Natasha Rothwell, who plays the fan-favorite character Belinda in HBO’s The White Lotus, recently talked about what it was like filming the show’s third season. She especially mentioned not knowing what would happen to her character at first. 12rx

• Warning: Spoilers for The White Lotus ahead!

Rothwell told Variety that when she signed on for the season, she didn’t know Belinda’s full story, but she trusted the show’s creator, Mike White, and liked working with HBO. However, once she got the scripts, she understood how serious Belinda’s situation was—there was a real chance her character could die. Since the show is known for killing off characters unexpectedly (as seen in past seasons), Rothwell felt nervous as she read through the episodes.

Her worries made sense because Belinda knew about the resort’s history of murders and ended up in a dangerous spot with Greg, Tanya’s husband, and a possible killer. Belinda’s story took a big turn in the finale, ending with a major financial win. At first, she was scared for her life after Greg asked where she was, but then she managed to get a huge amount of money from him in exchange for staying quiet about his role in his wife’s death.

The White Lotus Belinda actress was worried her character would die 2aj6q

When asked if she thought Belinda would die, Rothwell said, “Of course. If there’s anything that HBO does — I mean Game of Thrones, White Lotus — they’re not afraid to to bring tragedy to their main characters. So I was very worried as I was turning each page. And the tension I felt from people who were watching it, and their worry for Belinda, I was validated. Because when I was reading, I felt the same way.”

She talked about how Zion’s made her think about her own changing relationships with her parents, especially the tricky parts of setting boundaries as adults. She also pointed out the difference between Belinda’s careful approach to Greg’s offer and Zion’s bold move to ask for more money, which led to Belinda’s big win. Still, the money came with its own challenges, raising questions about right and wrong and what people are willing to do for financial safety.

The finale also brought back the idea of work relationships going wrong, comparing—but also contrasting—Belinda’s experience with Pornchai to Tanya’s betrayal in season one. Rothwell made it clear that these situations weren’t the same. Unlike Tanya, who completely ignored Belinda’s dreams, Belinda’s dealings with Pornchai were more uncertain, and their business plans never happened.

Even though both situations were disappointing, Rothwell stressed that there was a difference. Belinda chose to put herself first this time, avoiding another situation like Tanya’s manipulation and focusing on her own survival. Outside of the story, Rothwell worked closely with Mike White to make sure Belinda felt like a real Black woman. Small but important details helped with this, like Belinda wearing a bonnet while celebrating her money win in private, or the emotional weight of seeing other Black people in a mostly white space.

Rothwell said these little moments made Belinda feel more relatable, showing experiences many Black women recognize. She also used her own life to bring real emotion to Belinda’s financial success, drawing from her past struggles with money to make the victory feel meaningful.

As for the future, Rothwell and White aren’t sure if Belinda will return for season four. Rothwell hasn’t talked to White about coming back, but she guessed that even with all her new money, Belinda’s life might not suddenly become easy.

If you weren’t already ruined by Chelsea’s fate in The White Lotus’ season three finale, then the ending for Natasha Rothwell’s Belinda would’ve tipped you well and truly over the edge.

In case you missed the gunshots heard ‘round the world, the final installment of the HBO anthology series aired this week, finally revealing which guest(s) ended up in the body bag. Even between all the bloodshed and tears, it was the conclusion of Belinda’s story arc that somehow felt even darker, as it’s revealed that the hotel employee ditches her plans to start a business with fellow masseuse and love interest Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul) to instead spend the millions she received as hush-money from Greg-Gary (John Gries).

Those who’ve stayed at The White Lotus before might think this story sounds a little familiar. That’s because, back in season one, it was Belinda who was in talks to start a business with Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya (RIP), before the latter character deserts her and leaves her broken-hearted and empty-handed. It’s a classic White Lotus tale of the emotional spoils caused by extreme wealth, and Belinda caught quite a bit of heat after the finale for following the footsteps of the nemesis that left her business plans unrealized. 

“The horrible, corrupting full circle of Belinda getting some wealth and immediately turning into Tanya,” one fan wrote on X, while others added that “Belinda [left] her man as soon as she got that money” in an example of “poetic irony.” While the parallels are clear enough to have you cursing at your TV screen as the student becometh the teacher, Rothwell herself has responded to fans’ anger at her character’s decision, saying it “didn’t have the same sting” as when Tanya behaved similarly back in season one. 

belinda leaving her man as soon as she got that money sent to her #TheWhiteLotus pic.twitter.com/dayxBc3Z97

— jolt (@meltborne) April 7, 2025

“If people rewatch this season, [Belinda] never agrees to go into business with Pornchai; she’s just considering it,” Rothwell said in a recent interview with Variety. “I think it is a subtle but massive difference from season one, where you have Tanya being like, ‘Yes, let’s do it. Give me the papers. Show me your business plan.’” Rothwell is correct that Belinda dangled the carrot far less temptingly than Tanya, and she said the character did so because “Pornchai was definitely more into Belinda and the idea than Belinda was.”

