Subtitle:
The White Lotus star opens up about filming in Thailand, luxury overload, and why simple pleasures beat billionaire villas.
Jason Isaacs may play wealthy characters on-screen, but real-life luxury isn’t quite his style. The British actor, who stars in the upcoming third season of The White Lotus, spent seven months filming in Thailand — and his reflections are equal parts candid and charming.
From the stunning shores of Koh Samui to private villas at the Four Seasons, Isaacs experienced the island like a true White Lotus guest — but the plush treatment left him feeling more trapped than pampered.
“The whole thing made me feel deeply uncomfortable and quite lonely — like I was in a gilded cage,” Isaacs admits.
While the filming experience took him through Bangkok, Phuket, and even Bhutan, much of the shoot was based in Koh Samui, where the cast lived in ultra-luxurious, billionaire-style villas — complete with private pools and personal butlers.
“It wasn’t some immersive acting exercise. It was just where our characters would’ve stayed,” Isaacs clarifies.
Despite the grandeur, the actor preferred the charm of smaller hotels: “I much preferred the places where all we had was a bedroom.”
Falling in Love with Koh Samui
Though the suite life didn’t suit him, Isaacs fell head over heels for Koh Samui’s food, people, and water — his top three reasons to visit the Thai island. Between filming, he even explored local night markets, sampling deep-fried insects and meeting world-renowned healers.
As fans eagerly await the new season of The White Lotus, Isaacs’ take on the experience adds a dose of humility and humanity to the high-gloss world of celebrity travel.
So if you’re dreaming of your own White Lotus escape — take it from Isaacs: Sometimes, less is more.
Would you like a matching Instagram post or a visual thumbnail for this article too?
