‘White Lotus’ Creator Mike White Says Season 3 Stars “Rival” Jennifer Coolidge’s “Iconic” Performance – Deadline
By Glenn Garner Associate Editor
With Season 3 of The White Lotus taking fans to Thailand, one character’s absence will leave some big shoes to fill.
But the HBO show’s creator Mike White noted that multiple new and returning faces will help fill the void and “rival” Jennifer Coolidge‘s “iconic” performance as Tanya McQuoid after the wealthy heiress’ tragic exit in the Season 2 finale.
“How do you go about replacing Jennifer? It’s not just the creative part, but she’s a very good friend, and also a big part of the show just as a person,” White told Time. “I’m not friends with the cast the way that I’m friends with Jennifer. But there’s definitely some performances I feel rival her as far as hopefully iconic performances.”
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White cited Posey’s new privileged, pill-popping mother character and Natasha Rothwell’s returning spa manager Belinda from Season 1 as standouts of the upcoming season, which premieres Feb. 16.
Season 3 of The White Lotus also features Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Jason Isaacs, Lalisa Manobal, Michelle Monaghan, Sam Nivola, Lek Patravadi, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Tayme Thapthimthong and Aimee Lou Wood.
Following her first Golden Globe and second Emmy win for playing Tanya, Coolidge admitted she’s “jealous of everyone” appearing in Season 3 of The White Lotus.
“I just want to stress I’m not a good sport about it, but there’s nothing I can do. When they kill you, you have to accept it. Because it means they’re not calling for your costume sizes or anything. It’s over! I have to get another thing. I have to make another thing happen, I guess,” she said on Today last February. “But am I sad? I just want to say in all honesty, I’m very sad I’m not in it.”
Coolidge added, “I had a blast. I think [Season 3] is going to be good. There’s going to be all sorts of good stuff in it, probably great sex stuff. You know how Mike White writes — it’s never, never a dull moment. I think he’s going to slay with this one.”Get our Breaking News Alerts and Keep your inbox happy.Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters
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