Rather than an example of betrayal, as some fans have surmised, Rothwell sees Belinda’s choice as the culmination of her character; a much-deserved reward after years of doting on wealthy guests in a suspiciously murderous hotel chain. “We’re seeing Belinda make a decision in her best interest,” Rothwell said. “For the first time, she’s not putting other people’s needs before her own.” In that context, Belinda’s choice feels more like a helping of just desserts, but one can’t help but sympathize with Pornchai as he waves his would-be lover and business partner goodbye in the finale’s closing moments. 

belinda doing to pornchai exactly what tanya did to her #TheWhiteLotus pic.twitter.com/LrH83LiQMG

— trish (@ultragloss) April 7, 2025

Rothwell’s comments add to the *adopts Parker Posey accent* tsunami-sized tidbits we’ve been given in the wake of the finale. Even though the dust has barely settled, we’ve already learned that there was an unaired sex scene involving Piper and Zion (!), that series creator Mike White thinks of the show’s critics as “bossy bottoms,” and that season three was supposed to star Woody Harrelson in the role of Frank. All of this intel makes it hard to find a moment to grieve Chelsea, who’s probably somewhere up there giving astrology readings to angels.

Natasha Rothwell is just weeks away from reappearing on screens, but one person who certainly isn’t on her The White Lotus hotel guest list is president-elect Donald Trump. 

The actress — who will reprise her role as luxury hotel masseuse Belinda in the third season of the HBO series — diverted from the zenness of her character to unleash her thoughts on Trump in an X post. “You are trash,” she wrote of the soon-to-be president on Jan. 3, offering a potentially succinct assessment that maybe even The White Lotus creator Mike White couldn’t have penned. 

For those who’ve followed the actress — whose credits also include Insecure, Wonka and Sonic The Hedgehog — this message might feel familiar. That’s because, upon Trump’s first presidential victory back in 2016 (which somehow feels like simpler times), Rothwell vowed to tweet every day that the then-president was trash, a ritual which she continued until his defeat by Joe Biden in 2020. “For the last four years, every day I tweeted that Trump was trash,” Rothwell explained of her X activity upon Biden’s victory.

“Not just because it was true, but because it served as a daily reminder that what we were living through wasn’t normal or okay.” Since then, Rothwell’s thoughts on Trump remained somewhat dormant (save for her revelling in his Twitter ban in 2021), but his stunning defeat of Kamala Harris in November might just signal the reawakening of Rothwell’s daily Trump-trash talk. In fact, a quick internet sleuthing reveals that the actress actually restarted her “you are trash” routine back in October, with many observers welcoming the return of her concise messages. 

While there’s clearly no invite for Trump upon her return to The White Lotus, Rothwell has been more welcoming of her show’s third season in the lead up to its February premiere. Recently speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Rothwell said her character — who will make the trip to the season three location of Thailand alongside the broader ensemble — will have her “eyes opened in new ways” throughout the course of the new installment. 

While she is still an employee of the hotel, Belinda will stay in the Thailand resort as a guest, as part of “an exchange program to learn more about the wellness programs that the Thailand White Lotus offers,” Rothwell explained. She will be ed by a host of extremely rich and extremely annoying guests, who will be played by the likes of Parker Posey, Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon and Jason Isaacs, among others. For her part, K-Pop star Lalisa Manobal will take the reins from Murray Bartlett and Sabrina Impacciatore as season three’s hotel manager, much to the delight of her fans. 

Season one of the anthology series was set in Hawaii and took a satirical look at white privilege, while season two jetted off to Italy for an examination of sexual power dynamics. The , Asia-set installment, according to White, will offer a more “satirical and funny look at death and eastern religion and spirituality.”

Rothwell is only the second White Lotus castmate to reprise her role, with Jennifer Coolidge playing her iconic character of Tanya in the first two installments before meeting her tragic (and totally fitting) demise. While Belinda will undoubtedly endure the petty dramas of rich white folks in season three, thankfully none of them will be a reality star-turned-president.

As far as anthology series go, The White Lotus might just be at the top of the pile when it comes to quality.

The HBO show, known for its gorgeous sets and centred around the eponymous chain of high-end resorts in exotic locations, has seen some incredible actors in its previous two seasons. From Aubrey Plaza to Michael Imperioli and, of course, the effervescent Jennifer Coolidge, the series never fails when it comes to casting.

Although each season so far has had different plot points, overall the show has done a great job of touching on things like class barriers, the intoxicating dangers of wealth, and the unhealthy relationship dynamics that form when there’s a massive disparity between incomes. The third season is likely to cover similar ground.

Filming is set to begin in Thailand in February 2024, but we still don’t know too much about the plot of the newest installment, other than where the action will take place. We do, however, know many of the big names that will be taking part in season 3 of The White Lotus, and boy, have the casting directors delivered again.

Looking forward to seeing what series creator Mike White has in store for us, and want to know more about the cast he’s gathered for the newest installment of his black comedy drama? Here’s every actor confirmed for The White Lotus season 3 so far!

Carrie Coon 6u3bl

Coon is the latest actor to be confirmed as a season 3 cast member, with HBO announcing her involvement on Jan. 10 2024. The Boston Strangler, Fargo and The Gilded Age star has oodles of talent, and the announcement had The White Lotus fans jumping for joy. Given her performances in The Gilded Age, we’re sure she’s well prepared to take on the part of a wealthy guest at The White Lotus.

