Summary
- Patrick Schwarzenegger credits his acting success to years of hard work, not just his famous last name.
- Schwarzenegger embraced bold nude scenes in The White Lotus, staying true to his character.
- As he gains attention in the series, Schwarzenegger is proving he’s more than just his family name.
Patrick Schwarzenegger is making waves as one of the standout stars of The White Lotus Season 3, but he wants to make one thing clear. His famous last name isn’t why he landed the role. Schwarzenegger, who portrays the entitled and privileged Saxton Ratliff in the HBO hit series The White Lotus, is the son of Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger and journalist Maria Shriver. While his family name inevitably carries weight in the industry, the actor insists his success is a result of years of dedication and hard work.
Schwarzenegger’s acting career began in 2006 with a minor role in The Benchwarmers as “Jock Kid Game #3.” Over the years, he built his résumé with appearances in Stuck in Love (2012), Grown Ups 2 (2013), and Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015). His television credits include guest roles in Scream Queens (2015), The Long Road Home (2017), The Staircase (2022), The Terminal List (2022), and Amazon Prime’s Gen V (2023). He also teamed up with Ryan Murphy again in American Sports Story (2024), where he took on the role of NFL quarterback Tim Tebow. His latest role is Saxton Ratliff in the third season of The White Lotus.
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“I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is,” Schwarzenegger told The Sunday Times. “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.” Despite acknowledging the frustrations of nepotism claims, Schwarzenegger maintains perspective. “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.”
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Now, with The White Lotus only two episodes into its third season, Schwarzenegger is already gaining attention, particularly on social media, for his nude scenes in the series. “I didn’t know to what extent [there would be nakedness]. 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,” Schwarzenegger explained.
The actor ultimately embraced the bold nature of his character, adding, “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.”
With his latest role in The White Lotus, Schwarzenegger is proving he’s more than just a well-known last name. Perhaps as more episodes are released and the more fans get to know the characters in the third season, the perspective could change.
Source: The Sunday Times
The White Lotus
- Release Date
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2021 – 2024
- Network
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HBO
- Showrunner
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Mike White
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Jennifer Coolidge
Tanya McQuoid
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F. Murray Abraham
Bert Di Grasso
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