Sam Nivola Reveals Mike White 'Modeled' His Family inThe White LotusAfter Bravo’sSouthern Charm(Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

From left: Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Sam Nivola in Season 3 of ‘White Lotus’.Photo:Fabio Lovino/HBO

Fabio Lovino/HBO

Sam Nivolais revealing the surprising muse for his character inThe White Lotus.

The 21-year-old actor spoke to PEOPLE earlier this month about season 3 of the hit HBO series, opening up about how he prepared to play Lochlan Ratliff. Before heading to Thailand to film, Nivola says creatorMike Whitetold him to watch one of Bravo’s popular reality shows as inspiration for the role.

“Mike told us to go watchSouthern Charm,” Nivola shares of the series, which takes place in South Carolina and follows the lives of cast members such asShep RoseandAusten Kroll, among many others. “In fact,Jason Isaacs, who played our dad, kind of modeled his whole accent and character off of [that cast].”

Sam Nivola (left); Austen Kroll (center) and Shep Rose (right).Billy H.C. Kwok/Getty; Cindy Ord/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Billy H.C. Kwok/Getty; Cindy Ord/NBCUniversal/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

He went on to joke that his on-screen sisterSarah Catherine Hookgot to skip out on the pre-production homework because she “had it down” already.

“I’m from Alabama,” she explains. “I found out through you guys. I was like, ‘He didn’t tell me to watchSouthern Charm!I’m feeling left out.’”

The cast spent several months shooting in Thailand, and during that time, Nivola tells PEOPLE they all had plenty of time to bond — especially him, Hook and Schwarzenegger.

“He’s our boy,” thePerfect Couplealum says of Schwarzenegger, as Hook chimes in: “We’re like the Three Amigos!”

“The three of us got very, very, very close and I’m so thankful for them,” she continues. “We had the best time together.”

From left: Sarah Catherine Hook, Parker Posey, and Sam Nivola in ‘The White Lotus’ season 3.Fabio Lovino/HBO

They also developed a special friendship with Isaacs, who Nivola jokingly points out was “unexpected just because he’s our parents’ age.”

“He’s such a fun guy,” he gushes, noting thatLalisa Manobanand Tayme Thapthimthong were another duo they “got really close with.”

“Maybe this is a silly reason, but they’re Thai and so I wasn’t expecting to have so much in common with them because it’s such a different culture and it’s from across the world,” Nivola explains. “But they’re just the most amazing, lovely people.”

When they weren’t on set, the duo says the cast went on “a lot of boat trips” and “picked up random little fun hobbies” to keep busy.

“Sam got really into Muay Thai,” theCruel Intentionsstar reveals, and Nivola adds: “And Health Lab.”

“We went to this really great place called The Health Lab that had a cafe and a couple different saunas and ice baths and steam rooms,” Hook recalls. “And it was just a good little spot to go escape, but it was very earthy and cool. Yeah, it was a good hangout spot for us and a place to get out of the resort area.”

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The White Lotusairs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and Max.

source: people.com