Meghan Markle seems determined to follow in the footsteps of Oscar-winning director Alexander Payne, as if method-acting her way into relevance.
The result is an awkward and cringeworthy imitation that has reportedly left Payne amused by her audacity. Her latest ambition? Working in a restaurant kitchen. On the surface, it might seem like a noble pursuit—if only it weren’t such an obvious attempt to rewrite history. Reports indicate that Meghan reached out to renowned restaurateur Alice Waters, expressing interest in interning at Chez Panisse. This is the same Meghan Markle who once trademarked a lifestyle brand before actually having one and who has long treated work as an abstract concept best left to others. Now, she suddenly wants to intern at a restaurant?
What makes this move even more comical is how closely it mirrors something Alexander Payne did years ago. In 2014, the celebrated filmmaker took a break from Hollywood to work at Chez Panisse following the passing of his brother. Unlike Meghan, Payne had a genuine connection to food. He is a well-known foodie whose family owned restaurants, and his time in the kitchen wasn’t for publicity—it was for the experience and to immerse himself in the craft. Meghan, on the other hand, appears to be slipping into yet another role, this time playing the part of a humble kitchen intern.
It seems highly unlikely that this is just a coincidence. Meghan has known about Payne for years. Back in 2012, she posted on Instagram about visiting The Hitching Post Winery, a key location in Payne’s Oscar-winning film Sideways. She even called the movie a masterpiece. To pretend she wasn’t aware of Payne’s time at Chez Panisse would be disingenuous. Her entire strategy revolves around absorbing inspiration from others and rebranding it as her own. She has always been a step behind the curve. Even when she raved about Sideways in 2012, the film had already been out for eight years. Meghan operates on a delayed timeline, as if pop culture needs to simmer for a decade before she acknowledges it. Now, she’s attempting to recreate Payne’s journey, but with far more staged candids and curated lighting.
Realistically, Meghan wouldn’t last a single shift in a professional kitchen. Before she could even touch a cutting board, she’d have to pass a food safety program—something no one expects her to do. The most she has ever done in her so-called cooking segments is garnish a dish before dramatically lamenting how difficult it would be for her to work in a real kitchen due to “security concerns.” Security? Who exactly is posing a threat in the kitchen? A rogue spatula?
Alexander Payne is likely laughing at this feeble attempt to replicate his career moves. As a filmmaker known for his authenticity and sharp wit, he actually put in the work when he interned at Chez Panisse. Meghan, on the other hand, sees hard work as nothing more than a perfectly staged photo opportunity. Payne values real experience over performance, making Meghan’s latest reinvention as a culinary apprentice as amusing to him as it is to the rest of us.
If there’s one thing Payne is respected for, it’s his ability to capture authenticity. He casts real people in his films because he values genuine presence. Meghan, however, is the complete opposite—everything about her is a rehearsed, overacted performance. She wouldn’t even be cast as an extra in one of Payne’s movies because she lacks the one thing he values most: sincerity. So, while Payne continues to make brilliant films and live authentically, Meghan will keep playing dress-up in her latest role—culinary apprentice.
