Sarah Rafferty: Biography, Suits Role, and Life After

If you watched Suits, you probably remember Donna Paulsen’s sharp wit and iconic red hair. But behind that character is Sarah Rafferty, an actress whose career and personal life hold just as much intrigue, from her close friendship with Meghan Markle to the question of whether that red hair is real.

Born: December 6, 1972 ·
Height: 5′ 9″ (1.75 m) ·
Spouse: Santtu Seppälä (m. 2001) ·
Children: 2 ·
Notable Role: Donna Paulsen in Suits

Eight facts about Sarah Rafferty, one pattern: her public biography is well-documented, but the financial details and social connections remain speculative.

Was Sarah Rafferty at Meghan Markle’s wedding?

No public evidence confirms Sarah Rafferty attended Meghan Markle’s wedding to Prince Harry in May 2018. The two actresses worked together on Suits from 2011 to 2017, when Markle left the show. While they were colleagues on set, photographs and guest lists from the royal wedding do not include Rafferty. The question remains open because neither Markle nor Rafferty has addressed it directly.

Are Sarah Rafferty and Meghan Markle friends?

Rafferty and Markle shared screen time for six seasons on Suits. In interviews, Rafferty has spoken warmly about Markle, but the pair’s post-show friendship is not publicly documented. No joint appearances or social media interactions have been reported since Markle’s marriage.

The implication: the friendship likely existed on set, but the extent of personal contact after the series remains a matter of public record gaps.

What this means: the wedding attendance question remains open because no public record confirms it.

What happened to Sarah Rafferty after Suits?

After Suits ended in 2019, Rafferty co-launched the podcast Suits Sidebar in 2020, where she and co-star Patrick J. Adams rewatch and discuss episodes. She has also appeared in guest roles on My Life Is Murder and The Righteous Gemstones (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)). In 2021, she received a Children’s and Family Emmy nomination for her role in My Life with the Walter Boys (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).

What is Sarah Rafferty doing now?

As of 2025, Rafferty continues the Suits Sidebar podcast and takes occasional television roles. She has not announced a new series lead.

Why was Donna written off Suits?

Donna Paulsen was not written off; the character remained through the series finale. In fact, Donna’s role expanded, and she became a partner at the firm in the final season. The question likely arises from confusion with other shows where characters leave abruptly.

What this means: Rafferty’s post-Suits career is active but lower-profile, anchored by podcasting and supporting roles rather than a new flagship series.

Is Sarah Rafferty a true redhead?

Yes. The Zoe Report, a beauty and culture publication, states that Rafferty’s trademark red hair is her natural color (The Zoe Report (beauty & culture)). She has fair skin and freckles, consistent with natural red hair. In a Suits hair-and-makeup feature, the show’s stylists discussed working with her natural color on set (YouTube (behind-the-scenes feature)).

What is Sarah Rafferty’s natural hair color?

Rafferty is a natural redhead. This has been confirmed by multiple beauty outlets and is consistent with her childhood photos. The claim that her hair is brown (found on some low-credibility YouTube profiles) is not supported by higher-tier sources.

The pattern: the red hair is a verified fact, but the persistent myth of it being dyed may stem from the striking shade used on screen.

How much did Sarah Rafferty get paid for Suits?

Exact salary for Suits is not publicly disclosed. Estimated net worth from various sources ranges around $4 million to $6 million, but these figures are speculative. A low-credibility YouTube profile claims $6 million (YouTube (fan profile)), but no official financial disclosure exists.

What is Sarah Rafferty’s net worth?

Celebrity net worth figures are often estimates. Rafferty’s net worth is not confirmed by any reliable financial source. The $4–6 million range is based on aggregated guesses from anonymous websites.

The trade-off: without a public contract or financial filing, any net worth number is conjecture. The only certainty is that she earned a cast salary for a nine-season run on a hit cable series.

What ethnicity is Sarah Rafferty?

According to Wikipedia, Rafferty is of Irish, Italian, and French descent (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)). She grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, and attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, though the latter is from a low-credibility source (YouTube (fan profile)).

Why this matters: Rafferty’s ethnic background is a mix of Western European ancestries, consistent with many white Americans of Irish and Italian heritage.

Timeline

• 1972 – Born on December 6 in New Canaan, Connecticut (IMDb (industry database)).
• 2001 – Married Santtu Seppälä on June 23 (IMDb (industry database)).
• 2011–2019 – Played Donna Paulsen on USA Network’s Suits (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
• 2020 – Co-launched the podcast Suits Sidebar.
• 2021–2023 – Guest appearances on My Life Is Murder, The Righteous Gemstones, and other series.

Clarity check

Quotes

“Sarah Rafferty’s trademark red hair is her natural hair color.”

— The Zoe Report (beauty & culture)

“Rafferty and Seppälä’s firstborn daughter, Oona Gray Seppälä, was born on October 22, 2007.”

— People (celebrity news)

“Rafferty speaks about life after Suits and her post-Suits beauty routine.”

— NewBeauty (beauty publication)

Summary

Sarah Rafferty’s career after Suits shows a deliberate shift toward podcasting and selective roles, not a blockbuster follow-up. For fans curious about her personal life, the confirmed facts are straightforward: she’s a natural redhead, married with two children, and maintains a low public profile. The unanswered questions—her net worth, her presence at a royal wedding—remain open because she has chosen not to share them. For readers, the reliable sources are IMDb, People, and Wikipedia; everything else is speculation about Rafferty’s private life.

Her journey after Suits, including her wedding and subsequent roles, is explored in Sarah Raffertys wedding and career after Suits.

Frequently asked questions