With its gripping, thriller-esque eat-the-rich plots, HBO’s The White Lotus has held audiences captive since the premiere of its first season in 2021. It has whisked us away to Hawaii, Sicily, and Thailand, respectively, with Seasons 1, 2, and 3, and now the show – written and directed by School of Rock’s Mike White – has been commissioned for a fourth season, production for which is expected to begin in 2026.
If you’re hoping to follow in the footsteps of Aimee Lou Wood and Leo Woodall, earning international fame via a place on the show – which counts Jennifer Coolidge, Sydney Sweeney, Aubrey Plaza, and Parker Posey among its star-led casts – here’s what you need to know.
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By now, the formula is set: A cluster of extremely rich, largely narcissistic Americans (and the odd Brit) travel to a branch of luxury hotel chain The White Lotus for a getaway. As the series unfolds, so, too, do their secrets and details of the troubles they’ve left behind in their regular lives – from unhappy relationships to media scandals. The resort becomes a pressure cooker and, by the end, there will be a murder – the details surrounding which are teased in the first episode, leaving the viewers guessing who will be bumped off by whom.
Meredith Tucker, whose previous credits include the movies Eighth Grade and In the Loop and the series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, is the casting director on all seasons of The White Lotus.
Speaking to Backstage, Tucker described the process as “very organic.” Each season’s roll call of holidaymakers include subsets – families, friends, frenemies, couples, and colleagues. When casting a specific set of characters – such as the latest season’s toxic trio of female friends – she asks herself: “Who matches or works well with whom? Because it comes from the reads; it’s an organic way of [seeing chemistry].”
“Casting is so subjective, so there’s a degree of if the person has the right vibe,” she says. “Do you buy Michelle Monaghan being a famous actress? Or do you buy Jason Isaacs being a hedge fund guy from North Carolina?”
If you get called up to audition, Tucker says, it’s vital to stay present in the scene and not get caught up in what your scene partner is doing – or who you’re auditioning opposite for the notoriously starry show. “If you start getting too macro about it and are looking at it from 35,000 feet as opposed to being in the scene, then that’s going to be [your downfall],” she warns. “You want to stay in the moment. You want to be present there.”
Rumours of an all-star season, reintroducing characters from previous seasons, are rife for Season 4. But until they’re confirmed, we have every reason to believe it will be looking for fresh talent. Although the show is filmed in exotic locations, if Amy Lou Wood’s audition experience is anything to go by, you’ll first meet White and the team via a video call. She’d previously submitted a self-tape, which she was asked to record in both an American accent and her own Mancunian accent, and she was invited for a callback on Zoom “with Mike, the casting director and some producers,” she says. As for early indications you may have got the part, Wood had a hunch when White started telling her “top secret info” about the story.
Wood, of course, had a number of major roles behind her already. Shows as high profile as The White Lotus likely will be looking for talent who comes recommended. If you’re not currently represented, focus first on securing an acting agent.
Also ensure that you have all your documents updated and ready to fire off once you’ve pinpointed which agents you’re keen to approach. Here are some tips on polishing the essentials:
- How to Write and Format Your Acting CV
- How to Make a Show Reel That Gets You Gigs
- Your Acting Headshot Checklist
Landing a role on The White Lotus may be your ultimate goal, but don’t limit yourself when there are other opportunities out there. Here’s a roundup of scripted TV shows currently casting worldwide talent.
When you land an audition, it’s important to give yourself the best possible shot when you get in the room. Here are some tips, from what to prepare to making a good first impression.
- How to Prepare for a Movie Audition
- 15 Contemporary Monologues for Your Next Audition
- How to Introduce Yourself in an Audition
As for advice, Tucker shares a tip for actors auditioning for an existing series. “If there are episodes available, watch a few just so you can understand what the tone of the show is,” she says. Whether it’s a new or existing show, “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.”
