Jason Isaacs Admits Why He ‘Lied’ toWhite LotusCreator Mike White During His Season 3 Audition (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Jason Isaacstold a little fib before being cast forThe White Lotusseason 3.

The longtime actor andHarry Potteralum, 61, reveals during aPEOPLE in 10interview that he ”lied” to the series’ creatorMike Whiteand executive producerDavid Bernadduring his in-person audition for the hit HBO anthology’s third season, which premieres on Sunday, Feb. 16.

“You’re the first person I’ve ever said this to,” Isaacs prefaces his recollection to PEOPLE. “I lied to Mike and Dave and told them I was a huge fan.”

ThePeter PanandThe Patriotstar then admitted that he hadn’t actually seen any episodes yet — but he quickly rectified this.

Jason Isaacs and Mike White at ‘The White Lotus’ season 3 premiere on Feb. 10, 2025.Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic

“After the audition, I binged season 1 and season 2,” he explains. “The only reason I hadn’t watched it is my family had started without me. They loved it like crazy, and season 2 came on and they said, ‘Watch it,’ and I went, ’I want to see season 1,’ so I just hadn’t caught up.”

Isaacs then detailed the audition process, which had made him “nervous.”

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“I went to audition and put myself on tape in New York because I was there to launchArchie, a show in which I play Cary Grant,” Isaacs recalls. “And I walked past all these giant billboards in Times Square of my face on it to go into a casting director’s office like I used to in my 20s and put myself on tape, so I certainly couldn’t get too big for my boots.”

“And I was anxious and nervous,” he remembers ofThe White Lotusaudition. “Then I got the job. I obviously didn’t do too appalling of a job.”

‘The White Lotus’ season 3 cast members Patrick Schwarzenegger, Sarah Catherine Hook, Sam Nivola and Jason Isaacs on Feb. 10, 2025.Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage

Maya Dehlin Spach/WireImage

“The social satire is set at an exclusive Thai resort and follows the exploits of various guests and employees over the span of a week,” reads the logline from HBO about the season’s eight new episodes.

This season’s main cast also includesLeslie Bibb,Carrie Coon,Walton Goggins, Lalisa Manobal,Michelle Monaghan, Lek Patravadi,Natasha Rothwell, Tayme Thapthimthong and Aimee Lou Wood.

The White Lotusseason 3 premieres Feb. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

source: people.com