THE latest limited series by HBO, The White Lotus, focuses on a group of VIP guests who travel to a luxurious Hawaiian resort, and the chaotic week that ensues for both them and the staff.
Written and directed by Mike White, the six-episode The White Lotus offers a satirical look at the issues of privilege and identity, all set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Hawaiian island of Maui, and boasts a talented ensemble cast that includes Connie Britten, Steve Zahn, Jennifer Coolidge and Molly Shannon.
Alexandra Daddario plays Rachel, a newlywed on her honeymoon at the resort with her husband Shane (played by Jake Lacy), whose fairytale romance takes a dark turn, leaving her questioning whether this is really the life that she wants.
Daddario shared her thoughts about working on the show during a recent video conference interview with regional media, including theSun.
She explained that while she tries to bring a little bit of herself into each role, she found that playing the conflicted Rachel made her realise “how lost I would feel if I didn’t have something I really loved that I was pursuing with great passion”.
How closely did you work with director Mike White when it came to your character?
“One of the good things about auditioning is that when you come to the job, you know that there was something in your tape that (you did) right. So, sometimes it’s more challenging when you’re straight offered something, because then maybe you need to mould it more, but ... I took that Mike liked what I was doing with the character, and I built off of that.
“So, I think our minds were together as far as what the character was supposed to be ... I think that we were on the same page, and he really allowed me a lot of freedom, to go with my instincts on her.”
Do you feel that many women go through a situation your character Rachel experiences during the show, when it comes to how their sense of identity changes after marriage?
“I’m in a very unique position. I’m 35 years old, I’ve never been married, I’m from New York, I live in Los Angeles, and I work as an actress in a public manner. So, I don’t (experience) the traditional pressures of getting married.
“I think in Rachel’s case, she gets caught up in this whirlwind, and then realises that ‘Oh no, I’m married but I’m not happy, (and) my career doesn’t make me happy’.
“I think there’s a lot of pressure for women to be feminist, but also be married, and have kids but to not have kids too old, or too young. There’s a lot of pressure for women, and I think that’s common. There’s a lot of mixed signals about what you’re supposed to be as a woman, and I think Rachel’s certainly going through a version of that, and I certainly can relate to that, in my own way.”
Is Rachel meant to be seen as a sympathetic character, or does she have her own set of flaws?
“I mean, I still wanted to make her likeable and relatable. I think that what she’s going through was a real problem, in her mind. And her feelings are valid, she’s struggling with who she is in this life and how she got into this mess.
“Now, she got herself into this mess through her own mistakes, and I think she probably knew better and just ignored it. But yes, I think that you’re supposed to feel like ‘What is wrong with this girl?’, but also ‘I really believe in what she’s going through’. And ... she’s really struggling.
“So, I think that it’s both, I think that you’re supposed to feel for her, and I wanted to make sure that there was some commentary that as a woman, you can get trapped in a situation that you’re not super comfortable with. But that doesn’t mean that every decision she makes is the right decision.”
Daddario added that she hoped that the show would offer some entertainment and distraction as the world begins transitioning out of the “tough times” of the global pandemic.
She also has a new movie coming up called Die in a Gunfight, in which she stars alongside Diego Bonetta.
“The script is so beautiful,” she said. “It was one of these enduring projects that they kept trying to make (for over a decade). It’s a really wonderful love story, so check it out.”
