Lucy Hale Says She & Meghan Markle Starred in a TV Pilot Together

It’s no secret that Meghan Markle appeared on Suits, Deal or No Deal and in a variety of movies prior to meeting and marrying her now-husband, Prince Harry. But did you know that she also starred in a pilot with Lucy Hale?

Hale recently sat down for an interview with Entertainment Tonight and revealed that she previously worked with the duchess on a TV show. Although the series never made it to air, Hale admitted that she vividly remembers the first time she saw Markle.

“I didn’t realize this because none of my scenes were with her, but it was an ABC pilot,” Hale explained. “I had just moved to Los Angeles. I was like 16. It was called Secrets of a Small Town, and she was in that pilot. I remember at the table read I was like, ‘Oh my god, she’s so beautiful.’ But I don’t think I ever spoke to her.”

While Hale didn’t know who she was at the time, she expressed a little regret about a particular missed opportunity. “I’ve never met Prince Harry,” she said. “Only in my dreams.”

The pilot was filmed in the early 2000s, which means neither Hale nor Markle were household names in Hollywood. This also means it was prior to Hale’s starring gig on Pretty Little Liars, in addition to Markle’s breakout role on Suits. (The duchess played Rachel Zane in the first seven seasons.)

Fingers crossed ABC still has a copy of the Secrets of a Small Town pilot somewhere in its TV show archive.