[Editor’s note: The following contains major spoilers for Season 3 of The White Lotus.]

Summary

The third season of the HBO series ‘The White Lotus’ boasts a stacked ensemble, captivating storylines, and standout performances.

Carrie Coon’s portrayal of Laurie is a real stand-out, potentially putting her in the running for Emmy contention.

Coon’s experience filming Season 3 involved challenges, intense schedules, and unique character insights.

The HBO series The White Lotus always has a stellar cast, and the Season 3 ensemble was stacked, from Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood and the tragic love story between Rick and Chelsea, to Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sarah Catherine Hook and Sam Nivola as the vacationing Ratliff family, to Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb and Carrie Coon as a trio of longtime friends reconnecting and catching up. Add in Natasha Rothwell as the spa manager from The White Lotus in Hawaii, and Lek Patravadi, Lalisa Manobal and Tayme Thapthimthong, who each play a role in the guest experience in Thailand, and the return of Jon Gries, clearly not mourning the untimely demise of Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge). At the start of their girls’ trip, Jaclyn (Monaghan), Kate (Bibb) and Laurie (Coon) seem like the best of friends. Having met when they were 9 and now 40-somethings, their lives, relationships and careers have made it harder for them to spend time together, so Jaclyn decides they should rectify that in Thailand. But when old grudges start to resurface and tension continues to build, pushing them to the brink of friendship destruction, it seems like they might be it for this trio. Until Laurie has an epiphany that turns her bitterness into a sense of nostalgia that leads her to be grateful to have these two women who know her so deeply and truly in her life. While they survive the trip, no one leaves Thailand unscathed, and we’re left wondering what might come of Laurie, Kate and Jaclyn in the future. It seems less a matter of whether The White Lotus might receive nominations and some awards love this season, and more a matter of who from the cast will receive that recognition. As the character who went on a bit of an emotional roller coaster, only to ultimately realize what is most important in life, Coon was a definite standout who could find herself in Emmy contention. Collider got the opportunity to chat with Coon about all things The White Lotus and playing Laurie in Season 3. During the interview, she discussed the fact that she doesn’t really know how long it will take to fully digest the experience of making the series, the intense schedule of flying home from Thailand to New York and back to visit her family during the shoot, how different her own experience with female friendship is from Laurie, that Laurie’s speech at the table with Jaclyn and Kate was a beautiful moment of honesty, why she loves getting the opportunity to physically express character moments, the emotions she experienced while watching the finale from her basement with husband Tracy Letts, Laurie’s decision to run when gunshots rang out, and whether she would reprise her role for another season if creator Mike White asked her to. She also shared what it was like to have to immediately switch gears and jump into Season 3 of The Gilded Age, two days after wrapping The White Lotus and before they’d even had a chance to build her costumes, and her love of Merritt Wever, who signed on to play Bertha’s estranged sister.
Carrie Coon Discusses the Uniquely Challenging and Rewarding Experience of Making ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3

“I don’t know how long it will take to fully digest the impact of the experience on my life.”

Collider: Shooting Season 3 of The White Lotus seemed like two very different but equally interesting experiences. It seems like there was the experience your character had on screen, and then the one that the actors had, just getting to hang out with each other. When you look back on the season and the experience as a whole, how meaningful was it to you, as an actor, to get to share those moments with Leslie Bibb and Michelle Monaghan? Did it feel like you had time to spend hanging out, as actors and as characters? CARRIE COON: Yes. It was interesting for us rhythmically because we were first out of the gate. We shot the first 10 or 12 days, just the three of us, before anybody else joined. We were the ones that were part of the learning curve of the set. You always have a learning curve with the director and the DP and the crew. And we were in Thailand and the circumstances were extreme. They were working out the kinks with us. And then, everybody else came, and suddenly it was a show about all these other people too, and we weren’t working every day. Our work got more spread out, so we would go long periods of time without having a really big dialogue-heavy scene or having a day where we were working primarily, so we were in the background of other people’s scenes. It felt strange. It was really galvanizing. And then, suddenly it was like we were being pulled apart in a way. I don’t know how long it will take to fully digest the impact of the experience on my life. Unlike so many of the other members of the cast, I think I was the only person who had small children that didn’t come with me. Morgana O’Reilly did, but her kids came with her. Michelle’s kids are older than mine, and they got to come and visit for extended periods of time. Any time there was a big cast outing or event, because they had time off, I was flying to New York. I had this very weird, disparate experience because I kept leaving. I would get these pictures of a really fun karaoke party that I never got to go to. They were doing all these extracurricular activities without me there. I was living the life of Laurie, being left out of actual cast events. So, it was rhythmically very, very unusual. But certainly, we forged these crazy six-month friendships. No one will ever understand what we went through. It’s like being an astronaut. Only other astronauts know what it’s like to be an astronaut. Only somebody who worked on the show knows what Survivor: Thailand was really like.

