The actress is rumoured to be in line to star in an adaptation of Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben’s crime thriller Gone Before Goodbye
Michelle Keegan is facing one of the toughest dilemmas of her career, with sources claiming a rumoured new role overseas could put strain on her family life. The Brassic actress flew out to the US last week on a work trip, just days after returning from a sun-soaked break in Abu Dhabi with her husband Mark Wright and their baby daughter Palma.
Sharing a handful of snaps from her Stateside visit online, the star seemed to be living her best life, writing, “A work trip never looked so good.” And according to sources, the actress has every right to be in a great mood, with rumours circulating that she’s in line to star in an adaptation of Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben’s crime thriller Gone Before Goodbye. But should her dreams of cracking America come true, our source claims Michelle and Mark will have to sit down and have “a serious conversation” about what’s next for their family.
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“Michelle feels this is her last chance to break the US and this particular gig would make her a household name,” a source tells new about the rumoured project. She’s really excited – she’s always been determined to make it big in America. That hasn’t changed since having Palma.
“She doesn’t just want to be known in the UK. But Michelle knows there’s a lot of competition and is conscious about getting older, so feels it’s a case of ‘now or never’. If she does land this job, now would be the perfect time to move to LA, before Palma gets a bit older and before they have another child.”
While Michelle’s career is going from strength to strength, it’s thought motherhood and family ties in the UK could make a US move harder to navigate. “The problem is, Mark doesn’t want to leave Essex,” claims our source. “He’s put all his time and energy into their house and it’s just around the corner from his family. It would be a really tough call for him. He’s tried it out in America, and it didn’t work out. Friends don’t think he’d be up for the move – but Michelle would go in a heartbeat.”
Michelle, 38, has long been rumoured to want to make a name for herself in the US, especially since starring in the successful Netflix drama Fool Me Once, which is another Harlan Coben adaptation. In 2023, sources claimed Michelle had been “inundated with interest from Hollywood TV and film executives wanting to meet with her and discuss opportunities”, and there were hopes she could be “the next Margot Robbie”.
Even as far back as 2016, the ambitious actress fuelled speculation that a move to Hollywood could be on the cards after hiring an American agent and revealing some “secret meetings” during a trip to LA. Plus stuntman Paul Pieterse – who worked with Michelle on hit BBC drama Our Girl and alongside A-list stars including Charlize Theron and Javier Bardem – said the mum-of-one has exactly what it takes to achieve success in the States. “Michelle for Hollywood, absolutely,” he said. “No doubt she can make it there, the right part and she’s away. I’m working with top Hollywood stars and Michelle’s of that calibre.”
In 2024, the actress – who first found fame as Coronation Street’s Tina McIntyre 18 years ago – said she’d be open to the idea of leaving the UK to pursue a Hollywood career if the right job came up. But since then Michelle has become a mum, welcoming Palma in March 2025 – which has put her life and career in a new perspective.
“[Michelle and Mark] have been apart before, but having Palma completely changes the situation,” our source says. “They would have to have a serious conversation about what happens next. Mark would likely have to take some time off to go out there – and while he doesn’t want to leave the UK, being apart from his wife and child isn’t an option. He could be swayed if the move was only temporary. But if she gets the role, he might not have a choice.”
The former TOWIE star, 39, who married Michelle in 2015, has had his own taste of Hollywood success – in 2017, Mark landed his first US gig hosting entertainment news show Extra. But he gave it up in 2019 amid media reports that the long distance was putting a strain on his marriage, which the couple denied. Pals say Mark is incredibly supportive of his wife’s ambitions but ultimately, one of them will have to make a “sacrifice”.
“He’d never stop Michelle from living her dream – he’s so proud of her,” we’re told. “But there are a lot of ‘ifs’. The fact is, they’ve seen so many couples that haven’t worked out because of distance and while they did manage it, it wasn’t easy. Now that they have a daughter, there will have to be a sacrifice on one side – it’s about who will be the one to give in.”
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