Meghan Markle and her lunchtime friend walked out of their favorite Montecito restaurant in perfectly casual California style on Monday. However, the Duchess’ friend is a true Southern Belle by birth.
Actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, 52, is married to country singer Brad Paisley and the couple have two children. The family often lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
Many will recognize Kimberly’s radiant smile and brunette curls from her breakthrough role in 1991, starring opposite Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and a young Kieran Culkin in Father of the Bride.
She played the role of Martin’s daughter Annie, an energetic lady who bounced around a basketball court with her father as he organised her bizarre wedding after falling in love while travelling.
The film, which also spawned a sequel, proved to be a springboard for Kimberly’s career and led to starring roles in a number of films in the 1990s, including Indian Summer (1993), Coldblooded (1995) and The War at Home (1996).
Meghan’s lunch buddy Kimberly Williams-Paisley, 52, looked every inch the cool California girl as she dined with the duchess in Montecito on Monday — but she’s also a bit of a Southern belle
From 2001, she was the star of According to Jim for no less than eight years, of which she even directed three episodes herself.
After According to Jim ended in 2009, she appeared in the series Nashville, Boston Legal and Two and a Half Men.
In addition to her acting work, Kimberly published her memoir in 2016, in which she candidly discusses how she learned to cope with her mother’s dementia.
Where the Light Gets In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again chronicles the family’s struggle as her mother Linda developed a condition called primary progressive aphasia, slowly losing the ability to “speak, write, and eventually recognize people in her own family.”
Kimberly has been married to country singer Brad Paisley for 20 years and the couple is based in Nashville, Tennessee, the home of country music
Kimberly made her big break in the 1991 family film Father of the Bride, playing Steve Martin’s excitable daughter who struggles to let go of his firstborn child as she gets married
Kimberly has become an advocate for ending Alzheimer’s and campaigns to find a cure after losing her mother to the disease
Kimberly pictured with her mother, who was a journalist her entire career and died of Alzheimer’s disease in 2016
Reviewers have praised the moving book, which includes an excerpt describing how Kimberly, her father and siblings “developed into themselves, tried to let go of shame and secrecy, made mistakes and found unexpected humor and grace amid suffering.”
Meanwhile, Kimberly has been married to country singer Brad Paisley for over 20 years and the couple has two children.
The duo are also known for their charity work, recently launching an initiative called ‘The Store’ to tackle food insecurity.
On their website, the two explained that the inspiration for the project, which provides free basic groceries to people in need, came from wanting to teach their children about global issues.
“We need to employ them, get them out of their bubble and make them realize that there are hungry people in the world,” Kimberly said.
In 2020, The Store opened in Nashville, but that same year the business was hit by the aftermath of a tornado outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Their website states: ‘The Store differentiates itself by providing a unique shopping experience that upholds the dignity of its customers. Unlike traditional food banks, The Store invites shoppers to choose their food from a variety of fresh, healthy options.
Her big break launched her acting career – which also included a sequel, Father of the Bride II, starring the original cast
Steve Martin and Kimberly Williams at the Golden Globe Awards in the 1990s
“This model ensures that families have access to meat, dairy and fresh produce, which are often difficult to find in traditional food assistance programs.”
Kimberly also uses her Instagram account to spread the word about issues important to her, like ending gun violence in the US and finding a cure for Alzheimer’s.
According to PEOPLE, Brad first fell in love with his future wife ten years before he met her, when he saw her Father Of The Bride performance in 2001.
They met in 2001 and he asked her to be in one of his music videos. Sparks quickly flew and the couple now have two sons together: William, 17, and Jasper, 15.
In 2021, Kimberly told the outlet that they have to “focus on laughing and keeping a sense of playfulness.”
“A lot of married couples would rather do anything than spend the evening together,” Brad also said. “That’s not the case in our house.”
Kimberly also told PEOPLE how her husband supported her during her mother’s illness, admitting that he “saw her at her worst and handled it so well.”
“He’s just a team player and helps out wherever he can,” she added.
The couple often rave about each other on social media. Last month, Kimberly shared a heartwarming photo of Brad with one of their children, wishing him and her own father a happy Father’s Day.
She wrote: ‘He loves those two boys so much, and they love him too. Happy Father’s Day.’ [Brad]and to all the great dads out there, including mine and his dad!’
Kimberly—and her husband, for that matter—spent time in the Deep South, filming Nashville and playing Connie Britton’s love rival, Peggy Kenter. Now she and Brad live in Montecito, where they’re part of Harry and Meghan’s exclusive social circle, which also includes Ellen DeGeneres and Portia di Rossi.
While dining with the Duchess, the two visited an Italian bistro, Tre Lune, in Montecito, where Meghan also enjoyed her 42nd birthday dinner last August.
Fans of TV and country music may also recognize Kimberly from the ABC series Nashville, where she played Peggy Kenter
Kimberly’s character Peggy marries Teddy after his breakup with Rayna (played by Connie Britton) on the show
Kimberly and Brad are often seen on each other’s social media accounts – Brad recently joked about his anniversary
This rustic eatery, where you’ll pay around $30 for a main course, is open 24 hours a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Unlike some of the more exclusive celebrity hotspots, Tre Lune, which opened in 2003, is open to the public.
The popular restaurant not only serves delicious food to its celebrity guests, but also has a high standard of wines and annually wins the ‘Wine Spectator’ award.
The trendy restaurant is part of the Montesano Group, originally founded by Gene Montesano, who also founded other popular American eateries: Lucky Brand Jeans, Lucky’s Steakhouse and Bucatini, to name a few.
The simple but tasteful restaurant has a loyal clientele, who return again and again for the authentic Italian cuisine.
According to USA Today, the restaurant is decorated in a classic Italian style, with black-and-white photos of celebrities on the walls.
The menu would also highlight different regions of Italy and a suggested wine pairing would be provided with each meal.
For brunch, guests can enjoy an extensive menu with healthy variations in true Californian style. Per dish, you will pay around $20.