In a surprising revelation, Jason Isaacs, the accomplished actor known for his roles in Harry Potter and The Patriot, confessed that he lied during his audition for the highly anticipated third season of The White Lotus. This confession came to light during a recent interview with PEOPLE, where Isaacs shared that he misrepresented himself to the series creator Mike White and executive producer David Bernad.
During the audition, Isaacs claimed to be a “huge fan” of the show. “You’re the first person I’ve ever said this to,” Isaacs admitted. However, he quickly followed up with an honest confession, stating he hadn’t actually watched any episodes of the hit HBO anthology series before his audition. Realizing the gravity of his fib, he binge-watched both seasons one and two immediately after the audition. “After the audition, I binged season 1 and season 2,” he explained, noting that his family had started watching the show without him and had loved it. “They loved it like crazy.” He emphasized that his initial absence from the show was simply due to wanting to start from the beginning.
Isaacs dedicated himself to catching up, watching all episodes in “like a day and a half.” He reflected on how, after immersing himself in the series, he understood the show’s appeal and why it resonated with so many viewers. “I basically sat and stewed in my own filth, watched it and realized why people had made such a fuss,” he stated, adding, “And then I was a fan, but by then I think I had the job.” This reveals both his commitment to his craft and a bit of humor about the situation, as he processed his nerves from the audition.
Recollection of the audition brought back memories of anxiety for Isaacs. He recalled putting himself on tape in New York, where he was also there to promote his new show, Archie, in which he portrays Cary Grant. He described walking past billboards featuring his own image on them, highlighting the disparity between his successful career and the nerves he felt when auditioning for The White Lotus. “I was anxious and nervous,” he reflected, but ultimately, he succeeded in landing the role, concluding, “I obviously didn’t do too appalling of a job.”
In season three of The White Lotus, Isaacs portrays Timothy Ratliff, a wealthy businessman on vacation with his wife, Victoria, played by Parker Posey. The couple, alongside their children Saxon, Sarah, and Sam, vacation at an exclusive resort in Thailand. HBO describes this season’s captivating social satire, which unfolds over the course of a week, focusing on the complex dynamics among various guests and employees at the resort.
Other notable cast members include Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, and Michelle Monaghan, among others. The eagerly awaited third season of The White Lotus is set to premiere on February 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max, promising another thrilling exploration of privilege and luxury.
