Sean Smith - Meghan Misunderstood

Annie ran for four nights in March 1996 when Meghan was fourteen. As a school tradition the programme had lots of thanks and little notes and best wishes. Meghan’s ‘biography’ said ‘she loves singing, smiling and dancing, and hopes to shuffle off to Broadway some day. Meghan is proud to have two roles in this year’s musical and wishes to thank everyone who helped and supported her (especially Ashley, Danica and, of course, Yasmine).’

Tom received special thanks for ‘parental sweat’. He wrote, ‘To my ‘Star-To-Be’ and the cast and crew of Annie . I’m proud of you all. BREAK A LEG. Love Tom Markle (Daddy).’

As part of Gigi’s preferred policy of alternating a musical with a more conventional drama, Meghan was cast as one of the would-be actresses in a production of Stage Door , the successful play that had been a memorable film in the thirties starring Katharine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers. Luis was in it, too, which was a bonus.

Meghan had the role of Judith Canfield, played in the film by Lucille Ball who, coincidentally, had donated to Immaculate Heart the stage on which they performed. Her daughter, the actress Lucie Arnaz, is another former pupil of the school; fittingly Meghan’s favourite TV show as a child had been Lucille’s classic comedy I Love Lucy .

It was time for Meghan to make more of an impact. She had her most substantial role yet in the Stephen Sondheim musical, Into the Woods , the clever interweaving of favourite fairy tales. Meghan was cast as Little Red Riding Hood and, in Gigi’s opinion, ‘just stole the scenes that she was in; she was really adorable’.

Meghan worked very hard in rehearsal, especially singing ‘Hello, Little Girl’. She needed to; Gigi would sit at the back of the hall during run-throughs and bellow out that she couldn’t hear her, encouraging her to project her voice to the four corners of the auditorium.

The spring term production ran for four nights in late March 1997. This time the programme notes made fascinating reading: ‘Meghan is happy to be skipping on stage as Little Red Riding Hood. Meghan wants to pursue acting at Northwestern on her way to Broadway. Meg wishes to thank her supportive parents, her loving boyfriend, and the always encouraging Becca and Michelle. I love you all so much.’

Her father gushed, ‘Congratulations and Best Wishes to my Wonderful Daughter Meghan and the entire fantastic and hard-working cast and crew of Into the Woods . You are all just great! Break a Leg … Tom Markle.’

Meghan may have been only fifteen but she was already clear about what lay in store for her – Northwestern University in Chicago followed by the bright lights of Broadway. In her junior year, the conventional play was The Women , the famous all-female comedy of manners by Clare Boothe Luce that was first performed in New York in 1936. Renowned as a passionate public speaker, the writer was a figure to inspire any ambitious schoolgirl – the first American woman to be appointed an ambassador abroad when she headed the US Embassy in Rome.

The film had become one of the most famous films of the thirties, starring Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and Rosalind Russell as Sylvia Fowler, the role that Meghan would play. She followed that with the part of Maisie in the Sandy Powell musical The Boy Friend , a vivacious homage to the 1920s. Meghan had gradually worked her way to close to the top of the cast list in school productions. This time the Segura family was represented by Danny.

Drama at school was very much Tom’s domain. He even continued helping after Meghan had graduated. Gigi only remembers meeting Doria once or twice during the whole time that Meghan was involved in productions at Immaculate Heart. Her mother was still encouraging her caring side, however; she supported her decision to return to Skid Row and help at the Hippie Kitchen, three years after her first visit.

Meghan was inspired by Maria Pollia, who had been her theology teacher as a junior. They talked about the teenager’s misgivings. Maria, who herself volunteered at the kitchen, was able to reassure her that those feelings were perfectly acceptable and understandable but that she should remember ‘to put the needs of others above your own fears’. Maria was herself an alumna of Immaculate Heart and had been given the same advice when she was a student.

Meghan went back to dish out plates of food and clear tables with fresh resolve. She remembered the names of the people she served. She began to properly understand the meaning of community spirit – something that would serve her well when she connected with the women of The Hubb Community Kitchen following the Grenfell Tower fire of 2017. She was continuing to develop her personal empathy.

That became even more apparent when she was the first to be chosen as a team leader at a Kairos Retreat organised by Immaculate Heart at the Holy Spirit Retreat Center in the upmarket neighbourhood of Encino. These four-day breaks were popular throughout Catholic schools and colleges in the US. While Kairos originally comes from the Greek for the ‘right time’, in biblical terms it is better translated as ‘God’s time’.

The principle purpose of the four-day retreat was to build empathy, giving the young women time and space to talk openly about their problems and concerns without having to worry about dashing off to the next class or what grade they might be given for their homework.

Meghan was one of six seniors leading groups of eight in daily discussions, trying to make sure every girl had the chance to express themselves. She also had to give a half-hour presentation in front of everyone in which she talked in a mature way about her own life journey. It was a chance to share some personal feelings about her parents’ divorce.

Theology teacher Christine Knudsen, who organised the retreat, observed, ‘Any young person struggles when their parents are divorced, even though I think she knew that both of them loved her, and they were both in her life.’ Meghan was an ideal choice to be a leader because, added Christine, ‘she had a lot of depth, probably because of her own experience of her parents’ divorce. She’d take conversations to a deeper level.’

Meghan’s ability to share thoughts and feelings was of particular benefit to one girl, who struggled with her shyness and was the quietest and most reserved of her group. Meghan wrote her a note in her distinctive and immaculate handwriting: ‘You are so strong and so wonderful – your courage and strength in times of hardship is as admirable as your optimism and friendly nature. Never stop sharing your beautiful spirit and always remember how special you are.’ She ended the letter: ‘I am here if you ever need me. I love you. Meghan.’

Meghan was fortunate that three of her classmates and closest friends were also team leaders: Susan Ardikani, Erin Carr and Michelle Blade, who would go on to become one of the best-known artists on the West Coast. As well as their responsibilities to the Kairos Retreat itself, the classmates had the chance to talk late into the night about their aspirations. Meghan was aiming big, declaring that she was going to be president one day.

Like many teenage girls, Meghan was finding life with dad a little constricting. He seemed to be always around – at home, obviously, but also at school, and not just for drama; he was the man called in to help with sound and lighting for important events. Having dad lurking in the background changing a light bulb was not the ideal scenario. He still doted on her but perhaps she needed a touch more freedom.

He was involved, naturally, in what would turn out to be her last show at Immaculate Heart. She had to dust off some of the tap-dancing steps she learned when younger for Stepping Out . Originally a London stage play, it was transformed into a star vehicle for Liza Minnelli in a 1991 movie in which she played a former dancer teaching a weekly tap class to a group of women. Meghan was the abrasive Vera, memorably portrayed in the film by Julie Walters.