What happens in Thailand does not stay in Thailand: ‘The White Lotus’ cast on their unforgettable experiences

Thailand, according to the locals

“It's the people, mainly we are very easygoing people,” said Thai actor Dom Hetrakul about his country's charm.

Dom, who plays wellness expert Pornchai, recommends Bangkok, not for its culture, but for its vibrant and modern offerings. He emphasizes the city's exciting nightlife, shopping, and, most importantly, its diverse and delicious food scene. He also contrasts this bustling city life with the peacefulness of other parts of the country like Chiang Mai.

He also describes the more relaxed atmosphere of Northern Thailand, where you can enjoy nature activities and escape the fast pace of city life: “Once you in North, you’re more laid back. [You can] take [an] elephant ride, jungle trekking, and get lost.”

When it comes to Thai cuisine in general, Dom highlights its appealing balance: “It's great in Thailand, the food is good, cheap, tasty—best of both worlds, like you can have raw stuff like back in Japan, or some spicy [dishes] like in India.”

Veteran Thai actress Lek Patravadi suggests homestays, where you can immerse yourself in the local way of life and connect with the community on a deeper level.

“There are lots of small villages,” she told the media. “You can have homestays. And then you see the way of life, the real way of life, the old time. This, to me, is interesting,” said Lek, who plays Sritala, one of the owners of White Lotus Resort.

'Jaw-droppingly beautiful'

The cast of The White Lotus clearly fell in love with the Asian country during their months-long shoot. Sarah Catherine Hook, who plays Piper Ratliff in the series, expressed her delight at the unexpected opportunity to live and work in Thailand.

"Love it,” she told the press. “Never in my life [I] thought I'd ever even have the chance to go to Thailand, let alone live here for six months filming. I mean, it was such a cool experience.”

The Cruel Intentions star, in particular, was completely in awe at Phang Nga Bay, which is known for its limestone cliffs and rock formations, as well as mangrove forests and small islands.

“I've never seen anything like that in my life. The Teardrop Islands are just jaw-droppingly beautiful. And we took a lot of boat trips in that area. We went to [Kho] Phi Phi islands, and…I went to a bat cave,” she said.

Patrick Schwarzenegger shared a similar sentiment, saying that the "overall experience" of filming in a tropical country—let alone in a luxurious hotel—for several months was one "that [they] don't get to do often."

"But Koh Samui was beautiful. The beaches were beautiful, the massages, the food, everything was delicious," he said.

On Thai culture… and massages

Beyond the scenery, the cast also experienced the richness of Thai culture, including its massage tradition. Parker Posey was so captivated by it that she even entertained the idea of attending massage school near Pa Tong.

“When I would get bodywork,” she recalled. “I would think, ‘Oh, I want to learn how to do this on other people.’ And I started thinking because actors are hanging around on set a lot, it would be great if I'd be like, ‘Lie on the floor and let me do this to your back and step on you and pull you.’”

She said she was deeply impressed by the Thai approach to touch “and how comfortable people are with the body.” 

“It's not just the physicality, it's the meditative mind that comes through with the bodywork. And I really felt like I got to find that here,” the actress said.

On sharing a glimpse of the country with viewers

The overall experience of filming in Thailand left a lasting impression on both Parker and Natasha Rothwell. Parker expressed sadness at leaving, emphasizing the generosity and hospitality she encountered.

“I was sad to leave because I was so taken by the beauty of the people and the generosity and a certain kind of hospitality, right? [It] was so pervasive and lovely to experience, and not just in the Four Seasons, but around Koh Samui,” she shared during the press junket.

“We heard a little bit of the stories of people who left the busy Bangkok life to live more simply. And so we got a lot of the stories, and I loved that,” she continued.

Natasha, who returns from Season 1, highlighted the unique opportunity The White Lotus provides to showcase destinations that inspire viewers to travel.

“I think that the gift of doing the White Lotus is being able to have a production that will take you to these places that make people who watch want to go,” she said.

She believes the show will encourage tourism and allow audiences to experience Thailand through the characters' eyes.

“The ability to encourage tourism, you know, to Thailand, and to have other people see Thailand the way our characters are seeing them—like my character is there for the first time, and everything is like, bright and shiny and amazing—and that's how I felt when I got here. And I think audiences will watch and feel the same way, because I feel like Thailand feels like a character on the show, and it's just a beautiful way to display where we are, why we're here, and to ask people to come and visit. I think it's really cool.”

Parker added that every place has its unique energy, and that shows like The White Lotus, which streams on Max, offer a chance to share the very essence of a location with the world.

“Every country, every place around the world has its own energy, and I love that about Mike White's altruism… It’s bigger than the plot of the show or even entertainment—to be able to share the energy of a particular place,” Parker said.

The White Lotus airs new episodes every Monday on Max.