The White Lotus season 3 has added a major Hollywood star to its already prolific cast in episode 5, as the enigmatic Rick (Walton Goggins) travels to Bangkok for a meeting with an old friend.

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That friend happens to be played by none other than Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell, who makes an extended surprise appearance that hadn't previously been leaked to press. That's no small feat these days!

Rockwell is the real-life husband of The White Lotus season 3 co-star Leslie Bibb, who plays girls' trip tourist Kate in the latest episodes, but the actor made no mention of his role in her own promotional interviews.

Viewers may recognise the acclaimed talent from his earlier appearances in Martin McDonagh films Seven Psychopaths and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, the latter of which won him his Oscar.

In addition to other awards fare, such as Vice, Jojo Rabbit and The Assassination of Jesse James, Rockwell has also starred in Galaxy Quest and Iron Man 2, where he played Tony Stark's tech rival Justin Hammer.

In The White Lotus season 3, he steps into a challenging new role as the intense friend to Goggins's Rick, who has relocated to Bangkok, Thailand, where he has been through a somewhat transformative experience.

Over a non-alcoholic drink, Rockwell's character divulges a surprising story of moving to Thailand seeking relations with Asian women, which led to him developing a sex addiction – and diagnosing that his desire goes deeper than he'd ever thought.

He explains that, rather than simply fetishising Asian women, he came to the realisation that he wished to actually be an Asian woman and to sleep with men who looked similar to himself (i.e. white, middle-aged).

After a period of time attempting to live out this fantasy, using his wealth in some cases to pay people to participate, he decided that it had to stop; now, he is a teetotal, celibate Buddhist, with a somewhat serene demeanour.

Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell photographed at the premiere of Juror #2
Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell photographed at the premiere of Juror #2 Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

"Hey, we all have our achilles heel, man," he says to a comically stumped Rick. "Where does it come from? Why are some of us attracted to the opposite form, and some of us the same?

"Sex is a poetic act. It's a metaphor. A metaphor for what? Are we our forms? Am I a middle-aged white guy on the inside too? Or inside, could I be an Asian girl? I guess I was trying to f**k my way to the answer, and then I realised I gotta stop."

For all of Rick's rudeness so far this season, it has to be said that he's remarkably calm and respectful while listening to his friend's intimate admissions.

At the end of the episode, they part ways and Rick asks him to be free for a follow-up engagement, as he sets into motion his plan to confront the man he believes is responsible for his own father's death.

The White Lotus season 3 continues on Mondays on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

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Authors

David Craig
David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.

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