Created by Mike White, The White Lotus is a satirical comedy-drama anthology starring Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Aimee Lou Wood, Parker Posey, and others in the third season. Critics and the audience have received the series filmed in Bangkok, Phuket, and Ko Samui very well. White’s storytelling has once again had the audience at the edge of their seats to know what’s going to happen next.
Goggins plays a mysterious man with a chip on his shoulder, who traveled to The White Lotus, Thailand, with his young girlfriend Chelsea, played by Aimee Lou Wood. The actor has been garnering the best comments from critics and audiences for his work on the show. But Walton Goggins did not have it easy, and he recalled his story about finding his way to freedom.
The White Lotus star Walton Goggins recalls his days of struggle
Walton Goggins moved to Los Angeles to become an actor at the age of 19 in 1991. He noted that he had about $300 in his pocket, and to make his ends meet, he took up a part-time job of opening the LA Fitness gym at 5 a.m. and clocking out four hours later. The job paid a minimum wage of $ 4.25 an hour.
But the wage wasn’t enough to pay his rent or for his acting classes. He said in an interview with Vanity Fair,
I couldn’t work in a restaurant because I’m not good at having people tell me what to do. This isn’t a therapy session, but that goes back to my childhood. I couldn’t have somebody say, ‘Could you give me some tea?’ ‘No, you f**king get up and go get yourself some tea.’
The actor signed himself under the guidance of legendary coach Harry Mastrogeorge. The short roles were not working out for him, and he shared that he knew about valet parking.
During the interview, he claimed that he can be accused of not being a lot of things, but audacious is not one of them. So, Goggins did what he does best, acted, and got himself a contract to run the valet parking at the restaurant. He shared,
The goal was to have our freedom. I was in class when I wasn’t working, and we all covered each other’s shifts.
Walton Goggins also revealed to Business Insider that he sold cowboy boots, adding that he later became a personal trainer. Goggins mentioned that after a long wait, he was fortunate to still act and now, after starring in The White Lotus, it finally feels like his due credits are finally paying off. He has also appeared in movies including Django Unchained, Tomb Raider, Ant-Man and the Wasp, John Bronco, Queen of the Ring and more.
Walton Goggins talks about his character on The White Lotus Season 3
Goggins plays Rick Hatchett on the show, who leads a sneak rebellion, freeing the trapped creatures from a touristy cobra show. A scene in the show, where a reptile strikes his girlfriend Chelsea, played by Aimee Lou Wood, is named as a pivotal character reveal on the show.
In speaking to USA Today, the actor shared,
Snakes are Rick’s spirit animal; that’s where he sees himself. These reptiles are not for hugging for most people. They are dangerous, feared, and misunderstood. But he wants to liberate these creatures from the pain because he sees himself in them.
Goggins’ character goes on to reveal that he is in Thailand for a secret mission to avenge his father’s murder. He transforms after watching tourists stare at the scorned snakes. The actor noted that at that moment, Rick makes a soulful connection and wants to uncage them, which is exactly like the pain he’s been carrying.
But in real life, Walton Goggins is scared of reptiles and shared with the publication:
There is not a word in the English language that fully describes my personal fear of these animals. But this was genuinely horrific, without hyperbole. I’m not trying to show you an idea of fear. It was traumatic but in the best way. You have to go out on that limb and risk the branch breaking to reach enlightenment.
Talking about Rick Hatchett’s relationship with Chelsea, Goggins said that it’s a match made in heaven, adding that there is a soul connection. He noted that Chelsea understands him and is probably the first person who ever encountered his character and isn’t afraid of him. The duo have been praised for their work on the show.
The White Lotus is streaming on HBO.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
