Walton Goggins reveals heartbreaking link to Thailand while filming The White Lotus season three

The White Lotus has taken us on some wild rides, right? Each season, we dive deep into the drama of guests and staff at a fascinating resort, with season three’s setting in Thailand being no different. Walton Goggins played Rick, a man who comes to Thailand with his girlfriend, Chelsea, hoping to confront the person he thinks killed his father. But, of course, things are never that simple; he gets to know something completely unexpected. Now, what most people don’t know is that Goggins has a pretty emotional connection to the show, especially to his character.

He came to Thailand after his first wife’s tragic death

In a candid interview with Vulture, Walton Goggins shared a deeply personal chapter in his life. Before filming The White Lotus season three, Goggins took a trip to Thailand after the suicide of his first wife, Leanne Knight, in 2004. He explained that he went there seeking peace and closure, much like his character Rick, who is in Thailand to confront the man he believes killed his father.

Goggins explained, “I was looking for peace, looking for some resolution, that was not so dissimilar from what Rick was looking for.” While their situations were different, the actor admitted that, at the time, he was “as lost as Rick is lost.”

His own pain shaped his performance as Rick

Goggins’ own journey of self-healing informed how he portrayed Rick’s complex emotional struggles in The White Lotus. His character’s storyline, which involves coming to terms with his father’s death and eventually murdering him, mirrored Goggins’ search for answers following the trauma of losing his wife.

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In an interview with GQ about his trip to Thailand, Goggins shared, “I spent the next three years looking for an excuse, not to end it, but certainly putting myself in situations that were questionable.” This period of intense soul-searching allowed Goggins to connect deeply with Rick’s struggles, giving his performance an authenticity that viewers can feel.

‘I wish I could hug that guy’

Goggins went on to explain that, as he revisited Thailand during filming, he experienced an overwhelming sense of nostalgia. “The first island we were staying on, I realised, ‘I’ve been on this road before.’ The next island we went to, I realised, ‘I’ve definitely been on this beach before.’” For Goggins, shooting his final scene in Bangkok in front of a dock and hotel that he had visited two decades earlier brought his past and present together in a powerful way.

Reflecting on how far he’s come, Goggins said, “I wish I could hug that guy. I wish I could whisper in his ear, ‘You’re going to be OK. Life continues… if you can just hold on and lean into it and keep walking the walk that you’re walking, and keep looking for the answers.’” His emotional journey not only helped him heal but also added layers of depth to his portrayal of Rick in The White Lotus.

“The second time around, I had a wife, a kid, and peace,” he said, expressing gratitude for his healing journey. His story is a powerful reminder that healing is possible, even after the deepest of traumas.

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Featured image via HBO