How to Get Cast on ‘The White Lotus’

Right from the opening scene of Season 1, viewers learn that, each season, before guests’ one-week stay at a luxury resort comes to an end, someone won’t be making it out alive. In a series that explores how privilege and wealth exist alongside tragedy and despair, each character must come to grips with their own struggles. As the staff caters to the guests’ every whim, the series proves that money cannot buy happiness. 

On Season 1, set in Maui, a newlywed realizes she’s little more than a trophy wife, and a longtime couple renegotiates their power dynamic. On Season 2, set in Sicily, sexual politics and jealousy plague a double-date getaway, and three generations of men come together. And on Season 3, set in Thailand, an age-gap couple, a trio of best friends, and a family on the edge confront their greed, spirituality, and desire for revenge. 

Details on Season 4, set in France, remain under wraps, but Variety noted the Cannes Film Festival could factor into the plot as the series will film along the French Riviera during this year’s event from May 13–26. Regardless, with its reputation for death and debauchery, the next installment will surely deliver another binge-worthy storyline.

Season 1’s cast featured an array of talented stars, including: 

• Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya McQuoid
• Connie Britton as Nicole Mossbacher
• Alexandra Daddario as Rachel Patton
• Murray Bartlett as Armond
• Jake Lacy as Shane Patton
• Brittany O’Grady as Paula
• Natasha Rothwell as Belinda Lindsey
• Sydney Sweeney as Olivia Mossbacher
• Steve Zahn as Mark Mossbacher
• Molly Shannon as Kitty Patton
• Jon Gries as Greg Hunt

Season 2 further upped the ante, bringing back Gries and Coolidge’s characters—now husband and wife—alongside a stellar new ensemble:

• F. Murray Abraham as Bert Di Grasso
• Adam DiMarco as Albie Di Grasso
• Michael Imperioli as Dominic Di Grasso
• Meghann Fahy as Daphne Sullivan
• Theo James as Cameron Sullivan
• Beatrice Grannò as Mia
• Sabrina Impacciatore as Valentina
• Aubrey Plaza as Harper Spiller
• Will Sharpe as Ethan Spiller
• Haley Lu Richardson as Portia
• Simona Tabasco as Lucia Greco

And Season 3 saw Rothwell return as Belinda and Gries as Greg—the roles they originated on Season 1—along with this flock of newcomers:

• Carrie Coon as Laurie Duffy
• Walton Goggins as Rick Hatchett
• Leslie Bibb as Kate Bohr
• Michelle Monaghan as Jaclyn Lemon
• Parker Posey as Victoria Ratliff
• Lalisa Manobal as Thidapon “Mook” Sornsin
• Jason Isaacs as Timothy Ratliff
• Tayme Thapthimthong as Gaitok
• Sarah Catherine Hook as Piper Ratliff
• Sam Nivola as Lochlan Ratliff
• Patrick Schwarzenegger as Saxon Ratliff
• Aimee Lou Wood as Chelsea
• Scott Glenn as Jim Hollinger
• Sam Rockwell as Frank
• Nicholas Duvernay as Zion Lindsey
• Lek Patravadi as Sritala Hollinger

The biggest news for Season 4's cast is the addition of Laura Dern. While she previously had a voice-only cameo as Michael Imperioli's wife in Season 2, she’s now joining the physical cast in a role written specifically for her by Mike White.

Dern steps in for Helena Bonham Carter, who left the project shortly after filming started. Deadline reported that the character "didn't align" once production began, prompting White to re-envision the role entirely for Dern.

Along with Dern, here's who else is confirmed for Season 4:

• Steve Coogan
• Caleb Jonte Edwards
• Marissa Long
• Alexander Ludwig
• Chris Messina
• AJ Michalka
• Max Greenfield
• Kumail Nanjiani
• Chloe Bennett
• Charlie Hall
• Jarrad Paul
• Sandra Bernhard
• Ari Graynor
• Vincent Cassel
• Corentin Fila
• Nadia Tereszkiewicz

Credit: Featureflash Photo Agency/ Ron Adar/DFree/Shutterstock

Veteran casting director Meredith Tucker cast the first season of the series alongside Katie Doyle. She has cast each season since, with a notable assist from Italian CDs Barbara Giordani and Francesco Vedovati during Season 2. Tucker has cast hit series including “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and “Veep,” as well as films including “Eighth Grade” and “In the Loop.” The CD was particularly crunched for time when casting “The White Lotus” Season 1. She told Vanity Fair that White wrote the script with an eye toward specific actors; for instance, he always had Jennifer Coolidge in mind to play heiress Tanya McQuoid. That left Tucker with only about a month to fill out the remaining cast.

