Meghan Markle was inspired to narrate Disney’s Elephant documentary after becoming “intrigued by the female empowerment” of the animals who she “identified” with, according to its filmmaker.
The Duchess of Sussex received mixed reviews when it was announced that she had struck up a deal with the global company to lend her voice to the documentary.
It marks her first showbiz job since stepping down as a senior member of The Royal Family.
Taking to Twitter, Walt Disney Studios announced the news with the official poster for Elephant alongside the tweet: “Disneynature’s Elephant, an Original Movie narrated by Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, starts streaming April 3, only on #DisneyPlus.”
Now, filmmaker Vanessa Berlowitz has told People magazine that Meghan was first introduced to the role while she was with a herd of female elephants in Botswana with Prince Harry in 2017.
Meghan warmed to the idea of narrating the film following a trip to Botswana (Image: YouTube)
During this trip, the Sussexes worked with wildlife organisation Elephants Without Borders.
Berlowitz said: “She was absolutely intrigued by the elephants and transfixed, especially by the female empowerment side.
“How important the matriarchs are to the story; it really is all about female leadership. It’s a different form of power – it’s about consensual leadership.
The voiceover is her first non-royal job since stepping down from The Royal Family
“It’s also very inclusive,as well – very contemporary. She was absolutely fascinated by that.”
She also went on to say it was during this trip that she and fellow filmmaker Mark Linfield suggested that The Duchess may be a “good fit” for the documentary.
Meghan recorded the voiceover in October for the film which follows a family of elephants’ “extraordinary 1,000-mile journey across Africa on an adventure that will change their lives.”
(Image: PA)
Berlowitz went on to say that Prince Harry’s wife resonated with the animals even more after giving birth to Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor.
“She had a small child, you could totally tell she was identifying with (elephants) Shani and Jojo, and keeping little ones in tow.
“She felt like a normal mum going through the normal trials and tribulations of bringing up a baby. Like one of us.”
Sources also claim that she donated her fee from the film to wildlife charity Elephants Without Borders which is based in Botswana.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
