Meghan Markle in her actress era before she became a royal — see the photos

A 24-year-old Meghan looked almost unrecognizable when she attended the Kari Feinstein Pre-Emmy Style Lounge in September 2005.

Years before Suits, she embraced the quintessential noughties aesthetic in low-rise, light-wash jeans, layered black and white T-shirts and a navy baseball cap, completing the casual look with a large shoulder bag.

At the time, Meghan was still trying to establish herself in Hollywood after landing small television roles.

By August 2006, Meghan was beginning to make more appearances on the Hollywood social scene.

She looked fresh-faced in a loose navy spaghetti-strap dress teamed with a pale blue clutch and metallic heels at the Coach Legacy Photo Exhibit.

Meghan attended the event with her then-boyfriend Trevor Engelson, whom she would later marry in Jamaica in 2011. The couple separated in 2013 and their divorce was finalised the following year.

Before becoming Rachel Zane, Meghan had another very different television role.

In 2006, she joined Deal or No Deal as one of the show's famous briefcase models, appearing during its second season.

Dressed in a plunging red mini dress and heels, Meghan was a world away from the polished royal wardrobe she would later become known for.

She has since spoken candidly about the experience, admitting on her Archetypes podcast: "It was solely about beauty and not necessarily about brains."

"I didn't like feeling forced to be all looks."

Despite her mixed feelings about the role, Meghan has acknowledged that Deal or No Deal provided valuable financial security while she pursued her acting ambitions.

"I was still really grateful as an auditioning actress to have a job that could pay my bills," she said. "I had income, I was part of the union, I had health insurance, it was great."

She ultimately left the show in 2007 to concentrate on acting.

Another photograph captures Meghan embracing classic 2000s fashion at the George Lopez and Great Chefs of LA event for the National Kidney Foundation in November 2006.

She wore faded bootcut jeans with a fitted black top and cropped black jacket, adding a statement multi-strand pearl necklace and structured handbag.

Her brunette hair was swept into a ponytail, a dramatically different beauty look from the sleek styles she favours today.

Before she became a regular fixture at major Hollywood events, Meghan attended a Primary Action celebrity event ahead of the 2007 Golden Globes.

The actress posed confidently in a strapless black-and-white mini dress with an oversized bow across the bust, wearing her hair pulled back from her face.

It came during the same period in which Meghan was leaving Deal or No Deal behind to pursue acting full-time.

Meghan experimented with a noticeably lighter hairstyle when she attended the launch of Alexa Chung's collection with Madewell in 2011.

Her long hair featured honey-blonde highlights and was styled loose around her shoulders, while she kept her outfit simple in a black mini dress, cardigan and slim belt.

The appearance came during a pivotal year for Meghan, with Suits premiering in June 2011 and finally giving the actress her big break.

Meghan was photographed alongside Trevor Engelson at the Anti-Defamation League Entertainment Industry Awards dinner in October 2011.

The newlywed actress wore a fitted sleeveless black pencil dress, while her caramel-highlighted hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders.

Meghan and Trevor had married in Jamaica earlier that year after a long-term relationship.

By January 2012, Meghan's profile was growing thanks to the success of Suits.

She was photographed signing her name at the HBO Luxury Lounge, with her long brunette hair worn loose and voluminous.

It marked the beginning of a very different period in Meghan's career as she transitioned from auditioning actress to the star of an increasingly successful television drama.

Meghan delivered one of her boldest early red carpet looks at the Warner Bros. and InStyle Golden Globe After Party in January 2012.

She wore a fitted deep blue halterneck dress that fell just above the knee, adding an unexpected pop of colour with bright red pointed heels and a metallic clutch.

Her glossy brunette hair was worn loose and swept to one side, giving a glimpse of the polished Hollywood style she was beginning to develop.

A month later, Meghan attended USA Network and The Moth's presentation of A More Perfect Union: Stories of Prejudice and Power.

The Suits star wore a fitted navy lace mini dress with three-quarter sleeves and nude pumps, while her hair was styled into glossy, voluminous curls.

By this point, Meghan was becoming an increasingly familiar face on the red carpet thanks to her role as Rachel Zane.

A year after Suits first premiered, Meghan turned up the glamour for a celebration of the show's second season in June 2012.

The actress looked striking in an off-the-shoulder black sequinned midi dress, accessorised with pointed metallic heels and a gold clutch.

It was a far cry from the jeans, graphic T-shirt and baseball cap she had worn to a Hollywood event seven years earlier, and showed just how much Meghan's career and red carpet style had evolved.

Speaking years later about finally finding success with Suits, Meghan admitted that even after landing her breakthrough role, she struggled to believe it would last: "All of season one on Suits, I was convinced I was going to get fired."