“I scared myself”: When Sam Nivola got candid about fan theories and one scene he couldn’t shake off while shooting

Mike White produced The White Lotus and it is one of the most prominent American television series for HBO. It is a black comedy-drama and anthology series about the lives of visitors and workers at The White Lotus, a luxury resort and the unique seasons are set in various locations, including Hawaii, Sicily, and Thailand.

The show focuses on personal difficulties, socioeconomic divides, and social conflicts that arise over a week-long visit of the guests at the resort. The series, known for its incisive writing, great acting, and elegant direction, has won several Emmy and Golden Globe honors.

Sam Nivola, a British-American actor noted for his appearances in The White Lotus, White Noise, and The Perfect Couple, went on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to discuss his experience filming The White Lotus. He stated that one powerful moment "scared" him, and he talked about the difficulties of a protracted boat journey that made him feel claustrophobic and anxious.

More about Sam Nivola and his appearance on The Tonight Show

While appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in April 2025, actor Sam Nivola recently shared some essential information about filming The White Lotus's season finale. He played the role of Lochlan Ratliff in season 3.

As shared on the show, he had just watched the final episode for the first time at a cast event in Los Angeles and described it as a very emotional moment. Reflecting on his performance, he admitted:

“I scared myself.”

This referred to the intensity of his scenes and while filming The White Lotus, Sam Nivola remarked that a lengthy boat sequence stuck out as being very difficult. He claimed that the sequence took months to shoot and that he felt claustrophobic and nervous since he didn't like boats.

Despite this, he described his entire experience working on the program as one of the finest he'd ever had. He also offered a behind-the-scenes account about filming at Thailand's Full Moon Party, describing how the sequence was shot with a tiny team during the event, which he found both exhilarating and intense.

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When questioned about a scene with a filthy blender, he stated that fans have asked him about it several times. As per the show's unique storyline, Sam claimed in the The Tonight Show that he assumed it was simply leftover protein, and he joked that a little more protein never harmed anyone.

Born in 2003, Sam Nivola is a talented British-American actor and as the son of performers Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola, he grew up in both London and New York and he studied at Columbia University.

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