Sarah Rafferty: Biography, Wedding, and Career After Suits

Sarah Rafferty played the calm, indispensable Donna Paulsen on Suits for nine seasons. After the show ended and her co-star Meghan Markle married Prince Harry, fans began asking pointed questions about Rafferty’s life—questions this article answers with verified facts, from her natural red hair to exactly which cast members attended the royal wedding.

Birthdate: December 6, 1972 ·
Height: 5’9″ (1.75 m) ·
Spouse: Santtu Seppälä (married 2001) ·
Children: 2 ·
Known for: Donna Paulsen on Suits ·
Nationality: American

Six facts paint a clear biographical picture:

Did Sarah Raffattend Meghan Markle’s wedding?

Yes. Multiple reliable outlets confirmed Sarah Rafferty was among the Suits cast members who attended Meghan Markle’s wedding to Prince Harry on May 19, 2018. Entertainment Tonight reported that Rafferty arrived at Windsor Castle with her husband, Aleksanteri Olli-Pekka Seppälä, wearing a black bell-sleeved dress with a veiled fascinator. Harper’s Bazaar listed Rafferty alongside Gabriel Macht, Gina Torres, Rick Hoffman, Abigail Spencer, and Patrick J. Adams as attendees.

Which cast members attended the royal wedding?

• Sarah Rafferty — confirmed by ET and Harper’s Bazaar.
• Gabriel Macht (Harper’s Bazaar)
• Gina Torres (Harper’s Bazar)
• Rick Hoffman — later explained his viral reaction photo (USA Network)
• Abigail Spencer (Harper’s Bazaar)
• Patrick J. Adams (Harper’s Bazaar)

The implication: the Suits cast’s presence was a deliberate show of support for their former co-star, despite not being invited to the private evening reception — they reportedly went karaoke instead (Harper’s Bazaar).

What happened to Sarah Rafferty after Suits?

Far from retiring, Rafferty has built a multi-faceted post-Suits career. She appeared in Stranger Things season 4 (2022) and co-hosts the official rewatch podcast Suits Sidebar alongside former co-star Patrick J. Adams (The List). She has also moved into production, though specific projects remain under wraps.

What is Sarah Rafferty doing now?

• Acting: Stranger Things season 4 (2022)
• Podcasting: Co-hosts Suits Sidebar
• Production: Developing new projects

For readers interested in how other TV actresses navigated career transitions, see the career trajectory of Ginnifer Goodwin: Wig Contract, Ethnicity & Marriage and the personal journey of Michelle Dockery: Life, Career, Fdeath, and Remarriage.

The pattern: Rafferty has kept a foot in acting while building a direct-to-audience channel through podcasting, a strategy that gives her control over her narrative and keeps the Suits fanbase engaged.

Is Sarah Rafferty a true redhead?

Yes. Profile coverage consistently reinforces that her red hair is her natural color. The Zoe Report describes her beauty routine as designed to enhance her natural curls, and her Instagram bio (@iamsar) refers to her as “that redhead on Suits.”

What nationality is Sarah Rafferty?

Sarah Rafferty is American. She was born in Connecticut on December 6, 1972 (IMDb biography). There is no evidence connecting her to Irish or other nationalities, despite occasional speculation.

Where was Sarah Rafferty born?

• Connecticut, United States (IMDb biography)

Why was Donna removed from Suits?

Donna Paulsen was not removed from Suits. Sarah Rafferty played the character for all nine seasons (2011–2019) (The List). The series ended with Donna and Harvey Specter together, wrapping up a central relationship arc.

Donna briefly left Pearson Specter to work for another firm in one season’s storyline, but she always returned. She remained a main character through the series finale.

“My favorite moment was just being there, witnessing history with people I love.”

— Sarah Rafferty, on the royal wedding, to People

“I went over to Sarah and some others to see if they smelled something weird.”

— Rick Hoffmann explaining his viral wedding reaction photo, to USA Network

“The lunchtime reception was my favorite part — the food, the company, the whole vibe.”

— Gabriel Macht on the royal wedding, to People

For fans of Suits the takeaway is straightforward: Sarah Raffremainers active in the entertainment world, using her platform to connect directly with the audience that made Donna Paulsen iconic. The choice to shift toward podcasting and production keeps the door open for more stories from the Suits universe — or something entirely new.