The White Lotus's first season gave HBO Max another powerhouse series for fans to go wild over.
In Season 1, we were introduced to separate groups of travelers as they vacationed at the luxurious White Lotus resort in Hawaii. For Season 2, viewers will be whisked away to a White Lotus resort in Sicily.
I spoke to the cast about the upcoming season, and they did not disappoint. Here's what they had to say:
Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya McQuoid-Hunt
Do you think your The White Lotus and The Watcher characters would be friends in another universe?
JC: Not a chance. Not a chance. No, Tanya would be so horrified by Karen. Tanya is so sensitive. Karen would destroy her.
What's it like to be on two hit shows with The White Lotus and The Watcher?
JC: I could never have predicted that in a million years. I mean, what are the odds of that? You know, the way my life has gone and I could never have predicted it, but I do have to say this: I love surprises when they're good.
You've been on two seasons of The White Lotus now. Among your peers, among other actors, who do you think would be perfect for Season 3?
JC: You know, that's so hard. Connie [Britton should come back for Season 3]. Steve [Zahn], Belinda [the character played by Natasha Rothwell] should come back. And I think I should be able to, my character should get to sleep with somebody.
You are a sex icon for an entire generation of Americans. How does that feel?
JC: I don't know if that's overcompensating, but I'll take it (laughs).
You've played so many iconic roles. What are you recognized for the most out of all the roles you've played?
JC: For boys, men, American Pie. For girls, Legally Blonde. But I got White Lotus fans now!
F. Murray Abraham as Bert Di Grasso
Your storyline has a lot to do with the sins of the father, the sins of the son, and generational trauma. Can you speak a little bit about that?
FMA: I think what the older generation has to offer is being ignored by the newer generation who thinks they know everything. In other words, nothing has changed!
Your character has a part where he says something along the lines of "people want to forget about the past because it's problematic," right?
FMA: But one of the things they could learn, it's a little gentility, a little courtesy. A little manners. Let's listen to each other for a change. Instead of saying, "If you don't agree with me, well, I'm gonna kill your ass." That's not the way to solve a problem. That's what's happening now. That's one of the things you can learn from the older generation.
Do you think your character's storyline will possibly give that lesson to the youth watching the series, or help drive that point home?
FMA: What I'm hoping is that they won't think, "He's just an old dead man." Because as this thing progresses, you'll see that he has a soul, he has a heart. So he does have something [to give the youth], and in return, they have something to offer him.
Who do you think your character in The White Lotus Season 2 would be friends with from Season 1?
FMA: I happen to love Jennifer. I'd do anything to hang out with her!
Meghann Fahy as Daphne Sullivan
How does it feel joining such a huge ensemble cast with gorgeous locations, big sets, and just all the excitement around this show?
MF: Yeah, I mean, it's a very "pinch me" scenario. It's the kind of project that you dream about being a part of. That first season, I was a huge fan of it when it came out. And I still sort of can't believe that I get to be standing here right now. But Mike [White, the show's creator] is a visionary, and he's a supportive, incredible director, he's protective. And, you know, somebody you can really put your trust into. From an acting standpoint, it's just really nice to feel like you can sort of let go and let someone else guide you. And he definitely did that.
How was it working with Jennifer Coolidge and Mike Imperioli?
MF: So it was kind of surreal, and they're just as lovely as you'd hope that they would be. Amazing.
Who do you think your character would hang out with from Season 1?
MF: It's got to be Coolidge! I don't know. That's an obvious answer (laughs).
Jon Gries as Greg Hunt
What can we expect from Season 2 of The White Lotus?
JG: You won't be able to figure out what's going to happen. And it's going to blow your face off. No, no, it's crazy.
What's it like being married to Jennifer Coolidge's character and working with her for a second season?
JG: Extraordinary. It's, uh, you know, she's an icon. She's an alchemist. She just throws little bits of gold dust on me. I'm not worthy.
There were rumors that the hotel you shot at was haunted.
JG: It is. It absolutely was. I don't believe in that stuff. I had dreams. I had dreams of people standing at the end of my bed in that hotel room, like dressed from a whole other era, and turning and looking at me like this. And I'm like, no, no, no, no, no, you gotta go. I'm not kidding you. I was speaking out loud. (Jon turns to his girlfriend to ask) How many nights did I wake up screaming? And she would say "What is going on?"
Was there anybody in the cast that you became BFFs with, that you loved hanging out with off set just traveling around Sicily?
JG: A lot of them. Sabrina Impacciatore. We spent a lot of time together. Aubrey, Jennifer. Jennifer and I would go hike up to the top of the mountain and feed the stray cats. We would be talking about our scenes as we walked up the hill.
Haley Lu Richardson as Portia
Can you speak a little about your character?
HLR: She's (Jennifer Coolidge's character's) assistant, and she shows up and she's broke. So she's not one of the, like, fancy, you know, really wealthy people, but she's still very unaware and self-involved (laughs). Because Mike likes exploring those kinds of people. But yeah, she's really not having a good time. She's really desperate. She has this, like, deep, stressful, and angsty desperation to have fulfillment in life. And she's only looking outwardly for that, she doesn't have this thought to look inside for that happiness or that fulfillment. So yeah, she struggles a bit.
What was it like working with Jennifer Coolidge? And Mike White?
HLR: Oh, my God, I love both of them. I'm so glad you said both of those names. Because I love working with both of them. Michael is honestly probably one of the most emotionally aware and grounded humans I've ever met. And I loved every single time that I got to be on set with him. Because no matter what was going on with me, or my experience, or in my brain, he was just so grounding, and so kind of nurturing and kind. He's a great man. And Jennifer is a, you know, an icon.
So, I feel like your character has a tie-in to the good guy versus the bad guy in relationships. Can you speak to the good guys and the bad guys out there from a woman's perspective? What do you think? Who do you think is the better catch? And how does your character figure that dynamic out?
HLR: Oh, man, I think that an honest guy, or an honest person is the best catch. Like, I'm always looking, like, whenever I'm talking to someone going on a date, whatever. I'm just craving authenticity.
Kind of like your character.
HLR: I think she thinks that she's craving that but, like, she's really lost. And I hope that I'm a little less lost than she is. And a little more emotionally aware. But yeah, I really have learned to spot red flags. Now, at the age of 27, I've learned it. I haven't implemented it fully, but I've learned it and I don't like them. Adam said the other day, he was like, "Sometimes people see red flags as decoration." And sometimes I see it as decoration, but I've learned to, you know, call a spade a spade and walk away because I'm tired. I'm tired of dealing with that. You know? I'm tired of dealing with those red flags.
Sabrina Impacciatore as Valentina
You are a lady boss in this season. What was your favorite scene was to shoot?
SI: To be honest, my favorite scenes to shoot maybe...the one that I'm now remembering, but I can't spoil it. I just can say that is an emotional scene. It's not a scene where I'm so bitchy. So because I was enjoying finally going in another direction that could really show the heart of this character. Because she's like a cactus. There is something inside that she's hiding. That was moving to me.