White Lotus Season 2 Acting on creating an “Extended Family” on set – The Hollywood Reporter
Before the October 30 premiere of White Lotus ‘ Monday season, the cast of the anthology series has nothing but praise for co-star and creator/showrunner Mike White.
While season one focused on wealth and privilege at a resort in Maui, season two of the Emmy-winning HBO series tells the many intertwined love stories in Sicily. Returning actors Jennifer Coolidge and Jon Gries star Theo James, Meghann Fahy, Aubrey Plaza, Will Sharpe, Adam di Marco and Haley Lu Richardson, among others.
James said he was initially attracted to the role of Cameron Bishop because of the way White broke expectations about couples in the script and how he found a way to get audiences to identify with even the “social” characters. most gangster”, like his.
“In many ways, Cameron is a dangerous-sexy person but you know, on the fringes of a social killer,” James said. The Hollywood Reporter. “But he’s also quite loving and in love with his wife, which presents a dichotomy for the characters around him and the audience, because he’s more than just an asshole. He’s entertaining, and he’s a bit like a puppy in some respects, but then he’s also calculating and very dangerous. “
The The Time Traveler’s Wife the actor added that White also accomplished something similar in the first hit season of White Lotus by establishing an understanding of a character, whether the audience likes them or not, and then changing the viewer’s opinion in the next episode.
“Mike makes you judge in one episode and then skip in the next, and that’s what he’s so good at,” James continued. “For me, the most empathetic characters are those of Meghann and Adam. Even though they make bad decisions and suffer losses, there is a way for you to understand best. “
Coolidge, who plays fan-favorite character Tanya, echoed that sentiment and admitted that the way White writes her character is what makes people love her so much.
“Mike created this amazing character. I want credit, but I think what he wrote almost came to life, so he had a lot to do with it,” Coolidge said. CHEAP. “I think it’s fun to see people with flaws on screen. I love seeing people with flaws because I can relate. ”
Gries who came back White Lotus as Greg, Tanya’s current husband, finds the relationship plot in season two refreshing and enjoys watching couples’ dynamics change throughout the season.
Being the only two actors to return for the second round was an “intriguing” experience for the couple.
“We were going out to dinner,” Coolidge said, “and I looked around and just said, ‘Well, these kids have the whole world by gonads. “They are having this great adventure. Some of them are in the early stages of their big careers. And there’s not a person who doesn’t deserve to be [there]. ”
However, Gries and Coolidge weren’t the only veteran actors on set. Michael Imperioli and F. Murray Abraham join the series in its second season as Dominic and Bert, respectively. Abraham felt the cast and crew fit together very well during the four months of filming in Italy.
“Not only the cast but the crew, it was like an extended family,” said Abraham THR. “I promise you this doesn’t happen often. And that’s a treat. ”
Even if some of the actors on the show entered the industry earlier, Abraham feels they are complete professionals.
“You don’t feel like you have to give anyone a note or suggest anything, although, if you want to suggest something, that’s a lot of freedom,” he says. “There was no problem on set.”
For younger actors, it’s a surreal experience working face-to-face with industry veterans and seeing how they do their jobs.
Richardson, who plays Tanya’s assistant Portia, feels like she has to quickly get over the fact that the majority of her scenes are with Coolidge, who she’s idolized for a while.
“You just have to be on the scene,” says Richardson THR. “I’m always trying to learn from people, especially people who’ve actually been around, and Jennifer is an icon.”
