Meghan Markle pens essay about balancing fame, philanthropy

Prince Harry's girlfriend Meghan Markle recently wrote a new essay for Elle magazine about how she follows philanthropic passions while also experiencing the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.

In a new essay for Elle UK, the 35-year-old actress decided to explore the topic by sharing her own experiences in and out of the spotlight, reports E! Online.

In the piece, the 'Suits' star recalled an event where she was heading back from Gihembe refugee camp in Rwanda.

During the drive, she got an email from her manager asking whether she'd like to attend the BAFTAS where a high-end jewelry company would provide fashion, transportation and much more.

"My brain, heart and spirit couldn't shift gears that quickly, from the purpose-driven work I had been doing all week in Rwanda to the polished glamour of an awards show," she wrote.

"'No,' my heart said. And it wasn't a soft whisper; it was a lion's roar," she wrote, adding, "I looked out the car window and saw a world of verdant beauty that had been riddled with genocide and unrest only 22 years ago, but had recovered with a decisive choice to overcome."

She continued, "And in that moment, my gut said no because while my two worlds can coexist, I've learned that being able to keep a foot in both is a delicate balance. No, they are not mutually exclusive but guiding my heart through the swinging pendulum from Hollywood fantasy to third-world reality is challenging in its own way."

Markle attributes her mindset to how she was raised by a mother who was a clinical therapist and a dad who was the "most hard-working father" she knew.

"My parents came from little so they made a choice to give a lot: buying turkeys for homeless shelters at Thanksgiving, delivering meals to people in hospices, giving spare change to those asking for it," she wrote.

"It's what I grew up seeing, so it's what I grew up being: a young adult with a social consciousness to do what I could and speak up when I knew something was wrong," penned the 'Horrible Bosses' star.

Now that Markle has more eyes on her than ever before, thanks to her new romance with Prince Harry, she will probably experience a lot less privacy but at the same time, have an opportunity to share her charity work with more people.