Jason Isaacs got a good whiff of some of his The White Lotus costars while they filmed season three in Thailand.
“The conditions on set were challenging,” 61-year-old Isaacs commented about the intimate scenes in the anthology series during an interview with TIME on January 24. “At the end of each day, we were covered in sweat and makeup. It was so intense that you could practically scrape off your clothes with a trowel. The heat even felt like it was melting our fillings.”
Isaacs admitted that although filming a TV series in a resort in Southeast Asia was a blessing, the extreme heat was taking its toll on the cast.
“It would be churlish to complain, there are terrible things going on in the world,” he said. “But we’ve all had enough.”
It wasn’t just Isaacs who felt the impact of the conditions on set. Actress Michelle Monaghan also observed the unprecedented heat in Thailand, describing it as unlike anything she had ever encountered before.
“It’s the hottest I’ve ever felt,” Monaghan, 48, told the outlet. “So we’ve definitely endured a lot.”
Sam Nivola added that the rising temperatures made it “hard to drink or do anything” since it would just make you “feel dehydrated.” Creator Mike White, who had been on location for all three seasons, agreed with the stars of his show, sharing that it was “really f—ing hot” and joked it was a good thing he “got in shape” before filming began.
Production for The White Lotus season 3 kicked off in Thailand in February 2024. When season 3 was officially announced, HBO — who partnered up with the Tourism Authority of Thailand — revealed that the series would film in Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok.
The White Lotus follows a group of travelers and resort workers who visit the hotel chain of the same name. In addition to Isaacs, Monaghan and Nivola, the latest installment of the HBO series has a star-studded lineup of fictional guests and employees including Leslie Bibb, Carrie Coon, Walton Goggins, Sarah Catherine Hook, Patrick Schwarzenegger and more.
Season 1 star Natasha Rothwell was also announced to return to the series. Rothwell, 44, is reprising her role of the spa manager of the Hawaiian resort. Ahead of jetting off to Thailand for filming, the actress gave a teaser of what fans could expect.
“I will say I’ve read all of the scripts, and people are in for a treat,” she said to Entertainment Tonight in December 2023. “It’s bigger than ever. Buckle up.”
The White Lotus premieres on HBO Sunday, February 16 at 9 p.m. ET and will be available to stream via Max.
