrat-turned-crime boss Eddie Horniman, also appeared to dismiss the speculation.
When asked about the Sussex rumours, he joked: ‘No. Prince Harry is playing one of my love interests. So that’s the Meghan Markle thing.’
He later said: ‘I think it’s a spurious rumour. She’d fit in well because she’s actually from the Royal Family, but I think the practicalities of that are impossible.’
James subsequently described the casting talk as little more than speculation, while acknowledging that plans for the show’s third season are still developing.
Hugh Bonneville, who joins the second season as the colourful Lord Hawthorne, was equally dismissive, describing the speculation as ‘a genius bit of marketing by the person who dreamt up that idea’.
And new star Maya Jama, who makes her scripted acting debut in the second season, simply said: ‘I’d be the last person to know.’
Maya Jama has signed up for series three of The Gentlemen according to reports, after stars of the show dismissed rumours Meghan Markle would join the cast
Meanwhile Kaya Scodelario channelled her impeccably styled character Susie as she dazzled in diamonds
The comments were reported as Meghan speculation continued to dominate coverage surrounding the show’s second-season premiere at the Guildhall Art Gallery in London.
Guy Ritchie declined to give interviews on the red carpet, meaning he did not publicly confirm or deny reports that he had held preliminary discussions with Meghan about a possible role.
The Duchess has nevertheless been repeatedly linked with a return to acting, having previously found fame as Rachel Zane in Suits before stepping back from the profession following her relationship with Prince Harry.
Royal author Tina Brown has claimed that an offer of an acting role was withdrawn within 24 hours of the Sussexes returning to the UK because the ‘backlash was so intense it became untenable’.
There have also been suggestions that the Meghan-Gentlemen story itself could have been deliberately leaked to generate publicity.
PR expert Mark Borkowski said the timing was suspicious, arguing that it appeared designed to attract attention without anyone having to formally confirm a deal.
Addressing claims that it was a deliberate leak from the Sussex side, he told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s totally plausible because there’s not been a single quote from the production, so they’re enjoying all the publicity, it’s good for them.’
But while the speculation has been repeatedly dismissed by members of the cast, one source claimed there could still be a possibility of Meghan appearing in the show.
‘I gather talks are still ongoing despite claims that it’s all off. It was a factor for her in moving back to the UK’, they said.
The Love Island presenter, 32, made her scripted acting debut in the second series of Guy Ritchie’s Netflix hit, in which she plays Aisha, the wife of a criminal associate
The new glimpse at the upcoming series shows James’s character Eddie take on the Glass family’s empire as he makes a bid to resume complete control of his estate
It has also been claimed that Meghan may have spoken directly with Ritchie, although no official confirmation of any discussions has emerged.
Another source claimed there were ‘deafening rumours’ that the former Suits actress was hoping to secure a serious stage role in London’s West End as part of a wider return to acting.
The latest instalment of The Gentlemen landed on Netflix on September 3, with Theo James returning as Eddie Horniman, alongside Kaya Scodelario as Susie Glass and Winstone as her formidable father Bobby.
The new season sees Eddie and Susie expand their criminal empire, while Bobby’s increasingly erratic behaviour threatens to destabilise their operation.
The star-studded cast turned out in force for the London premiere, with Maya Jama making her debut as Aisha, the wife of a criminal associate of James’s character.
Jama, 32, made an eye-catching entrance in a daringly cut leather gown, custom-made by R&M Leathers and styled by Rhea Francois.
Kaya Scodelario, 34, meanwhile channelled her impeccably styled character Susie as she dazzled in diamonds while wearing a custom Paolo Sebastian corset gown.
She returns as the daughter of Winstone’s Bobby Glass, the mobster who operates a vast cannabis empire from English country estates.
James, 41, dressed to impress in a bespoke suit as he once again stepped into the shoes of the duke-turned-crime boss Eddie.
Bonneville also attended alongside his partner Heidi Kadlecova after joining the cast as Lord Hawthorne.
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