Meghan Markle is thrilled by the news that Jennifer Aniston will soon be her neighbor in Montecito, but her excitement goes beyond simple admiration.
Reports reveal that Meghan is determined to forge a friendship with Aniston, hoping the Friends star will help her rebuild her reputation and connections in Hollywood.
However, insiders suggest Aniston isn't exactly rolling out the welcome mat.
A desperate bid to re-enter Hollywood's inner circle
Since stepping away from royal duties and relocating to California, Meghan has faced significant challenges in establishing herself within the entertainment industry.
While she and Prince Harry signed lucrative deals with Spotify and Netflix, their projects have struggled to gain traction, with some critics branding them as unremarkable.
Meghan's latest endeavor, the lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, has already been met with skepticism, and her husband's Polo documentary received lukewarm reviews.
Hoping to turn things around, Meghan reportedly sees Aniston as a potential ally who could help her regain influence in Hollywood.
"Jen is at the top of Meghan's wish list as a BFF," an insider told RadarOnline.com. "She has so much influence and prestige in the business and is on first-name terms with all the big power players."
According to sources, Meghan has been trying for years to connect with Aniston through mutual friends, but her attempts have not been successful.
"Meghan's been chipping away in high hopes of a friendship with Jen, and word is she's been asking for an introduction for years now, but it hasn't quite happened yet," another insider revealed.
Jennifer Aniston remains politely distant
While Meghan is eager to cultivate a friendship, Aniston appears less interested in getting involved.
Known for maintaining a close-knit circle, Aniston has not shown any signs of embracing Meghan's advances.
"Jen's been polite, but she's always so busy, and that 90-mile commute from Bel-Air to Montecito made things even more difficult," a source explained.
"Now that Jen is moving into her new place, it's opening a whole new door for Meghan – and she couldn't be more excited.
"If Meghan can find a way to ride Jen's coattails and get the rubber stamp into Team Aniston, it's her ticket to the very top.