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Have you ever had another acting experience like this? Did this feel very different from anything else you’ve done? COON: Very different anytime you go away, and I’ve gone to Calgary twice, but Thailand was so extremely far that when I would fly home to see my family, I was flying a couple of hours to Singapore, and then 18 hours and change to New York. That’s an epic journey to do regularly. You have to prepare for that. There’s a whole thing of preparation that goes into flying that far and then coming back a few days later. So, no, I’ve never done anything like this before. And in addition to that, I’ve never worked in this extremity of weather and condition. I’ve worked in extreme cold, which I prefer because your brain’s not boiling. This was literally the hottest that region has ever been in the history of keeping records. And then, this year, it’s hotter. They were closing schools. I didn’t go outside between 9am and 4pm. The UV index was so high you would burn in minutes. We had to put sunscreen on top of makeup. I’ve never been that hot in my life. If the sun touches you, you’d burn up into a pile of ash, so you have to stay covered. It was crazy. It was really a wild experience. Did you learn anything from this character or take anything from who she is? Of everyone on the show, she’s the character that I would want to just like hang out with. COON: She’s given a lot of moments where she’s trying to recapture something from their youth and she gets to let loose. And she’s the drunk, too. Obviously, being drunk is disinhibiting, so she had that going for her, as well. I tend to be more isolationist on vacation. Laurie clearly is willing to have fun in a group, so maybe that’s something I can take away from the experience. She makes some bad decisions, but I’m sober now, so I don’t think I’m at risk for any of those. I do think the overarching lesson from the women’s storyline, if they had walked into the villa and just been really straightforward and honest about what they were going through in their lives, they would have had a very different vacation. Female friendship has come late to me. I was a real tomboy, and then I was a home wrecker. Now, I have female friends as I’ve settled down into my middle age. I’m so eager to pursue friendships with women now, and I just really want everybody to be honest with each other. I don’t have time for small talk, and I don’t go for small talk when I’m talking to other women. I get really involved in their personal lives and what they’re going through and how they’re feeling. That’s the only friendship I want to have. The older you get, I think the most important quality in a friend is curiosity, honestly, and that they’re not just a total narcissist. I think so many women have had that experience, and then they feel scared of it or uncertain about it, and it takes us a while to figure it out. And then, there are those women I know who’ve had that group of friends from elementary school, and they still go on vacation together in their 40s and they’ve known each other forever, and that’s just not been my experience. I’ve had a couple of friends that I’ve held onto through the years, but nothing like that. Nothing like that girls’ trip group. That’s just very far from me.
Carrie Coon Was Speaking From Her Own Experience During That Monologue in ‘The White Lotus’ Season 3

“There was a lot of truthfulness in that, for the three of us.”

