EXCLUSIVE: Leslie Bibb and Natasha Rothwell Dish on What’s Next for “The White Lotus” Season Three

If you aren't familiar with it The White Lotus Have you maybe been hiding under a rock? (I say this with the utmost kindness.)

The anthology series – conceived, penned, and helmed by Mike White – made its debut in 2021 and quickly earned praise from both critics and audiences for its incisive social commentary, stylish vacation attire, and intricately imperfect yet entertaining personalities.

Today, The White Lotus has claimed an impressive 15 Emmy Awards and often becomes the main subject of discussion during water-cooler conversations at The Weekly ’st office; particularly since the Season 3 finale is set to air soon. new streaming service Max .

And thus, I readily seized the opportunity to meet up with Leslie Bibb and Natasha Rothwell, who both star in it. Season 3 , to discuss everything White Lotus .

I must confess that initially, learning I would interview both Leslie and Natasha seemed like an unusual combination—after all, their corresponding characters, Kate and Belinda, seldom share scenes and their plot lines hardly cross paths.

Yet, as soon as I entered the room, the chemistry between Leslie and Natasha was evident.

As I spent more time with them, it became evident that they share a strong friendship off-screen too, adding an exciting edge to our conversation.

Read the complete interview with Leslie and Natasha in The Weekly below...

The Weekly Natasha, Belinda's comeback this season was truly delightful! When did you learn that both you and Belinda would be back for Season 3?

Natasha: Yeah, I was [shocked] as well! They were shooting Season 2 that year, and that's what did it. Emmys For the prior year’s events, Mike [White] returned from Italy for the Emmys and expressed a desire to have dinner while he was in town.

He said, 'I'm working on Season 2, but I'm already considering ideas for Seasons 3 and beyond. Maybe we could bring Belinda back too. What do you think?' Of course, I agreed enthusiastically!

At that moment, I had no idea about the time, place, or details for Season 3. I only knew that whatever comes my way with Mike will be a definite yes.

I've spent quite some time in this field, hence I understand that nothing becomes concrete till you actually put pen to paper. Being a writer myself, I am aware that ideas evolve during the writing phase. Therefore, I didn’t want to bind him to his initial thoughts.

However, once he completed writing the scripts, everything was set to proceed. He contacted me again and asked, 'Are you prepared? Have you packed your bags?' I responded enthusiastically, 'Yes!'

And Leslie, what was it like becoming part of the iconic group? White Lotus Did you watch the first two seasons prior to getting cast in the franchise?

Leslie: I mean, I can hardly think of anyone who hasn't watched Season 1 and 2. Getting cast was incredibly thrilling, yet at the same time, it felt as though a heavy weight had been placed upon me. I thought to myself, 'Oh gosh, make sure you do well!' Given how much people adore this series, there certainly was some added pressure.

However, it was delightful having Natasha around since she had experienced it before, and I believe everyone—the whole cast—was wondering, “Is it okay for me to discuss this?”

Natasha: Let’s talk [laughs].

Leslie: However, she was incredibly skilled and an excellent leader. She genuinely uplifted all of us and would say, “Everything will be fine. Mike, have faith in him. Have faith in him. No matter what occurs or what he mentions, he won’t let you down.” And it’s accurate; he consistently stands by his word.

Natasha, you clearly collaborated extensively with Jennifer Coolidge during Season 1. We recently had a conversation with her where she expressed a strong desire for justice for Tanya. She mentioned wanting Greg to face consequences; did you discuss these sentiments with her regarding this upcoming season?

Natasha: Absolutely! Obviously, before the show was released, everything was kept under wraps.

However, once the initial few episodes were broadcast, Jennifer She messaged me and was super kind.

When they announced my return, she sent me an extensive message that basically said, 'You go, girl!' So, I replied with, 'Thanks!'

The last time she messaged me, she said, 'Go for it!' [Chuckles].

Leslie: [Laughs] That's hilarious. Greg! He’s like a cockroach. Never disappears completely! Keeps showing up again and again; what a persistent fellow he is.

I'd be interested to discuss the intricate friendships your character Kate shares with Jaclyn and Laurie. Could you share how you tackled portraying those relationships? Have you experienced anything similar to a 'frenemy' dynamic in your own life?

Leslie: It's amusing because I didn’t tackle it thinking of it as dealing with a frenemy. To me, it wasn’t ever characterized that way at all.

Natasha: But we're sort of friends with benefits [chuckles].

Leslie: Sure [chuckles]. Not at all; this is where rumors begin! Absolutely not, we aren’t!

Natasha: We’re not.

Leslie: Oh, Natasha, someone will definitely take that idea and run with it!

Natasha: I’m so sorry [laughs].