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The Christine Everhart actress seems to be making a habit of playing characters in shows that tackle class divides, as she is also set to have a major part in the soon-to-be-released Palm Royale. Her resume speaks for itself, and she has lots of comedic experience that will undoubtedly come in handy in her role in The White Lotus season 3.

Jason Isaacs 285450

Internationally, Isaacs is probably best known for his turn as the slimy Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter series. The talented actor has some pretty impressive achievements in his career, which spans both the stage and screen, and has been in beloved, critically acclaimed productions like Black Hawk Down and The Death of Stalin. We’re sure his gravitas will come in handy here, as will his cut-glass English accent, which just oozes wealth.

Parker Posey 3m453g

Indie queen Parker Posey (not the gross bigot who seems to have stolen her name) hasn’t just been in small, artsy productions as many people assume. One of her earliest roles was in Dazed and Confused, she was in Scream 3, and even had that most coveted marker of mainstream acceptance: A voiceover role in The Simpsons. The talented performer is sure to be captivating no matter what her role in season 3 of The White Lotus is.

Maethi Thapthimthong (Tayme Thapthimthong) 465752

The Thai heartthrob is very much under the radar at the moment, but that’s all set to change when season 3 of The White Lotus is released. He’s had some small roles in a few movies, including a TV miniseries about the famous Thai cave rescue that should have signalled just how stupid Elon Musk was to anybody with a brain.

Dom Hetrakul 3x1g2p

Hetrakul is a Thai-born actor and has made several films and shows in his native land. This would be his first major Western production, but he’s not exactly a newbie, so we’re certain he’ll put on a great show.

Natasha Rothwell u2t2j

The White Lotus season 1 fan favorite Natasha Rothwell is set to reprise her role as massage therapist Belinda. She was nominated for an Emmy when she last played the part, so it’s fair to expect another outstanding performance.

As the only actor whose character we currently know, we can speculate a little about what might happen to Belinda in this third season. A solid guess is that she’s been transferred to Thailand after her stint in Hawaii, where she met and was ultimately disappointed by Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya. Audiences will be hopeful that she’s finally received the promotions and respect she deserves, but given that this is The White Lotus universe, where talent takes a backseat to wealth, it’s unlikely.

Michelle Monaghan l3d4

Monaghan’s most famous HBO role was in the critically acclaimed first season of True Detective, for which she was nominated for a boatload of awards, including a Golden Globe. We’re sure that the Mission: Impossible actress will keep up the quality in whatever role she’s taken on for season 3 of The White Lotus.

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Thai-born K-Pop icon Lisa has been confirmed by Variety to have a part in season 3. As with the others, her exact role isn’t confirmed. This will be her first acting role, but given her band Blackpink is one of the most successful in the world, we don’t think she’ll be that phased.

Who else has been confirmed as part of the cast for White Lotus season 3? 14q18

The huge ensemble cast for season 3 is also confirmed to include the following names:

Walton Goggins, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Aimee Lou Wood, Sam Nivola, Sarah Catherine Hook, Christian Friedel, Julian Kostov, Morgana O’Reilly, Natasha Rothwell, Lek Patravadi, Scott Glenn, sca Corney, Nicholas Duvernay, Arnas Fedaravičius, and Shalini Peiris.

A fan-favorite character from season one of The White Lotus is set to make a return for the series’ third installment. Natasha Rothwell, who portrayed Belinda Lindsey in the HBO series’ first outing, will reprise her role as a begrudging spa manager in season three, as reported by Deadline. Fans of the Mike White satire will that by the end of season one, Belinda was left somewhat grifted after Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya McQuoid didn’t follow through on her promise of funding the masseur’s prospective wellness centre. 

Rothwell s Coolidge in reprising her White Lotus role, following the latter’s return to the second season last year. Rothwell — who was nominated for an Emmy for her role in the anthology series’ first season — could be ed again in the season three cast by Connie Britton. The actress played businesswoman Nicole Mossbacher in season one, and told Deadline that after conversations with White, her “intention” is to return to the third season. 

“I would love to see a spinoff on every character in that show,” Britton said. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that season three of The White Lotus will be set in the fictional hotel’s Thailand location, though details beyond its setting remain relatively scarce. Following the season two finale late last year, White did tease that the season could focus on Eastern religion. 

“The first season we highlighted money and then the second season is sex and I think the third season, it would be maybe a kind of satirical and funny look at death in Eastern religion and spirituality,” White said per Deadline. “It feels like it could be a rich tapestry to do another round at White Lotus.”  Beyond Rothwell, the cast for The White Lotus season three has not yet been revealed, though Jennifer Aniston, Jamie Lee Curtis and James Marsden have all thrown their hats in the ring. 

Last month, Aniston expressed interest in portraying McQuoid’s younger sister, while Marsden said he was “in for” ing the cast. Curtis, meanwhile, itted in February that while she doesn’t “know what it is,” she’d be happy to star in The White Lotus season three.