The White Lotus star Patrick Schwarzenegger has explained why that "uncomfortable" incest scene was "fun" to film.
Schwarzenegger, who stars as Saxon Ratliff in season three of the hit HBO show, has been involved in one of this season's most controversial storylines.
During episode 5, Saxon and his younger brother Lochlan, played by Sam Nivola, attended a Full Moon Party. After partying in Thailand with Chelsea and Chloe, the brothers kissed each other.
In flashbacks of the night's events, which aired during episode 6, the brothers were then shown in a sexual situation together, which Chloe later revealed had gone quite far.
Opening up about the challenging storyline, Schwarzenegger told C Magazine he didn't think twice about taking on the role, saying it was "fun" to push himself as an actor.
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"I’m playing a character," he said. "When you join The White Lotus, you know Mike is going to push boundaries. That’s why he’s a genius."
He continued: "As an actor, playing the most uncomfortable scenes is the most fun because they are the biggest challenge. I’m not saying that scene was the most fun, but it’s fun to push yourself and put yourself in uncomfortable positions because then you learn."
Speaking about filming intimate scenes with Nivola, Schwarzenegger said it wasn't difficult as the pair had formed a bond after filming together for months.
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"Our whole on-screen family — Sam, me, Jason, Parker, and Sarah Catherine — worked together, hung out together, had meals, built a family dynamic," Schwarzenegger said. "I became super close with all of them and continue to be really close with them today."
Asked how his real-life famous family will react to the show, Schwarzenegger said: "I have no idea how they’ll react. Of course I’m nervous. I’m nervous about how everyone will react. Anytime you’re putting yourself out there in a vulnerable way, people can be judgmental. But I trust Mike’s vision in pushing the story forward."
The White Lotus airs on Sky Atlantic and streams on Sky Go and NOW in the UK, with new season 3 episodes every Monday. The show airs on HBO and streams on Max in the US.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Harriet is a freelance news writer specialising in TV and movies at Digital Spy.
A horror enthusiast, she joined Digital Spy after working on her own horror website, reviewing films and focusing largely on feminism in the genre.
In her spare time, Harriet paints and produces mixed-media art. She graduated from the University of Kingston with a BA in fine art, where she specialised in painting. She also has an MA in journalism from Birkbeck University.