Image via HBO

I love that Laurie is able to be self-aware and to self-reflect on why she’s unhappy and why she was looking for happiness in all the wrong places. I was worried about this group of friends for a minute and whether they might ever talk again after this trip was over. Did that moment of clarity that Laurie has at the table with Jaclyn and Kate feel like a really beautiful moment of honesty? COON: Yes. In particular, because we shot it near the end of the shoot, and so there was a lot of truthfulness in that, for the three of us, just reflecting on our time together in Thailand and gratitude for where we all are in our lives, still working actresses in our 40s and beyond, and all of us successful in very different ways. That’s no small feat. This is a war of attrition. It’s very hard to stay in this business. It’s a very punishing and judgmental business. You see it happening on the internet, as they’re judging the three of us physically. It’s not like that conversation stopped because we had an enlightened moment. We were well aware that that was part of the conversation that was going to always be part of the conversation, comparing us in every way. There was a lot to draw from, for me playing Laurie, being the shortest, not ex-model of the group. It was really satisfying to get to speak to that experience that the three of us actually had. It’s funny you point out that Laurie is self-reflective, but I think she arrives at that place as her friends ultimately are honest with her. She’s been willing to be honest, but she’s not been willing to take responsibility for her part in any of it, which is very dangerous and egotistical and not really fair. The fact that she’s able then to ultimately take in and metabolize and process what her friends have said to her and found a kernel of truth in it, and it took some humiliation, frankly, to get there, she was able to hit a rock bottom and then have a tiny spiritual awakening. I don’t know if it sticks. I feel like in my own life, I’ve had to learn lessons over and over again before they stick. I feel like it’ll be easier for them to default back to their old patterns. It’ll be hard to uproot those patterns, but maybe this is a step in that direction. You’ve said that you read all eight of the scripts before doing this, but was there anything that changed at all? Did you know that she would ultimately be the one that was the glue holding them together? Did anything change with that dynamic? COON: No, the only thing that really changed is that some of those scenes were cut down. We shot them as they were, and then because the episodes were so long, Mike [White] had to cut a lot of material. He loves all the characters and he understands all of them, and he loves the ladies. That conversation that we had about beans was much, much longer. Jaclyn shaming Kate for eating beans, and then Laurie saying, “I really like medium beans.” It was an absurd conversation, and Mike just kept adding to it because he just wants more beans in prestige TV. He really loved them, and it was sad that he had to cut out so much material from our arc. I know they shot multiple endings, and I very intentionally tried to forget what happened to the other characters, so I could enjoy the show as a fan. They would collect our scripts when we traveled. We weren’t allowed to have the scripts with us for security reasons, so it was very easy for me to forget what everybody else was doing. And I really was surprised by the ending because I couldn’t remember what happened.

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What was it like to have that experience? What were the emotions that you went through watching the finale? COON: It was really satisfying to see my friends’ work because they’re my friends now. And they’re the only people that will ever understand the experience I had, including my own partner who never got to come to Thailand. The older I get and the longer I’ve been in this business, which I have to acknowledge I’ve now been in this business for a pretty reasonable amount of time, I get so moved by the accomplishments of young people. It’s like I’m 75 years old. I get so moved when I see them given an opportunity, and they rise to the challenge. It’s particularly satisfying for me when I see the young people succeed. And then, of course, working with Parker [Posey], I didn’t really get to work with her, but seeing that indelible way that she has. And Jason Isaacs and Walton [Goggins], I’ve admired their work for such a long time. I was a huge Insecure fan and a big fan of Natasha [Rothwell]’s and got to be in her presence. I love Christian Friedel. So much of his stuff was cut out, but Mike White cackled out loud, every time Christian opened his mouth. He’s so funny. He always plays Nazis and bad guys, so I’m sorry that people didn’t get to experience the full bloom of his character. I loved meeting Lek Patravadi, who plays Sritala. She is literally the Madonna of Thailand. She’s an amazing human being. I loved talking to her about her life. She actually started a theater school and some of the Thai performers you see in those performances at the resort are her students. She’s just beloved in that community. Our experience was so full. We lived six months, and you all only see six days of it. My friends who had to do press the night of the finale out in L.A. had to watch the finale, which they had never seen, they were all crying and clinging to each other, and then five minutes later, they had to go out and answer questions about their experience when they hadn’t really worked through it yet. I was very grateful, I have to say, to be in my basement with my husband, my biggest fan, in my pajamas, to be able to have that experience on my own. It’s just for us. It’s so fulsome. There’s just so much in it of our lives, and no one will ever understand it. It’s interesting that you had your own experience in your own little bubble. Did you know that there was incest going on? COON: I kind of knew, but I didn’t know how they were going to go about it. It was really interesting to see how all that stuff was shot and dealt with. I just think they all did a really, really wonderful job. I’m really proud of them. You’ve talked about how Mike White just writes these incredible female characters. I would have been down to watch all the women on this season sit down at some point at this resort and just have a conversation together. COON: It’s true. But trust me, we were having them for real. If that gives you some satisfaction, we were actually having them.
Carrie Coon Was All In When It Came to Getting to Do Stunts in ‘The White Lotus’