Leslie: No, however, from my perspective—and this might sound paradoxical—I believe it's crucial for Kate that these friendships endure. Both literally throughout the journey and metaphorically beyond it.

I based her character around her vulnerabilities and insecurities. From there, observing how those elements develop becomes quite intriguing.

Natasha: It's one of my favorite plot lines this season with the girls. I believe that each of them has traits that the others could benefit from.

I believe that in any solid friendship, you tend to be attracted to individuals who enhance your qualities. Thus, these friends often observe others within the group excelling where they may fall short.

Leslie: Yeah, right?!

Natasha: The manner in which [Mike] depicted that envious, competitive aspect is truly impressive.

Leslie: I continually mention that [Kate, Jaclyn, and Laurie’s relationship relies on] this comparative manner in which we view one another or others' lives. It's about thinking 'They matter since their life seems more successful,' yet I believe it's just an illusion.

It’s like this [motioning to her suit]! Looks like I’ve got on this fantastic suit. But actually, it’s borrowed and needs to be returned. Victoria Beckham It won’t remain in my wardrobe. You understand what I’m saying? The difference between your perception of reality and –

Natasha: You're measuring your insides against someone else's outsides.

Leslie: Oh, that’s quite impressive.

Natasha: So, there will always be some discord where you can never quite keep pace. It’s important to remind yourself that what you see might not truly represent who someone actually is.

Natasha, you briefly mentioned how individuals who complement each other create a strong partnership. Could you share how you crafted that beautiful, complementary mother-son relationship between yourself and Nicholas Duvernay, who portrays your son Zion?

Natasha: He’s simply amazing and charming.

I got to Koh Samui In Thailand prior to him doing so. Upon his arrival, we had a large cast dinner, but he missed it as he –

Leslie: Oh my goodness, you're absolutely right! He was fast asleep through the whole thing.

Natasha: We kept messaging him. We were wondering, 'Where is he?' He had just arrived and was completely exhausted.

So I reached out to him and said, “Why don’t we go for dinner together?” since I wanted to learn more about him. He's a bit younger than me [chuckles], so I figured he might want to spend time with some of the newer members of the cast, so I suggested grabbing a quick drink instead.

However, we concluded with a four-hour dinner on the beach where he was incredibly profound, amazing, intelligent, compassionate, and perfectly balanced [ chuckles ].

Leslie: Very symmetrical.

Natasha: I agree; throughout my life, I've spent considerable time in teaching positions. Therefore, when interacting with someone younger and feeling a connection to motivate them both on and off camera, it felt quite natural for me.

Leslie: The energy was fantastic. Being part of it, it seemed to unfold instantly.

Natasha: Absolutely. It all transpired very rapidly, and he is incredibly warm and generous, and –

Leslie: He has a gentle soul.

Natasha: Moreover, since the plot lines in the series seldom cross paths, each character seems almost isolated in their personal universe. Consequently, both Nicholas and I maintained our own separate sphere throughout.

Leslie: Since we filmed out of sequence, he was present throughout the entire process. This allowed us to develop genuine connections as we spent six to seven months together. In my opinion, this significantly enhances the authenticity of the show’s relationships.

Lastly, we need to discuss the monologue delivered by Sam Rockwell.

Leslie: Oh yes, my beloved !

Did he go over the scenes with you for that, or was that as unexpected for you as it was for everyone else?

Leslie: Sure, not exactly though. To be honest, I suspected something might happen, but here’s what occurred: He was filming a movie in South Africa, and my plan was to visit him there. However, as his production kept getting delayed, so did our plans.

Therefore, my stay with him was going to be considerably shorter since I needed to return to Bangkok, followed by Mike and White Lotus [Executive Producer] David Bernad asked, “Do you reckon Sam might be interested?”

I told Dave; when he entered the gym, I was running on the treadmill, and he asked, 'Have you heard?'

I was like, “Yep, I know what happened. However, you shouldn’t blame me if he messes up. The jet will go wherever it pleases; I’m not controlling his actions.”

Sam and I keep our fun separate from business. Besides, he was undecided due to the enormity of the monologue and his preference for ample preparation time, which wouldn't be available.

But I continued telling him, 'I'll have you memorize that monologue.'

Therefore, we embarked on a safari adventure. I visited him, and every morning we would head out for a game drive together. Then, I'd say, 'Let's get going and practice our lines.'

He said, 'Oh Jesus. Mary Joseph.' I responded, 'Not like that. Try again.'

Natasha: I'm picturing him delivering the monologue, you know, with a pride of lions strolling by [chuckles].

The Season 3 ending episode of The White Lotus will debut soon. Max on April 7, 2025.

The post EXCLUSIVE: Leslie Bibb and Natasha Rothwell dish about The White Lotus' upcoming third season appeared first on The Australian Women's Weekly .

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