Tucker also had to deal with the fact that, at the time, the world was in the midst of strict COVID-19 lockdowns. Instead of traditional in-person meetups and group reads, she had actors audition via self-tape—a practice that is now common in the industry. “We didn’t do chemistry reads,” she told the outlet. “We really lucked out.”

Season 1 actor Murray Bartlett (Armond) believes that the unconventional circumstances helped to foster strong bonds among the ensemble. “You definitely kind of find your rhythm when you start working together, particularly when you don’t have any rehearsal or table read and are just [working] on the fly,” he told Vanity Fair. “We were immediately kind of bonded, because it was such a unique situation with the pandemic. We all got pulled out of our COVID pods and taken to Hawaii, to this beautiful place with these great scripts, with this amazing group of people. That was the jumping-off point, you know? So that was kind of a great place to start.”

Tucker told the Hollywood Reporter that she works closely with White during the audition process, as “he likes to hear the material read.” She added, “Often, when I’m casting a show, I have only the first or second script. I have to trust Michael’s instincts because he ultimately knows his characters much better than I do.” 

But if you want to get into White’s head before your own audition, Tucker noted that watching some episodes could give you a better sense of what they’re looking for, as the show has “such a specific tone.”

“I would say this for any person auditioning for anything: If there are episodes available, watch a few, just so you can understand what the tone of the show is. Or see what other shows the writer might have [done], or the showrunner or the director might have done before; try to familiarize yourself with that work,” she explained.

Per Vanity Fair, for Season 1, the “White Lotus” team had to think outside the box in order to adapt to pandemic protocols. Much of the ensemble was cast based on White’s initial visions for particular characters, while others were asked to audition via self-tape.

The self-taping process helped Bartlett land the role of resort manager Armond. “It really was a brilliant, brilliant audition,” Tucker told the Los Angeles Times. “Murray did it in his natural [Australian] accent. He captured the obsequiousness of the character, but there was also something else going on underneath that yielded a really interesting performance. He just got the tone so perfectly.”

In Vanity Fair, Tucker elaborated, saying, “Murray showed some really beautiful moments in his additional audition where you could see that he wasn’t just this smiling guy. There was much more complexity going on than initially meets the eye.” 

That process also helped Meghann Fahy land the role of Daphne Sullivan after having lost out to Alexandra Daddario for the role of Rachel Patton on Season 1. Fahy told the Hollywood Reporter that a friend noted there’d be a second installment of “The White Lotus,” and shortly after sending in her self-tape, Fahy ended up on a Zoom call with White himself. “Mike is so good because he casts a quality of a person,” she said. “He knows that the actor shares something innate with the character, and then you spend the rest of the time wondering what it is in you—and that gives your acting vulnerability.”

Aubrey Plaza, who plays Daphne’s frenemy Harper Spiller, bypassed the audition stage entirely. “Mike [White] and I were friends before this. So he kind of knew enough about me that he just kind of scooted me right in there,” she told BuzzFeed. Will Sharpe, who plays Plaza’s husband Ethan Spiller, submitted a self-tape. “I got asked to tape for it,” he said. “In the first round, I just kind of did it as well as I could, but didn’t really think anything of it…. I was surprised to get to do it again more thoroughly. Finally, I read through it with Mike and the producers. And then even when they offered it to me, I still sort of felt like they made some sort of mistake.”

Walton Goggins was also offered a part outright. “[My agents] said, ‘Before we do anything, we have to tell you something,’ ” Goggins told the Los Angeles Times. “You just got an offer for ‘The White Lotus,’ and it’s a very good role.’ I said, ‘Could you say that again?’ They said, ‘Mike wants you.’ I said, ‘Could you excuse me a minute?’ I walked outside and I [started] bawling. Crying uncontrollably. I called my wife [Nadia Conners], shaking, and she said, ‘I fucking knew it!’ When we were watching it one time, she had said, ‘Why don’t you do ‘The White Lotus’? You’d be perfect for it.’ ”

According to Variety, “The White Lotus” Season 4 started filming in April 2026 and will continue through the end of October. This next installment will take place at the Château de La Messardière in Saint-Tropez on the Côte d’Azur, a 19th-century palace that has since been transformed into a luxury resort. Of course, like previous seasons, production won’t be restricted to one locale as Variety reports scenes will also be filmed at a Paris hotel and along the French Riviera (hence the persistent Cannes Film Festival rumors).

