Meredith Tucker on ⁢Casting ‘White Lotus’ and Discovering Talent

⁤ Updated ⁣May ⁢29,2025

Casting ⁤director Meredith Tucker,known for her work on HBO’s hit series The‌ White Lotus,collaborates closely with creator Mike White. Their friendship, dating back to their freshman year at Wesleyan ⁤University, has fostered a triumphant working⁢ relationship across multiple projects, including Year of⁢ the Dog and Brad’s Status.

Tucker’s role in⁢ casting ⁢ The White Lotus ⁤ has lead‌ to⁢ breakout performances ​for‍ actors like Meghann Fahy, Leo Woodall, and ​Patrick Schwarzenegger, while‌ also boosting the careers of established ⁢stars such as Jennifer Coolidge ⁣and Carrie Coon.⁣ The ​show’s success has made ⁢it a sought-after project for many in the industry.

Tucker noted the increased interest from actors, saying, “I’ve ​been getting a ‌lot of emails from actors that ⁢swear they’ve ⁢heard that it’s ‍gonna shoot in Morocco, they swear it’s⁤ gonna be in Türkiye this year.” She ⁣also highlighted the⁣ skill required to create the show’s hypernaturalistic feel, emphasizing that “it takes ⁢tremendous ⁢skill and tremendous‌ writing and tremendous‍ directing to ⁤make it seem that way.”

Meredith Tucker‌ poses for a portrait.

Tucker


By Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images.

Tucker discussed the casting process, noting that while they start with a wish list, they also rely on agent submissions, especially for‌ younger roles.She mentioned discovering ‍actors like Sarah Catherine Hook through auditions,‌ emphasizing the importance of casting a​ wide net⁤ to give opportunities‌ to emerging talent. The casting⁢ of real-looking siblings and families is also​ a key consideration.

The ​casting‍ director said that ‍the show’s global appeal has ⁤broadened the‌ scope of potential cast members. The initial season ⁤focused solely on American actors due to its domestic setting and timeline. Now, talent from around ⁤the world is considered.

When we⁢ saw Sydney [Sweeney] and Fred [Hechinger] and Steve [Zahn] and Connie [Britton], it was​ like, Wow, these people really do look ⁤like‍ a ​family.It really does come‍ organically from the performances.

What’s next

While Tucker remains tight-lipped about the upcoming season of The White⁢ Lotus, anticipation is high for the ⁤next ⁣installment of the series, with⁤ fans and industry insiders alike ⁣eager to see the new cast‍ and⁣ storylines.