“I’m an athlete and I’m pretty reckless with my body, so I never feel a sense of danger.”

Image via HBO

As a viewer, it was surprising to see the decision that led Laurie down a path where she was climbing out of a window. What was that moment like to shoot? Was it fun to have a moment like that in the middle of some of the heavier stuff? COON: Those are the moments I live for. When I read a script, I’m so grateful when I see something like that that’s physical, that physicalizes the woman’s journey. I love stunts. I’m an athlete and I’m pretty reckless with my body, so I never feel a sense of danger. The stunt was originally set in a different location, and we were going to use a harness and there was a fire escape. It was a different thing. But we got behind in our schedule because of the weather and we had to shift that shoot to another location. And also, the actors’ schedules shifted, so we ended up with this more reasonable bungalow and the stunt became much more analog. It was more like, “Can you hold on tight and fall without a harness?” It was actually more fun to do it that way because I got to do it. It wasn’t the stunt person doing it, it was actually me. I love that stuff. I want to do more of it. I just think it’s so fun. Even the sexy stuff. It’s a wild thing to do in a room full of people, and you’re like, “Well, there’s an experience that the average person doesn’t get to have.” Are you someone who likes to have conversations about those moments, or do you prefer to just jump in and get it over with? COON: Now, we have a lot of conversations around particularly intimacy and stunts because safety is paramount. People’s emotional safety has been prioritized in the industry, as it should be. There’s always a very delicate dance where this person talks to the intimacy coordinator, and this person talks to the intimacy coordinator, and everybody talks to the intimacy coordinator, but it’s in pursuit of what the story needs. I will do this nudity because the story requires it and because the filmmaker tells me this is what it’s doing to move the story forward. Mike was incredibly respectful. Honestly, that sex scene was one of the shortest I’ve ever shot. I think we shot it in about eight minutes. And also, we were very hot, so you’ve got to wrap that up. It was very sweaty business. Everybody is part of that conversations, but ultimately, the only thing you can do is jump in. That’s the job, really. The moment after the shooting when everyone is running away from Rick, I love that your character is the first one to take off and not even look back at her friends. COON: What am I going to do? It reminded me of being on an airplane when they tell you to put the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping others. COON: Yes. Was that just an everywoman for themselves moment? Were there other versions of that moment? COON: What I thought was, “What would a person do?” If I was in New York City and there was a shooter, I would run my ass off. Would I like to believe that I would nobly stand by and jump on his back? Yes. I would absolutely love to believe that about myself. The reality is such that I would probably take off because I’m pretty fast. So, I have to confront that in myself. The joy of acting is that it makes you ask questions like this. Who am I really? We were watching an old Gary Busey movie the other night, and my husband said, “Here’s the thing about Gary Busey that people forget: he’s a great actor. And one of the things that makes him a great actor,” and I’m not comparing myself to Gary Busey or saying I’m a great actor, “is that he always did the thing that a person would do.” And Tracy [Letts] talked about the scene where he’s protecting these children from something terrifying. The terrifying thing happens, and he starts to run away, and he has to come back and get the children. And I just think that feels very real to me. What’s your first impulse? Probably to survive.

