HBO's The White Lotus is a mesmerizing and bizarre experience, but fans can't get enough. The show, which revolves around a group of guests in a luxurious Hawaiian resort, stars a who's who of familiar yet underrated actors like Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, and Steve Zahn.
Fans probably recognize most of these performers, but they might not necessarily know their names. Still, these actors have prestigious and long careers in film and television, playing leading and supporting roles. Joining them is a group of talented newcomers who, despite their young age, are already proving their talent and versatility.
Murray Bartlett - Looking
Murray Bartlett first began acting in his native Australia before moving to the United States in 2000. He did several guest roles in prominent shows like Sex and the City, Damages, and White Collar and even co-starred with Hugh Jackman in the Australian touring company production of The Boy From Oz.
Bartlett's most prominent role is probably Dom Basaluzzo in HBO's Looking, starring Jonathan Groff. The show only lasted two seasons, but clearly, HBO enjoyed working with Bartlett. In addition to The White Lotus, in which he plays the hotel's manager, Bartlett will also appear in the upcoming adaptation of The Last of Us starring Pedro Pascal.
Alexandra Daddario - Percy Jackson
The daughter of prominent attorney and politician Richard Daddario, Alexandra Daddario jumped to fame with the role of Annabeth Chase in the Percy Jackson film series opposite Logan Lerman. After the second film, Sea of Monsters, underperformed, the Percy Jackson series effectively ended, but Daddario's career continued.
She played lead roles in films like San Andreas and Baywatch and had roles in critically acclaimed tv shows like True Detective and American Horror Story: Hotel. Daddario returned to television with The White Lotus, playing the role of Rachel, a recently-married journalist going through a career crisis.
Jake Lacy - Rampage
Jake Lacy began acting professionally in 2008, receiving his big break in 2010 with the tv show Better Off with You. After its cancellation, Lacy kept working in television and films. In 2018, he co-starred with Dwayne Johnson in the sci-fi monster film Rampage, playing the dimwitted Brett. The movie was critically successful, grossing $428 million against a $120 million budget, but received mixed reviews.
Lacy then entered streaming with a leading role in Hulu's High Fidelity, one of 2020's best shows. Since the show's cancellation, Lacy appeared in another Hulu project, Mrs. America, before playing Shane, a spoiled real-estate agent, in The White Lotus.
Fred Hechinger - Eighth Grade
Bo Burnham's critically acclaimed Eighth Grade introduced plenty of young and promising actors. Among them is Fred Hechinger, who played the role of Trevor. In 2018, Hechinger also appeared in two other projects, Vox Lux and Alex Strangelove.
Since, Hechinger has kept appearing in high-profile projects, including Steven Soderbergh's Let Them All Talk and Paul Greengrass's News of the World. In The White Lotus, Hechinger plays Quinn Mosbacher, the social media-addicted youngest son of Connie Britton and Steve Zahn's characters.
Natasha Rothwell - Love, Simon
2018's Love, Simon had a supporting cast of famous and funny actors like Jennifer Garner, Tony Hale, and, of course, Natasha Rothwell. Known for her role in HBO's Insecure, Rothwell played Ms. Albright in the movie, Simon's understanding and sassy drama teacher.
In 2020, she reprised the role in Hulu's Love Victor for one episode only. She also appeared as a guest in many other shows, including Brooklyn Nine-Nine and A Black Lady Sketch Show. In The White Lotus, Rothwell plays Belinda, the resort's spa manager, who develops a bizarre friendship with Jennifer Coolidge's Tanya.
Brittany O'Grady - Star
After appearing in several television shows, Brittany O'Grady landed her first leading role in Fox's musical series Star. She played Simone Davis Rivera, sister to the titular character, and stayed with the show until its cancellation in 2019.
In 2020, she started leading her own show in Apple TV+, Little Voice, a comedy-drama that follows the romantic misadventures of a twenty-something girl. O'Grady plays Paula in The White Lotus, Olivia's teenage friend who begins an affair with a hotel waiter, much to her friend's chagrin.
Sydney Sweeney - Euphoria
The hit HBO show Euphoria featured a cast of talented young performers. Among them is Sydney Sweeney, who played the role of Cassie Howard, a young woman with an infamous sexual past. Despite her age, the twenty-three-year-old Sweeney already has plenty of acting experience, appearing in high-profile projects like Sharp Objects and The Handmaid's Tale.
In 2019, she made her big-screen debut in Quentin Tarantino's critically acclaimed film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. In The White Lotus, Sweeney plays Olivia, the teenage daughter of Connie Britton and Steve Zahn's characters.
Steve Zahn - Diary Of A Wimpy Kid
Steve Zahn plays Mark Mossbacher in The White Lotus. He first rose to prominence thanks to his role in the generation-defining Winona Ryder-starring Reality Bites. He then had roles in everything from Friends, memorably playing Phoebe's ice-skater ex-husband, to movies like That Thing You Do and The Object of My Affection.
Zahn is also a prolific voice actor notorious for his work in Stuart Little, Dr. Dolittle 2, Chicken Little, and most recently, War for the Planet of the Apes, in which he also does motion capture. Starting in 2010, Zahn played the role of Frank Heffley, the protagonist's father, in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The movies were never critical darlings but had a loyal and passionate fanbase.
Jennifer Coolidge - Legally Blonde
Gifted comedienne Jennifer Coolidge played Stifler's mom in the raunchy American Pie film series. She acquired further fame thanks to the role of Paulette Bonafonté Parcell, Elle Woods' beautician best friend, in 2001's Legally Blonde and its sequel. Coolidge is also a favorite of writer/director Christopher Guest, appearing in three of his seminal mockumentaries: Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration.
On top of that, Coolidge has played supporting roles in multiple television shows and movies. In The White Lotus, she plays Tanya McQuoid, a troubled heiress dealing with her mother's death.
Connie Britton - Friday Night Lights
Arguably the most recognizable name of the cast, Connie Britton stars in The White Lotus as Nicole Mossbacher, the CFO of a world-renowned search engine. Britton is a television veteran, having played multiple leading roles in critically acclaimed shows like American Horror Story, Nashville, 9-1-1, and Dirty John.
Britton's breakthrough role was as Tami Taylor in NBC's critical darling Friday Night Lights. Britton remained with the show throughout all five seasons, earning two Primetime Emmy Award nominations in 2010 and 2011. Britton has also played supporting roles in movies like Seeking a Friend for the End of the World and Promising Young Woman.