When Kiwi actor Morgana O’Reilly found out she’d landed a role in The White Lotus season three, naturally, she was stoked.
Yes, she’d nabbed a gig on one of the biggest, buzziest television shows of the last five years. But also, the series gave her an opportunity to head to Thailand for six months alongside a group of talented actors.
While hanging out in the Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui sounds like a dream, Morgana confirmed to PEDESTRIAN.TV that the experience was just as incredible as it sounds. And a large part was due to her time spent with her talented colleagues like ’90s icon Parker Posey… and massages. Lots and lots of massages.
“It shouldn’t be a surprise, but it’s kind of a surprise that they’re all glorious, lovely people who wanted to hang out with me, regardless of the fact that I’m not some mega star, you know?” Morgana said.
“Parker was incredibly welcoming and inviting to me, like from our first day. She just took me under her wing and took me for lots of massages, which was so nice.
“I got really good at getting a message.”
For Morgana, who has appeared in all sorts of local Australian and Kiwi productions such as Neighbours, Mean Mums and Friends Like Her, staying in a luxury resort to film such a high-profile series felt like a very validating “pinch-me” moment — Especially when her family was able to enjoy it too.
“My cousin came up for a bit, which was really cool,” she said.
“I feel like one of my proudest moments as a cousin, as an actor, was when we arrived at the hotel. I think we may have been in my private pool, and she looked over at me, and said, ‘You’ve really worked hard at this acting thing and you haven’t given up and well done’.”
In The White Lotus, Morgana plays Pam, a dedicated hotel employee and wellness manager who is determined to help her guests get the most out of their experience. However, the 39-year-old says that underneath her bright, bubbly exterior, there’s a lot going on.
“I thought a lot about how the staff of The White Lotus are always struggling with whatever’s writhing around underneath. Over the top, like any good hospitality worker, they’re putting on a very civil mask of tranquility,” she says, flashing her best Pam smile.
“I love that behind her eyes, she is on struggle street. Well, that’s what I pictured.”
In conceptualising her character, Morgana fleshed out a whole backstory for Pam.
“I have this wonderful idea that Pam desperately tries to be all that she preaches, but falls off the wagon every now and then and just disappears off to Bangkok for three days. You can’t get a hold of Pam because Pam is Pamming,” she laughs.
“And then she’s like, ‘oh god, I’ve got to get back on my shit. I’ve got to get back into my meditation. I need my chakras cleansed’. I think she knows how to party, but she’s ashamed of it.”
Relatable, hey?
Now that the show is out, and we’re almost at the final episode of the season, Morgana admits that she’s up to date with all the theories fans have about the show online. Yes, even the bonkers ones like a lizard firing the gun or Chelsea’s necklace pointing to her impending death.
While I listed my favourite fan theory — obviously the theory that Laurie’s (Carrie Coon) daughter is actually Portia (Hailey Lu Richardson) from season two — Morgana says she is more concerned with the ones involving her character.
“I love the ones that involve Pam,” she admits.
“I can’t tell if it’s just my algorithm because it can tell that I’m somewhat integrated, but it’s been lovely watching it with a knowing eye.”
As for the finale episode? Morgana remained tight-lipped. However, she did say that she thinks fans will be very happy.
“The whole way through, I’ve been surprised,” she explained.
“There was all this crazy shit that I was squealing my way through going ‘oh my goodness, you’ll never believe what happens’. The last episode doesn’t disappoint. It will be in that same vibe, absolutely.”
When asked about how fans might respond to the finale, she read my mind.
“Look, I think fans are going to love it, and they’re going to be really sad it’s over. And they’re going to bicker amongst themselves about how it could possibly have been worse or it could possibly be better. I know what you guys are gonna do,” she laughs.
Of course, after such a positive experience, Morgana would love to come back for another season, if the storyline permits.
“Assuming I survived this one, I would love to work wherever they go,” she says.
“I think The White Lotus, as an anthology series, is amazing at how it talks about the frivolity of humans.
“I always feel when I watch it, we’re watching from the POV of the gods looking down at the frivolity of humanity and all of our silly little foibles, thinking, ‘Oh, you think that you’ve got all the money so you think you’re going to be all happy but you’re not going to be happy’,” she quipped.
“I look forward to what that clever mind of Mike White‘s will thread into that conversation next time.
I think in Episode Six when that beautiful Buddhist monk speaks about the way we return back to a collective consciousness, really hammered home what the central heart of this season is speaking to, and I can’t wait to see what angle we have next time.”
You can watch The White Lotus on BINGE or MAX.
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