‘The White Lotus’ Star Michelle Monaghan on Filming the Present in Thailand

Actress Michelle Monaghan’s work has taken her everywhere in the world, and her newest mission is not any totally different as she performs one of many company on the fictional White Lotus lodge in Thailand. The present’s extremely anticipated third season premieres right this moment, however we received to speak with the star immediately from Thailand when she was filming on location. 

“This can be a literal dream job,” the actress instructed Journey + Leisure in an interview. “The present is larger than it’s ever been, and we’re doing it in a really particular a part of the world, so I’m excited for individuals to get to see Thailand by the eyes of White Lotus.” 

She was requested by creator and director Mike White to audition for the a part of Jaclyn Lemon and discovered a number of weeks later that she received the job, which meant committing to a six-month keep in Thailand. The present’s third season is ready primarily on the 4 Seasons Koh Samui, including to the checklist of 4 Seasons properties used for the sequence; season one was filmed on the 4 Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea in Hawaii, and the second was filmed at The San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A 4 Seasons Lodge in Italy.

Monaghan, whose character is a visitor staying on the lodge for a ladies journey, instructed T+L that though she’d by no means been to Thailand (T+L’s 2025 Vacation spot of the 12 months), she has frolicked throughout Asia in locations like Japan, Singapore, and China. And due to the a number of distinct storylines in The White Lotus, she was in a position to take time to discover on the times she was not filming. 

On the time of our dialog, the actress had already visited varied Thai islands, ventured in a foreign country to see Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and had plans to journey to Bangkok. Monaghan’s husband and children even visited for 2 weeks. 

“Personally I’m at all times searching for a brand new journey,” she mentioned. “Thankfully my kids and my husband, who’s Australian, are at all times up for an journey — we prefer to get after it.”

And he or she’s not kidding. The self-described “adrenaline junkie” likes to skydive and — with encouragement from her son and daughter  — received her diving certification in Phuket. She’s additionally dreaming of a safari journey for her fiftieth birthday.  

When she wasn’t in entrance of the digital camera or on a household journey, Monaghan additionally loved the calm facet of the vacation spot with temple visits, Thai massages, sundown swims with the solid, and native delicacies. 

“My favourite fish is both a sea bass or the native snapper cooked in banana leaf which is like, ‘chef’s kiss,’ the perfect meal for me that you could get right here,” she mentioned. “The opposite factor I actually loved right here is their fruit. There’s so many particular fruits which are distinctive to Southeast Asia, like durian and mangosteen.” 

Past the memorable off-screen eats and adventures, Monaghan has been touched by the nice and cozy nature of the Thai individuals. 

“There’s one thing so real about Thai individuals, concerning the care in the way in which that they welcome you and the way in which they current something,” she mentioned. “Whether or not it’s going into a store, going right into a salon, or strolling right into a restaurant — there’s only a lovely approach concerning the Thai those that I’ve received to witness and profit from. That’s one thing that’s going to stay with me for a really very long time.” 

“The reentry from this job goes to be actually onerous,” Monaghan joked, reflecting on the distinctive work-life expertise she had throughout this mission that balanced swimming within the waters round Koh Samui and having fun with sunsets together with her on-screen work.

“We’ve been in a bit of bubble right here, and I’ve actually felt like I have been in a position to benefit from it and recollections to final a lifetime,” she mentioned, mentioning that the solid, which incorporates Parker Posey, Leslie Bibb, and, coming back from the primary season, Natasha Rothwell, not solely received to bond throughout filming, however that their WhatsApp group chat is “wonderful” and stuffed with native suggestions.  

Monaghan talked about that the solid went to the well-known Full Moon Social gathering held on the island of Koh Phangan on their very own time, however the present will characteristic one other particular celebration, Songkran, Thailand’s New 12 months competition held yearly in April.

“We received to expertise that, which was actually enjoyable, not like something I’ve ever seen earlier than,” she mentioned. “It is a very joyous time for Thai individuals so I might encourage you, if you happen to can come to Thailand, that’s a very particular time to go to.” 

Whereas Thailand was new to Monaghan, bringing her adventurous facet to the digital camera wasn’t a problem, as her function as Julia Meade in three of the Mission: Unattainable movies greater than ready her for world journey. 

“There’s nothing that compares to attending to journey alongside him,” she mentioned of Mission: Unattainable star Tom Cruise. Whereas filming Mission: Unattainable – Fallout, Monaghan and her husband flew in a helicopter piloted by Cruise in New Zealand, and on a distinct event, she had a “once-in-a-lifetime” expertise as they arrived at a premiere in fashion in Rome.

“We had been in a Lamborghini or Ferrari, it was some unbelievable sports activities automotive, and I bear in mind they principally simply shut down Rome for us to drive to the premiere across the Colosseum,” she recalled. “There wasn’t an individual on the street, there wasn’t a automotive on the street. I look again on it now like, ‘I didn’t bear in mind it onerous sufficient.’” 

Reflecting on the truth that she’s been part of heavy-hitting moments in popular culture all through her decades-long profession — Monaghan additionally starred in True Detective — she is aware of The White Lotus is not any totally different.    

“I really feel so grateful to have been part of this trade for therefore lengthy,” she mentioned. “I’ve discovered a lot, however I have been on this journey with my household alongside me so there’s nothing larger than that.”