‘The White Lotus’: Leslie Bibb Helped Sam Rockwell Nail Last-Minute Role When She Realized His Shocking Monologue Is Key to Season 3
[Warning: This article contains spoilers about the March 16 episode of The White Lotus.]
Episode five of The White Lotus had fans’ jaws on the floor. Viewers who’ve called the third season boring might need to walk back their criticism. Was it the brotherly kiss or the shocking sex monologue that did us all in? Both! As fans brace themselves for the final three episodes of the hit HBO show, Leslie Bibb gave us insight into how Sam Rockwell’s cameo is “really what the whole season is about.”
Sam Rockwell ‘didn’t have proper prep time’ for ‘The White Lotus’ cameo
Leslie Bibb portrays Kate, one of three longtime friends who reunite for a week at The White Lotus hotel. Kate, Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan), and Laurie (Carrie Coon) have inspired discussions about loyalty, aging, and friendships as they gossip and party their way through Thailand. But their storylines aren’t nearly as boundary-pushing as some others. In episode five, Bibb’s real-life husband, Sam Rockwell, made a surprise cameo that left viewers speechless.
A longtime Bravo fan, Bibb appeared on Watch What Happens Live to talk reality TV and The White Lotus. Chatting with host Andy Cohen and Real Housewife Garcelle Beauvais, she dished on Rockwell’s shocking sex monologue and how she helped him prepare. Cohen asked the 50-year-old, as shared on WWHL’s Instagram, “What did you think of Sam [Rockwell]’s monologue, and did he rehearse it with you while you were in Thailand?”
Bibb explained that her husband was shooting a project in South Africa at the time. The White Lotus showrunner, Mike White, approached him last minute when “casting had shifted.” She continued, “He was not sure about it, about doing it, just because he didn’t have proper prep time.” Rockwell, known for his raw, emotionally vulnerable performances, dedicates extensive amounts of planning and preparation to his roles.
Unsurprisingly, the Oscar winner for Best Supporting Actor was concerned about a lack of prep time. But Bibb convinced Rockwell to accept the role while they were on safari in South Africa. Bibb explained, “I was like, ‘I’ll get you off book. I’ll get you off book.’ So I just ran lines with him.” The Palm Royale actor continued, “I think that monologue is iconic. And I think it’s really what the whole season is about. What Mike [White]’s really saying there.”
The meaning behind Sam Rockwell’s monologue on ‘The White Lotus’ episode five
The monologue in question? Rockwell’s character, Frank, sits down with Rick (Walton Goggins), who left his girlfriend Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) at the hotel for a quick trip to Bangkok. The longtime friends meet for a drink as Frank reveals he’s been sober for nearly a year. He then breaks down how he found religion in Thailand, revealing he was so deeply into partying, drugs, and sex with Asian girls that he realized he would “never be satisfied.”
Frank continues his tale, detailing wild sexual encounters for several minutes — each story more extreme than the last. Goggins’ facial expressions throughout the scene went viral on social media as many fans broke down the true meaning behind Frank’s experience. At the center of the scene were themes of gender identity, sexual experimentation, and addiction — all woven throughout this season’s storylines. These themes certainly point toward what’s happening with Rick, Lochlan, Saxon, and other characters, leaving breadcrumbs for viewers.