According to multiple outlets, those local to the Saint-Tropez area will have ample opportunity to become part of “The White Lotus” cast as the team looks for extras to populate its fictional tale throughout its six-month filming schedule. With auditions held during March 2026, those who apply need only be 16 years of age or older—no acting experience necessary.

Of course, auditions for featured players won’t be as easy to nail down. Now might be a great time to find representation, as said professionals have access to listings that aren’t available to the public. Here’s how to get an acting agent who can help make your dreams become a reality.

When Season 4 begins filming, we expect the cast to mirror seasons past by featuring new faces. So it’s always a good idea to keep your acting résumé fresh. For those looking for casting calls similar to “The White Lotus,” this list of movie auditions is a great place to start. Or check out this roundup of HBO and Netflix shows that are currently casting. And if you’re eager for more advice, our guide on how to audition for HBO is a great resource.

Tucker told us that even if you aren’t actively auditioning, there’s no reason for actors to remain dormant. “It’s always hard to get your foot in the door, but I think the thing that’s kind of great now is that there are so many means to make your own product if you have a digital camera,” she noted. “If you aren’t getting those jobs, I think writing stuff for yourself or working with friends to make your own product is always a great way A) to keep yourself busy and B) to have something to show people.”

If you ever get the chance to audition for Tucker herself, know that she likes to give everyone a chance to demonstrate what they have to offer. “I’ve had instances where someone will come in for me and will be completely and utterly wrong, but at least they’re interesting,” she explained. For instance, when she was working on HBO’s “Entourage,” Tucker said that Rhys Coiro, who eventually played Billy Walsh, initially tried out for an agent role that simply didn’t fit his vibe. But when she “needed an insane, narcissistic director,” the CD knew he’d be perfect for the role. “I always think it’s great if you can meet the person, even if they’re not right,” she said. A failed audition could lead to the role of a lifetime down the road.

Connie Britton, who plays Nicole Mossbacher on “The White Lotus” Season 1, said actors will ultimately succeed if they consistently show casting directors what they bring to the table. “Know what you have to offer, and really hone that and have faith in it and take it out there. And eventually, you’ll find somebody who’s looking for what you have to offer,” she said.

And that’s precisely how Goggins managed to find success despite the struggles he faced when starting out in the industry two decades ago. “I was talking to my agent and asked him, ‘Why is it so hard?’ ” Goggins shared. “And he said, ‘It isn’t hard, Walton. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. There is no one job, no silver bullet for your career. It is the sum total…the aggregation of your body of work that will give you what you’re looking for. Just keep your head down, go to work, and keep doing what you’re doing.’ This piece of advice changed my life.”

But Coolidge advised actors not to linger for too long. "Don’t stand around and talk with the people afterward,” she told us. “You should leave the room so they’re left with your performance. Sometimes, I would finish the audition and they would ask me about my life; and if maybe I had a shot, I would undo getting the part. We want the job, so we unconsciously say stuff because we’re people pleasers. You should do it and run for the exit. Just tell them you’re running to get a flight.”

Of course, you ultimately won’t book every role you audition for, but as Haley Lu Richardson, who plays Portia on Season 2, told us, such rejection carries the power to fuel your future work. “When people say, ‘Don’t take [rejection] personally,’ that only goes so far. Because, truly, acting is [personal]. It’s your body, it’s your emotions, it’s your voice, it’s your ability, it’s your energy,” she explained.

“But I feel like the energy of taking it [personally]…has shifted into the work that I do, and the struggles that I experience on set, whether it’s with people I’m trying to collaborate with or just being hard on myself,” Richardson added. “It’s this thing of: How do I show up to the work that I do when the whole point of the work that I do is being vulnerable, and being ready to give and play with my emotions disguised as this other person’s emotions? How do I show up to that work without—if there’s another external problem on set—letting it just destroy me, because I’m in this extremely vulnerable, exposed emotional space? So that taking it [personally] idea has shape-shifted throughout my career.”