What is WME? A look at the talent agency and the actors it represents amid Meghan Markle speculation

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex and former actress of Suits, is being plagued by speculation that her talent agency, WME, has dropped her. The news comes amidst the delay of the launch of Markle’s lifestyle brand and a lifestyle show on Netflix, With Love, Meghan.

WME, which currently represents Markle, is Hollywood’s leading talent agency that gives directions to the careers of the vast number of its celebrity clients. According to its website, the agency deals with celebrities and artists from the fields of film, television, fashion, media, sports, and more.

WME was formed through a merger of giants in the talent agency business, WMA and Endeavor, in 2009. Variety’s report on the merger estimated that the formation of WME would result in a “mega-agency” that would dominate Hollywood.

The agency also describes itself on its webpage as the “original advocate” for talent, and considering that WMA was established in 1898, the claim rings fascinatingly true.

Founded by William Morris, an Austrian immigrant to America, the agency developed into the "largest independent agency" in the US in 1900, according to archivist Frank Cullen.

---

Notable acting talent represented by WME

WME has a slew of award-winning and commercially popular acting talent that are represented by the agency. Kieran Culkin, who is having a magnificent run at the awards season for his role in A Real Pain, was acknowledged by the agency in an Instagram post that highlighted the actor’s SAG Award win. According to Deadline, the Succession actor had signed with the agency in 2023.

WME had also signed Dove Cameron, Schmigadoon! actress and award-winning music star in 2023, as reported by Variety.

The year 2024 saw the talent agency’s acquisition of Ben Stiller and Sam Worthington, according to reports by Deadline. Worthington, who appeared in Avatar, is awaiting the release of the third installment of the Avatar franchise in 2025. Stiller, who is popular for Night at the Museum and independent films such as The Meyerowitz Stories, recently executive produced and directed Apple TV’s Severance.

WME’s recent acquisition was Ke Huy Quan. The Everything Everywhere All At Once actor won an Academy Award for the best supporting actor in 2023. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Quan signed with WME in January 2025.

---

Artists in trouble with WME

While WME has a notable record of representing Hollywood’s best talent, the agency has frequently run into problems with celebrities.

In December 2024, Deadline reported that Justin Baldoni was dropped by WME in the wake of the lawsuit filed by actress Blake Lively (who is still represented by WME) accusing Baldoni of s*xual harassment. Lively's complaint is linked to her role in the 2024 film It Ends With Us, which was directed and produced by Baldoni, who also starred in the film alongside Lively.

In February 2025, E!News reported that WME’s CEO, Ari Emanuel, spoke about Baldoni’s firing in a yet-to-be-released podcast. Emanuel was quoted by the news outlet as responding to the allegations against Baldoni. Emanuel said,

“If what is alleged in her lawsuit that what happened on social media is true, just because she complained to the studio that things were unhealthy on the set, and that he was director and this man was the producer, and they did to her what is being alleged—they’re really bad people.”

This hasn’t been the agency’s only brush with trouble. Rumors have been floating around that Meghan Markle might have been dropped by the agency due to her “difficult” behavior. Page Six noted that the agency and Markle are dealing with problems. Despite the rumors, WME and Markle continue to be in business, as confirmed by a representative in Page Six's report. The agency also continues to work with Markle and her husband, Prince Harry’s foundation, Archewell.

Things might not be as ideal for Markle though. The duchess had attempted to establish a lifestyle brand, "American Riviera Orchard" in 2024, which ran into trouble due to trademark issues, according to The Independent. The brand was launched again under the name "As Ever," and Markle took to Instagram to break the news. The updated release date of her Netflix show, With Love, Meghan (which was postponed due to the L.A. fires) was also announced. On February 18, Markle said,

“In two weeks, my series on @netflix launches — but there’s something else I’ve been working on. I’m thrilled to introduce you to As Ever — a brand that I created and have poured my heart into.”

While speculation about the status of Markle’s relationship with WME remains strong, there has not been a public confirmation of a split between the agency and Markle.

On a different note, WME continues to represent Hollywood’s leading talent, ensuring that art produced by dedicated talent keeps reaching viewers and fans year after year.