Alexandra Daddario starred in The White Lotus season 1, and her character, Rachel Patton, had a pivotal bikini scene. How did the actor feel about it?
Summary
- Alexandra Daddario's bikini scene in "The White Lotus" showcases her character's agency and confidence, not exploitation.
- Daddario's role in the series has reignited her career, leading to a lead role in the upcoming "Mayfair Witches" series.
- "The White Lotus" has propelled Daddario to new heights in her career and earned her an Emmy nomination.
Alexandra Daddario plays one of the most memorable characters in The White Lotus season 1, and her bikini scene was particularly memorable. Daddario's first acting credit was Laurie Lewis in the soap opera All My Children, but her breakout role was Annabeth Chase in the Percy Jackson movies. From there, many of the actress' roles were seemingly defined by their sexuality, such as her characters in Hall Pass and True Detective. Daddario even worried that starring in Baywatch would end her career. But then The White Lotus came along.
Created by Mike White, The White Lotus is an anthology series that debuted on HBO in 2021. Each season takes place at a different location of the eponymous luxury hotel chain, with Daddario starring in the White Lotus season 1 cast. Daddario plays Rachel Patton, a journalist celebrating her honeymoon with new husband Shane (Jake Lacy). While Shane is rich and attractive, Rachel soon realizes the man she married is selfish, entitled, and vengeful, and only views her as a trophy. Rachel fears that she's trapped herself in a gilded cage, though she's able to find some power in a pivotal bikini scene. But how did Daddario feel about it?
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Also staying at the White Lotus in Hawaii are Olivia (Sydney Sweeney) and Paula (Brittany O'Grady), two snide college students who belittle anyone they can. When Rachel timidly starts up a conversation, they smell fresh meat, and proceed to passive-aggressively poke fun at Rachel's education and lack of privileged upbringing, and go so far as to imply that Rachel is a trophy wife — which is something Rachel clearly fears. But Rachel silences her tormentors when she shrugs off her preppy outfit, revealing a flattering white bikini, and saunters into the pool.
This White Lotus scene could have been cringy and exploitative, and be interpreted as Rachel proving Olivia and Rachel's point that she's worth nothing more than her good looks. But that's not how Daddario performs the scene. Her smooth, quiet confidence as she undresses and goes for a dip shows Rachel's agency, that she's aware of her sexual prowess but doesn't rely on it; rather, she's in complete control of it and can use it to her advantage anytime she wants. It's a nuanced scene showing Rachel's complexity. In an interview with Men's Journal, Daddario spoke about it:
“Rachel taking her clothes off and showing off her body at the end, sort of as revenge, it’s so funny because it’s a constant power struggle... We’re all the same at the end of the day, this instinct to win. ‘I see that I’m being judged,’ or ‘I see that I’m in a conversation that I’m not winning, so what’s my trump card?’ And that’s what Rachel feels."
Daddario Credits The White Lotus With Reigniting Her Career
The White Lotus actress has always spoken candidly about her characters' sexuality, from Daddario's True Detective nude scene to Baywatch, and though these roles opened doors for her, her career hit a rut. Starring in poorly reviewed indie movies (Lost Girls and Love Hotels) and forgotten rom-coms, Daddario told Women's Health:
"In the couple years prior to the pandemic, I knew the work I needed to be doing, but it just wasn’t happening I was like, ‘Where am I going?’”
But it was in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that Daddario was tapped to star in The White Lotus, with the only "downside" being that she couldn't leave the Four Seasons hotel where they were filming. From there, everything turned around for Daddario. As Rachel Patton, she was given the role she deserves, and scored her first Emmy nomination. Post-White Lotus, Daddario has graduated from supporting player to lead, headlining the hit AMC Anne Rice series, Mayfair Witches, as Rowan Fielding. Mayfair Witches is getting a season 2, and from there, Daddario's star will only shine brighter.
