Los Angeles (California) [US], February 25: Patrick Schwarzenegger, the breakout star of The White Lotus Season 3, has addressed the ongoing nepotism claims surrounding his casting in the hit HBO series. The actor, who plays Saxton Ratliff, a privileged character in Mike White’s acclaimed show, is the son of Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger and journalist Maria Shriver.
In an interview with Deadline, Patrick expressed frustration with the idea that his famous family name played a significant role in securing his role in the series. He shared, “I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is,” before adding, “They’re not seeing that I’ve had 10 years of acting classes, put on school plays every week, worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I’ve been on.”
Reflecting on the challenges of being constantly associated with his parents’ fame, Patrick admitted that the weight of his last name has, at times, made him feel limited. “Of course, it’s frustrating, and you can get boxed in, and you think at that moment, I wish I didn’t have my last name. But that’s a small moment,” he explained.
Patrick’s acting journey began in 2006 with a role in The Benchwarmers. He went on to appear in films like Stuck in Love (2012), Grown Ups 2 (2013), and Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015), before moving into television with Scream Queens (2015). His television credits include The Long Road Home (2017), The Staircase (2022), and The Terminal List (2022), with a recent role in American Sports Story (2024) portraying former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow.
Despite a growing list of credits, it is his role in The White Lotus that has garnered significant attention, especially due to some of the show’s explicit scenes. Reflecting on the nudity in his role, Patrick admitted that he wasn’t fully aware of how explicit the content would be when he first signed on for the role. He stated, “You do the auditions but you don’t see the full script so you don’t have all the details, then they ask you, ‘Are you comfortable with nudity?’ when you sign on.”
He further explained his character’s behavior, saying, “At the end of the day, this character, from start to finish, is ridiculous and the type of person who absolutely would walk around his room naked without a care in the world. He’s the guy who, whenever he sees a girl at the pool, he’s going to flirt with them whether it’s a mom or a 22-year-old.”
As The White Lotus Season 3 progresses, Patrick’s portrayal of Saxton Ratliff continues to make waves on social media, sparking much conversation and intrigue.