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Frankly, there’s probably more likelihood for all of you to survive if you’re all taking care of yourselves and not like taking the time to stop. COON: Yeah. What are you going to do, pick somebody up and carry them? You’re not going to get away like that. Jump in the lagoon. It’s a narrow walkway. The best thing you can do is get out of the way, so somebody else can make it. People get stampeded in these events. I turn around eventually. They better be on my heels. That’s the smart thing to do. Laurie is making good decisions. Get out of there! Don’t wear high heels at the resort. Women wear high heels at these resorts. I’m like, “No, no, honey.” Would you come back for another season if Mike White came up with something? COON: I can’t imagine he’s not finished with me. Sure, of course. I adore Mike. I adored Mike before The White Lotus, before it was cool, and I really loved working with him. And so, if he invited me into another storyline, I would certainly contemplate it. It would have to work for my family, that’s all. This was really hard for us. This was a really tough job. I don’t know that, if given the chance, we would do it again. I think it’s ultimately worth it. I think we agree that it was ultimately worth doing, and I’m so grateful for the experience, but it was tough. We’d have to really consider all the angles, so that I don’t have a divorce and so that my children are still speaking to me.
After Wrapping ‘The White Lotus,’ Carrie Coon Had to Jump Right Into Season 3 of ‘The Gilded Age’

“Honestly, I did not know who I was or what I was doing.”

Image via HBO

It’s wild that you had to start shooting Season 3 of The Gilded Age two days after wrapping The White Lotus. Did you know that would be the case when you started shooting? COON: No, I didn’t. I knew they were going to start in July, and they continued to shoot The White Lotus for another month. I actually got out of there early. They had to shoot me out, so I could start The Gilded Age. The secret benefit of not being around is that they hadn’t built my costumes yet. And so, for the first week, basically every scene I did, I was in my nightgown. They did all my bedroom scenes, so I was just in a nightgown and a robe. That was at least a little bit of an ease into the world. But honestly, I did not know who I was or what I was doing. I said to my crew and to my directors, “Listen, I know it’s TV and we don’t want to work 18-hour days, but I just need extra time. I don’t know how I talk. I don’t know how to stand.” I really just had to beg everyone’s patience. I just had to be terrible for a few days. I dread seeing those scenes. I can’t imagine that I’m doing anything worth seeing, but we’ll find out. At least I was in my nightgown. My kids were miserable. I just got home, and then I was like, “Bye, see you in 15 hours.” I leave at 3:30 in the morning for those gigs, and then I get back usually after bedtime. They were just heartbroken that I had to leave. That was the hardest part, that mental toll from the kids. I was absolutely terrible, I promise you. Coming back to a character you’ve played before is already like putting on a wet bathing suit. You know it’s your bathing suit, but it feels a little uncomfortable. And then, you wear a corset on top of that. COON: You have to build up your stamina for those elements. Wearing the wigs and the hats makes for a long day. Nobody should have those hats on for 16 hours, but that’s what we do. There’s a certain degree of stamina required by The Gilded Age, which is surprising. When people come into our world, they’re like, “Whoa, this is intense.” There’s also a very narrow channel where you’re either too big and broad or you’re too small and you’re being dwarfed by the world, so you have to find where that pocket is. Let’s just say, you’d like to be successful every single day, but I’m not sure that I can say that I am.

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What was it like to have Merritt Wever join Season 3? COON: Oh, my gosh, I love her so much. I couldn’t believe that she was going to do it. I remember doing my first scene with her, which was pretty soon after I’d come back, and I just remember thinking, “Oh, that’s what a human being is like.” She’s so beautifully naturalistic, and I just felt like she didn’t have the same learning curve we all feel we had in the world. She just popped right into it. I know that’s not how she felt, but to me, it was beautiful to see. I just felt like I was a comedy and tragedy mask, acting opposite her. I felt so extreme, acting opposite her because she’s just so truthful. We just delighted in having her. She’s a wonderful human being. She’s a great actor. We were just lucky to get her. I hope we all get to come back, and I hope if we do, that she comes with us. If we get to stay on the air, we’ll get everybody in New York eventually.

The White Lotus

Release Date

2021 – 2024

Network

HBO

Showrunner

Mike White

Directors

Mike White

Writers

Mike White

Natasha Rothwell

Belinda Lindsey

The White Lotus is available to stream on Max. Check out the Season 3 trailer: