A princess performer
MEGHAN AGED 11 SHOWS TALENT FOR STAGE IN SCHOOL VIDEO
AT only 11 years old, the girl in the stripey T-shirt certainly knew how to put on a show.
All eyes were on her as she confidently sang and danced her way through a school graduation before an audience of proud parents.
Next month, 25 years on, the whole world will be watching Meghan Markle live the princess dream of millions of little girls when she becomes a Royal bride.
But back in 1993 on a summer’s day at Hollywood Little Red School House she was already showing the star quality that would lead to a screen career, as our exclusive videos show – as well as the big smile and sparkling personality that would win the heart of Prince Harry.
The films were captured by the mum of Meghan’s best friend Ninaki Priddy as pupils performed a ‘Broadway Comes To Hollywood’ show – with the two pals presenting the ‘Meghan and Niki Awards’ to honour their favourite teachers with special plaques.
At first, Meghan can be seen looking awkward as she takes the mic to address parents – including her own proud mum Doria and dad Tom, a former TV lighting director.
But any nerves quickly evaporate as she tells the audience at the Los Angeles school: “We’re here to thank all the people who made us feel really special over past nine years.”
CHEEKY
Jewellery designer Ninaki, 37, said: “Looking back, I’m sure it was Meghan and Tom’s idea to find an entertaining way to properly honour the teachers – but it was always done in a cheeky way where Meghan would leave her thumbprint on it. Our school was very liberal. It really was a very sweet moment to honour our teachers.”
After the awards, principal Miss Debbie gives Meghan and three other Sixth Grade graduating students their diplomas before the fun begins.
Meghan dons a pair of funky sunglasses before giving an energetic dance performance to Chuck Berry’s Roll Over Beethoven with her classmates.
Later she changes into a flowing sleeveless dress, twirling around in ‘cha cha’ style moves.
She and her pals also dance to Grease Lightning and other big Broadway hits such West Side Story classic America.
As the show rolls on, Meghan and her friends perform their own version of The Bobbettes 1957 hit Mr Lee – changing the lyrics to Mr T in tribute to teacher Mr Teryl.
They then look towards him shouting “We love you”.
At the end of the performances, Meghan proves a dab hand at cutting her graduation cake – good practice for the big day – at one point yelling to a friend to come and hold the knife with the rest of the group.
“I would say Meghan was always a leader in a group, she was vocal,” said Ninaki. “She definitely had that ‘mother hen’ characteristic, gathering all her little ducklings together.” Even in video clips of earlier years, Meghan – who will marry Prince Harry at Windsor Castle on May 19 – appeared to exude confidence and charisma. In December 1990, she is filmed in a white jumper rapping with Ninaki and classmates as they perform Christmas in Hollis by Run DMC. The future actress, who found fame as Rachel Zane in US legal drama Suits, later narrated a performance of the Dr Seuss story How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Ninaki said: “Meghan is very articulate and would always make a point to correct you. She just wanted everything to be very proper. I’d say she was a perfectionist. ”
She’s also captured performing other holiday songs and narrating a another Dr Seuss performance as part of her school’s 1991 Christmas show.
The classmates then sing Spanish Christmas song Feliz Navidad as well as Jingle Bell Rock. Ninaki said: “Our
Christmas shows were always very fun and light-hearted. Our school turned every type of holiday and end of year into a sensation.
“There was always a spectacle around it. I look back on the years we had there and they stand out as very colourful.”
Yet Meghan’s happiness in the school videos hid a sadness back at home. Her parents had divorced in 1988 and she lived with mum Doria but also spent time with her father as a joint custody arrangement. Ninaki added: “I knew about it but nobody else at school did.
“It was never something she would talk about. It’s an intimate thing to share and to be vulnerable at that age.
“I think her character and bravado was very much her armour. It was her way of being able to outshine what was really an insecurity for her.” Reflecting on their time together, Ninaki said: “Our school allowed flexibility for a lot of people who worked in the entertainment industry to be able to take their kids there.
“A lot of the kids had parents in music and entertainment.
“There’d always be an actor here and there come to pick up their child, so that interaction was very normal. I don’t think our teachers would be surprised at where Meghan is now. Her dad worked on TV sets. Meghan was going on auditions and would take a test here and there, doing headshots.
“It was very much known within the school she wanted to be an actress, and she exuded that type of persona. People could tell she had a thirst for fame.”
It was known in school she wanted to be an actress. She had a thirst for fame NINAKI PRIDDY ON HER OLD SCHOOL PAL’S AMBITION