Bibb and Jason Isaacs reveal their reality-TV inspirations for HBO’s tropical drama, from Beverly Hills glam to Southern Charm drama
The White Lotus Season 3 may be set in Southeast Asia, but behind the scenes, it was buzzing with the energy of American reality TV.
Leslie Bibb, who plays wealthy Texas housewife Kate Bohr in the upcoming installment of Mike White’s Emmy-winning anthology series, revealed she found unexpected acting inspiration in Bravo’s Real Housewives franchise.
“I was watching The Real Housewives always before scenes,” Bibb confessed on Watch What Happens Live. “Sometimes I’d just watch it and see what seeps in… That sounds crazy. And then I don’t even know what’s permeating.”
She added that Beverly Hills and Orange County were her go-to seasons during filming. “Maybe there’s a little Heather Dubrow in her,” Bibb mused, teasing elements of her character’s high-society flair.
Jason Isaacs, who portrays North Carolina patriarch Timothy Ratliff, also leaned into reality TV homework — this time on Mike White’s recommendation.
“Mike had asked us to watch Southern Charm,” Isaacs said, referring to the Bravo series known for its Southern aristocracy and scandal. “People from the show went, ‘He’s clearly doing Thomas Ravenel.’ And Thomas, I am doing you—mostly. But not for two vowels, which are completely English.”
As the cast dives into the decadent world of privilege, deceit, and dysfunction The White Lotus is famous for, it’s clear the absurdity of reality television helped ground their portrayals with equal parts humor and horror.
The star-studded third season also features Parker Posey, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sam Nivola, BLACKPINK’s Lalisa Manobal, Michelle Monaghan, Lek Patravadi, Aimee Lou Wood, and returning fan favorite Natasha Rothwell.
Bibb also praised her partner Sam Rockwell’s surprise appearance on the show, calling his monologue “iconic” and saying it captured “what the whole season is about — what Mike’s really saying there.”