I just found out Sam Rockwell’s iconic monologue in The White Lotus Season 3 was shot in one take (& it makes the scene even more memorable)

Sam Rockwell's character, Frank, delivers a provoking monologue in the HBO series The White Lotus Season 3. In the monologue, Frank candidly opens up about s*x, spirituality, particularly Buddhism, and racial and gender identity while sharing his personal experience in Thailand.

He admits that he started spending time with men and women, which led him to a deep feeling of confusion and dissatisfaction about his own identity, race, and gender. He questions the possibility of a human to feel like someone else they are not from the outside. Frank eventually admits by the end of the monologue that he understood that his wish is to be an Asian girl.

The monologue in The White Lotus has a dark undertone and is deeply personal and philosophically provocative. The monologue was shared on social media after the premiere of the episode as it touches on themes of identity, self-acceptance, and the human condition, but that is not it.

Another interesting fact about the filming of the scene is that Rockwell's monologue has been shot in a single take, and this makes the scene even more memorable.

Frank's monologue in The White Lotus Season 3 is shot in a single take

Sam Rockwell is a versatile actor known for performing complex characters. His monologue in The White Lotus escalates gradually when Rick first appears to take his experience lightly. He smiles and questions Frank's seriousness.

Gradually, Rick seems shocked by the reveal, reflecting the effect the monologue must have on the viewers as well. Moreover, Sam Rockwell's ability to switch seamlessly between earnestness and irony makes the scenes both uncomfortable and mesmerising. Impressively, he did this in a single take, making the scene more raw and interesting.

Rockwell discussed his process during an episode of Armchair Expert, hosted by Dax Shepard. He revealed that before filming, he had a quick discussion with series creator Mike White, offering some suggestions for how to approach the character and scene. White was receptive, incorporating some of Rockwell's ideas into the performance. The actor shaved his head for the character and added some tattoos and scars to his appearance:

"Yeah, I sort of pitched some things to Mike White, he went for some of it, and then, yeah, just went in there and did it," said the actor. "Shaved my head and put a tattoo on it and some scars and that was it, yeah."

Even for the 5-minute-long monologue, these changes helped him to deliver it convincingly. Moreover, Rockwell gives credit to the writer and creator of The White Lotus, Mike White, for such a realistic and dark writing that he was able to get invested quickly. He improvised minimally and relied completely on White's writing:

"You know, they had an earwig. I said prepare an earwig just in case I get in trouble, and then I didn't need it. I did it in one take, and then I think we continued to do one-takers and not break it up too much. Mike's just amazing, you know, he's like a Paddy Chayefsky kind of writer."

It’s a rare scene in mainstream TV where a character openly discusses such taboo and sensitive topics with such candidness and darkness. This is the reason why it stayed with the viewers. Clips and discussions about this scene circulated widely on social media, with fans and critics praising its audacity, Rockwell's performance, and the scene's unsettling yet captivating nature.

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The White Lotus season 3 wrapped up, premiering its episodes in April 2025, and has been renewed for a new season.

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