Meghan Markle and her lunch companion looked perfectly casual California style as they left their favorite spot in Montecito on Monday, but the duchess’s friend is actually something of a Southern belle.
Actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, 52, is married to country singer Brad Paisley and the couple share two children; the family usually resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
Many will recognise Kimberly’s radiant smile and brown curls from her breakthrough role in 1991, when she starred alongside Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and a young Kieran Culkin in Father of the Bride.
She played Annie, Martin’s daughter, a bundle of energy who bounced around the basketball court with her father as he planned her extravagant wedding after she fell in love while traveling.
The film, which also spawned a sequel, proved to be a launching pad for Kimberly’s career, leading to her starring roles in several films throughout the 1990s, including Indian Summer (1993), Coldblooded (1995), and The War at Home (1996).
Meghan’s lunch companion Kimberly Williams-Paisley, 52, looked every bit the California girl when she dined with the duchess in Montecito on Monday, but she’s also something of a Southern belle.
From 2001 she co-starred on According to Jim for eight years, even directing three episodes herself.
He then added appearances on shows Nashville, Boston Legal and Two and a Half Men after According to Jim ended in 2009.
In addition to her acting work, Kimberly published her memoir in 2016, in which she talked about how she learned to cope with her mother’s dementia.
Where the Light Comes In: Losing My Mother Only to Find Her Again details the family’s struggle when her mother Linda developed a condition called primary progressive aphasia and slowly lost 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 birthplace of country music.
Kimberly got her big break in the 1991 family film Father of the Bride, where she played Steve Martin’s excitable daughter, who struggles to let go of her firstborn as she gets married.
Kimberly has become an advocate for the eradication of Alzheimer’s and campaigns to help find a cure after losing her mother to the disease.
Kimberly pictured with her mother, who had been a journalist her entire career and who died of Alzheimer’s in 2016.
Critics praised the moving book, which in one excerpt describes how Kimberly, her father and her siblings “educated themselves, tried to move past shame and secrecy, made mistakes and found unexpected humor and grace amid suffering.”
Meanwhile, in her personal life, Kimberly has been married to country singer Brad Paisley for over 20 years and the couple shares two children.
The duo are also known for their charity work. They recently founded an initiative called “The Store” to address food insecurity.
On their website, the couple explained that the inspiration for the project, which provides basic food items for free to those in need, began because they wanted to teach their children about global issues.
“We have to bring them into the service and get them out of their bubble, and help them understand that there are hungry people in the world,” Kimberly said.
In 2020, The Store opened its doors in Nashville, but had to deal with the consequences of a tornado outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic that same year.
On their website you can read: ‘The Store distinguishes itself by offering a unique shopping experience that respects the dignity of its customers. Unlike traditional food pantries, The Store invites shoppers to choose their food from a variety of fresh and 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 Globes in the 90s
‘This model ensures that families have access to meat, dairy products and fresh produce, often difficult to find in traditional food assistance programs.’
Kimberly also uses her Instagram account to spread messages about causes important to her, including ending gun violence in the U.S. and finding a cure for Alzheimer’s.
According to PEOPLE, Brad fell in love with his future wife ten years before meeting her, when he saw her performance in Father Of The Bride in 2001.
They met in 2001 and he asked her to star in his music video. Soon, their relationship blossomed and the couple now have two children together: William, 17, and Jasper, 15.
In 2021, Kimberly told the outlet that she and Brad are “focusing on laughter and keeping a sense of playfulness.”
“A lot of married couples would rather do anything but spend the night together,” Brad said. “Not in our house.”
Kimberly also told PEOPLE how her husband supported her during her mother’s illness, admitting that he had “seen her at her worst and handled it really well.”
“He’s just a team player and helps out in any way he can,” he added.
The couple often gush about each other on social media and last month Kimberly shared a heartwarming photo of Brad with one of his sons as she wished him and his own dad a happy Father’s Day.
She wrote: “He loves those two kids so much, and they love him back. Happy Father’s Day (Brad), and to all the great dads out there, including mine and yours!”
While Kimberly’s career (and her husband’s, too) saw her spend time in the Deep South while filming Nashville and playing Connie Britton’s love rival Peggy Kenter, she and Brad now live in Montecito, where they are part of the exclusive social circle that Harry and Meghan move in, which also includes Ellen DeGeneres and Portia di Rossi.
While dining with the Duchess, the couple visited an A-list favourite Italian bistro, Tre Lune, in Montecito, where Meghan also enjoyed her 42nd birthday dinner last August.
Country music and television fans may also recognize Kimberly from the ABC series Nashville, where she played Peggy Kenter.
Kimberly’s character, Peggy, marries Teddy after his split from Rayna (played by Connie Britton) on the show.
Kimberly and Brad often appear on each other’s social media accounts; Brad recently joked about their anniversary.
This rustic restaurant, which costs around $30 for an entree, is open 24 hours for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Unlike some of the more exclusive celebrity haunts, Tre Lune, which opened in 2003, is open to the public.
This popular restaurant not only serves delicious food to its celebrity guests, but also features high-quality wines and is the winner of the annual ‘Wine Spectator’ award.
This modern restaurant is part of the Montesano Group, originally launched by Gene Montesano, who also built some of America’s other favorite food spots: Lucky Brand Jeans, Lucky’s Steakhouse, Bucatini, to name a few.
This simple yet tasteful restaurant has a loyal customer base and visitors who return to enjoy more of the authentic Italian cuisine.
The restaurant embodies a classic Italian style, with black-and-white photographs of vintage celebrities adorning the walls, according to USA Today.
The menu is also said to highlight various regions of Italy and each meal is accompanied by a wine pairing suggestion.
For brunch, diners can enjoy an extensive menu, including healthy California-style options, but it will cost approximately $20 per plate.
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