‘The White Lotus’ Star Michelle Monaghan on Filming the Show in Thailand

Actress Michelle Monaghan’s work has taken her all over the world, and her latest project is no different as she plays one of the guests at the fictional White Lotus hotel in Thailand. The show’s highly anticipated third season premieres today, but we got to chat with the star directly from Thailand when she was filming on location. 

“This is a literal dream job,” the actress told Travel + Leisure in an interview. “The show is bigger than it’s ever been, and we’re doing it in a very special part of the world, so I’m excited for people to get to see Thailand through the eyes of White Lotus.” 

She was asked by creator and director Mike White to audition for the part of Jaclyn Lemon and found out a few weeks later that she got the job, which meant committing to a six-month stay in Thailand. The show’s third season is set primarily at the Four Seasons Koh Samui, adding to the list of Four Seasons properties used for the series; season one was filmed at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea in Hawaii, and the second was filmed at The San Domenico Palace, Taormina, A Four Seasons Hotel in Italy.

Monaghan, whose character is a guest staying at the hotel for a girls trip, told T+L that although she’d never been to Thailand (T+L’s 2025 Destination of the Year), she has spent time all over Asia in destinations like Japan, Singapore, and China. And thanks to the multiple distinct storylines in The White Lotus, she was able to take time to explore on the days she was not filming. 

At the time of our conversation, the actress had already visited various Thai islands, ventured out of the country to see Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and had plans to travel to Bangkok. Monaghan’s husband and kids even visited for two weeks. 

“Personally I’m always looking for a new adventure,” she said. “Fortunately my children and my husband, who is Australian, are always up for an adventure — we like to get after it.”

And she’s not kidding. The self-described “adrenaline junkie” loves to skydive and — with encouragement from her son and daughter  — got her diving certification in Phuket. She’s also dreaming of a safari trip for her 50th birthday.  

When she wasn’t in front of the camera or on a family adventure, Monaghan also enjoyed the calm side of the destination with temple visits, Thai massages, sunset swims with the cast, and local cuisine. 

“My favorite fish is either a sea bass or the local snapper cooked in banana leaf which is like, ‘chef’s kiss,’ the best meal for me that you can get here,” she said. “The other thing I really enjoyed here is their fruit. There’s so many specific fruits that are unique to Southeast Asia, like durian and mangosteen.” 

Beyond the memorable off-screen eats and adventures, Monaghan has been touched by the warm nature of the Thai people. 

“There’s something so genuine about Thai people, about the care in the way that they welcome you and the way they present anything,” she said. “Whether it’s going into a shop, going into a salon, or walking into a restaurant — there’s just a beautiful way about the Thai people that I’ve got to witness and benefit from. That’s something that’s going to stick with me for a very long time.” 

“The reentry from this job is going to be really hard,” Monaghan joked, reflecting on the unique work-life experience she had during this project that balanced swimming in the waters around Koh Samui and enjoying sunsets with her on-screen work.

“We’ve been in a little bubble here, and I’ve really felt like I’ve been able to make the most of it and memories to last a lifetime,” she said, mentioning that the cast, which includes Parker Posey, Leslie Bibb, and, returning from the first season, Natasha Rothwell, not only got to bond during filming, but that their WhatsApp group chat is “amazing” and filled with local recommendations.  

Monaghan mentioned that the cast went to the famous Full Moon Party held on the island of Koh Phangan on their own time, but the show will feature another special celebration, Songkran, Thailand’s New Year festival held annually in April.

“We got to experience that, which was really fun, unlike anything I’ve ever seen before,” she said. “It’s a very joyous time for Thai people so I would encourage you, if you can come to Thailand, that’s a really special time to visit.” 

While Thailand was new to Monaghan, bringing her adventurous side to the camera wasn’t a challenge, as her role as Julia Meade in three of the Mission: Impossible films more than prepared her for world travel. 

“There is nothing that compares to getting to travel alongside him,” she said of Mission: Impossible star Tom Cruise. While filming Mission: Impossible – Fallout, Monaghan and her husband flew in a helicopter piloted by Cruise in New Zealand, and on a different occasion, she had a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience as they arrived at a premiere in style in Rome.

“We were in a Lamborghini or Ferrari, it was some fantastic sports car, and I remember they basically just shut down Rome for us to drive to the premiere around the Colosseum,” she recalled. “There wasn’t a person in the street, there wasn’t a car in the street. I look back on it now like, ‘I didn’t remember it hard enough.’” 

Reflecting on the fact that she’s been a part of heavy-hitting moments in pop culture throughout her decades-long career — Monaghan also starred in True Detective — she knows The White Lotus is no different.    

“I feel so grateful to have been a part of this industry for so long,” she said. “I’ve learned so much, but I’ve been on this adventure with my family alongside me so there’s nothing greater than that.”