The Unexpected Thing Emily Blunt Has In Common With Meghan Markle
At first glance, fans might think that the only thing Emily Blunt and Meghan Markle have in common is their successful acting careers. Of course, Meghan famously gave up acting when she married Prince Harry and became the Duchess of Sussex, though she didn't view it as a loss. "I don't see it as giving anything up," Meghan told the BBC in the couple's first joint interview. "I just see it as a change. It's a new chapter. And keep in mind I've been working on my show for seven years," she added, referencing her long run on "Suits."
In her marriage to Harry, Meghan prioritizes social activism and conducts most charitable work through the couple's Archewell Foundation. But the mother-of-two was always interested in philanthropy and social work, even during her acting days. "When we met, I was like, 'I'm an actor, we act, what else do we do?' And [Meghan] was like, 'You might want to figure out how else you want to be helpful,'" her former "Suits" co-star Patrick J. Adams reflected to Woman & Home. His comment hints that Meghan might never return to the small screen, now that she's got her hands full with Archewell.
Like Meghan, Blunt has enjoyed a successful acting career and is known for roles in "The Devil Wears Prada," "Mary Poppins Returns," and "The Girl On The Train," per IMDb. But both women share a surprising thing in common that has nothing to do with their careers, and everything to do with their personal lives.
Emily Blunt and Meghan Markle made the same dish ahead of an important life moment
It turns out that both Emily Blunt and Meghan Markle ... cook? According to People, the two stars whipped up the same tasty dish in the kitchen, and it was so good that it helped get both of them engaged to their now-husbands. The dish in question was Ina Garten's now-famous "engagement chicken." In 2021, Blunt revealed that she had cooked the dish prior to husband John Krasinski popping the question, per the "River Cafe Table 4" podcast. "I just made something that I knew he would love. That's it — all it took," she said. "I mean, a roast chicken, who doesn't love a roast chicken? The roast chicken I love is Ina Garten's roast chicken, it's called her 'engagement chicken.' When people make it for people, they get engaged."
Blunt and Krasinski weren't the first A-list couple to get engaged over a plate of Garten's roast chicken. In 2018, the celebrity chef told NBC's Willie Geist that her chicken played a major role in the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's engagement. "Without me, it never would have happened," Garten joked. She followed up on her talk show appearance with a congratulatory tweet, writing, "Congratulations to Prince Harry and Meghan! I always knew roast chicken had magic powers!! I'm so happy for both of you!" Interestingly, Meghan has not publicly discussed how making the dish netted her an engagement ring, so it's unclear how Garten heard the story.
What's the big deal about engagement chicken?
While Meghan Markle didn't share her own "engagement chicken" story, she told Good Housekeeping in 2017 that roast chicken was her favorite meal to make. Foreshadowing to her engagement to Prince Harry? Maybe so! "There is nothing as delicious (or as impressive) as a perfectly roasted chicken," Meghan said. "It's a game changer. I bring that to dinner parties and make a lot of friends." Back when her now-defunct blog, The Tig, was still up-and-running, Meghan posted some of her favorite meals to the site, including another chicken staple. "I enjoy making slow-cooked food on Sundays, like Filipino-style chicken adobo," the foodie revealed in a post for NBC's "Today."
But as for "engagement chicken," the dish reportedly got its name for a good reason. According to NBC's "Today," Ina Garten heard of its magical powers after a Glamour editor named Lindsey Unterberger wrote about her then-boyfriend proposing, after she'd made him the chicken dish. "I made perfect roast chicken for my ex-boyfriend approximately 50 times, yet note the 'ex,'" Unterberger wrote. "I'm not sure if I'm a believer, but if enough of you subscribe to this theory, I'll consider purchasing some stock in poultry farms." The Glamour legend originated when an editor — who got engaged in the 1980s over a plate of 'engagement chicken' — passed along the recipe to three other writers, all of whom also became engaged shortly thereafter, per Glamour. Call it magic or the power of "The Barefoot Contessa," but it certainly worked out for Meghan and Emily Blunt!