Maria Shriver Sparks ‘White Lotus’ Casting Theory: Exclusive Insights from Patrick Schwarzenegger’s Mom
Patrick Schwarzenegger managed to keep his role in the third season of HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’ under wraps from his family. It was successful, he shares with TODAY.com — though it unintentionally led to another theory.
His mother, journalist and TODAY contributor Maria Shriver, took on the sleuthing role when she observed her son acting unusually at a family gathering with his fiancée, Abby Champion, his sister Katherine Schwarzenegger, and her husband, Chris Pratt, according to Schwarzenegger.
“My mom, my sister, they can always tell when I’m acting off,” Patrick Schwarzenegger remarks.
Shriver and his sister came up with their own theory explaining his strange behavior — and it had nothing to do with his casting in the new season, he chuckles.
“They thought we were expecting a child,” Patrick Schwarzenegger describes. “They were convinced Abby was pregnant. And they kept insisting, insisting, insisting.”
Patrick Schwarzenegger recounted the lengths he went to keep his casting quiet during an interview related to his collaboration with Ketel One Vodka and Tanqueray Gin, who are the official spirits partners of “The White Lotus,” in advance of the season premiere on February 16.
After learning about his role in the series, he was informed he couldn’t spill the beans to anyone — it was “very top secret,” although he did confide in his fiancée.
“She was the first person I told, and she’s the only one I told,” he states.
The casting news had bittersweet connotations as the couple had just gotten engaged a week prior, but filming would mean spending extended time apart.
“When I got the news, I told her, ‘I’m going to be away for the next seven months, so I’m sorry in advance,’” he reminisces.
Patrick Schwarzenegger received the news while in Idaho with his father, actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“I didn’t even tell him because I thought, ‘What if he lets it slip to someone in the industry?’” he explains.
Ketel One Vodka & Tanqueray Gin
Eventually, he “broke” the news to his family about his casting just before the public announcement in January 2024.
Once the news became official, Shriver shared on Instagram her pride and happiness over her son’s achievement.
“Patrick, Patrick, Patrick! I’m so proud of you!” she expressed in the post’s caption, noting that “The White Lotus” ranks among her “favorite shows of all time.”
“I can’t wait to visit you on set (am I allowed to visit you on set?), and I’m eager to hear all the spoilers (you will tell me, right? I am your mother after all!) Wow, wow, wow! See you at the White Lotus!” she concluded with “#proudmomalert.”
A ‘White Lotus’ family, on set and off
Patrick Schwarzenegger mentions that his mother kept her promise to visit him while filming in Thailand.
“My mom came out, along with my brother and sister, which was really nice,” he recalls with a grin. “They visited in June, during month five (of filming), just as we were nearing the end.”
He explains they experienced the set at the Four Seasons Resort in Koh Samui, one of the filming locations for the third season.
“They’re huge fans of ‘White Lotus,’ so it was a surreal and fun moment for them,” he adds. “It’s different when they visit one of my dad’s film sets where they don’t know much; this time, they were major fans of ‘The White Lotus,’ so it was really special for them to witness it.”
During their visit, Schwarzenegger’s real-life family met his on-screen family, including Jason Isaacs, Parker Posey, Sarah Catherine Hook, and Sam Nivola, who portray the Ratliffs, a Southern family vacationing in Thailand.
HBO
“We all had dinner one evening,” he says. “They visited for a couple of days and then moved on to Cambodia and Vietnam. But they got to meet everyone and spent two or three days watching the filming.”
Schwarzenegger expresses that he grew quite close with his on-screen family, including Isaacs, who plays his on-screen father.
While Isaacs is known for portraying Lucius Malfoy in the “Harry Potter” franchise, he appears “menacing” on screen, but Patrick notes he’s “such a goof” off-screen.
“He’s a sweet, kind, warm person, and we became quite close,” he shares with a smile. “For the initial couple of months, his family wasn’t there, and I didn’t have anyone, so we spent a lot of time together.”
He mentions that he also developed a strong bond with his on-screen siblings, likening the set experience to a “summer camp,” where “you’re with the people you’re with.”
“I probably spent every day for six and a half months with my siblings, Sarah Catherine Hook and Sam Nivola. We would share breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. We organized weekend trips, movie nights, and self-tapes. We engaged in everything together,” he recalls.
Fabio Lovino / HBO
“I feel so lucky and grateful that they were all such wonderful individuals and fun companions,” he continues.
Schwarzenegger recalls that a few weeks into filming, the creator Mike White approached him and suggested they dine together that night.
“I was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got family dinner plans,’” he remembers. “And he said, ‘Dude, it’s been a month. You don’t need to have dinner with your family every single night.’”
While White suggested they shouldn’t take it so seriously, Schwarzenegger clarifies it’s because they genuinely wanted to spend time together.
“They’ll be lifelong friends,” he tells TODAY.com.
About Patrick Schwarzenegger’s character, Saxon Ratliff
Patrick Schwarzenegger’s character, Saxon Ratliff, is the oldest of the Ratliff siblings, embodying the quintessential Southern finance bro.
“Saxon is a very health-conscious individual who is meticulous about his diet, fitness, and wellness,” he comments.
He describes the character as “completely different” from himself, though there is some overlap.
Fabio Lovino / HBO
“Saxon is trying to carve out his own identity while working for his father and living in his father’s shadow,” he reflects. “So that’s a personal similarity I could draw from.”
He drew influence from Bradley Cooper’s character, Sack Lodge, in “Wedding Crashers,” the wealthy antagonist in the film, as well as characters from the Bravo reality series “Southern Charm.”
HBO
Schwarzenegger mentions he likes to take away “something memorable from each experience and set.” For this, he chose a hat and the back of his director’s chair, both labeled with “White Lotus.” Today, they are displayed in his office.
While he can’t divulge the plot details of the third season, he did share what he felt encapsulated the essence of Season 3 as a cocktail. This ties into Ketel One and Tanqueray’s “Sip of The White Lotus” campaign.
The season would start as a martini, signifying its “very upscale and classy” vibe, which reflects the essence of ‘The White Lotus’ at the outset.
However, by the season’s conclusion, “it morphs into some sort of punch or a less classy, mixed drink,” he concludes with a playful grin.
