BLACKPINK's Lisa's casting in White Lotus Season 3 was far from certain, but a powerful comparison and her relentless dedication helped her win over creator Mike White. Lisa has taken fans by surprise with her impactful performance as Mook in the latest season of The White Lotus, but the road to landing that role was anything but smooth. In a candid conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, series creator Mike White revealed that he initially passed on casting the global K-pop star—despite later comparing her to “Taylor Swift meets Princess Diana” in terms of her cultural significance in Thailand.
Lisa was nearly rejected for White Lotus 3, but the 'Taylor Swift meets Princess Diana' comparison changed everything
The remark alone hinted at the immense respect Lisa commands in her home country, which eventually played a role in White’s decision to give her a shot. But it was Lisa’s humility, relentless effort, and quiet confidence that ultimately earned her a place in the ensemble cast of one of HBO’s most talked-about series.
Mike White admitted he had no idea who Lisa or Blackpink was when her audition tape first reached him. “All I knew was that there was a Blackpink girl in The Idol, and I was like, ‘We’re not doing that,’” he said, referencing her bandmate Jennie’s earlier role in the HBO drama. Despite this initial bias, Lisa’s audition impressed the team enough to invite her to a secret in-person audition in Phuket.
Lisa, who launched her solo label LLOUD after leaving YG Entertainment in 2024, took the role seriously. “I’ve been performing [in Blackpink] for a long time, and this opportunity came right when I was trying to find a new challenge,” she said. “They sent over the script, and I sent a tape back.”
A reluctant yes turned into a fan-favourite performance
Executive producer David Bernad recalled that Lisa's humility and determination were pivotal. “Her audition was amazing. And Lisa’s so nice and uncomplicated,” he said. Still, White hesitated. “I’m just used to not having so much attention—we don’t need it. But I wanted to be respectful to Thailand. She’s like Taylor Swift meets Princess Diana there.”
Even castmates were taken aback by the reaction to Lisa on set. “They definitely knew of Lisa or someone who’s absolutely crazy about her,” said Tayme Thapthimthong. Lisa, who brought her mother to the audition and had been taking acting lessons in preparation, went on to win hearts both on and off the screen—turning her uncertain casting into one of the season’s most talked-about successes.
Also Read: Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon calls Taylor Swift’s ‘Exile’ performance an ‘out of body’ moment during Eras Tour reflection
Lisa was nearly rejected for White Lotus 3, but the 'Taylor Swift meets Princess Diana' comparison changed everything
The remark alone hinted at the immense respect Lisa commands in her home country, which eventually played a role in White’s decision to give her a shot. But it was Lisa’s humility, relentless effort, and quiet confidence that ultimately earned her a place in the ensemble cast of one of HBO’s most talked-about series.
Mike White admitted he had no idea who Lisa or Blackpink was when her audition tape first reached him. “All I knew was that there was a Blackpink girl in The Idol, and I was like, ‘We’re not doing that,’” he said, referencing her bandmate Jennie’s earlier role in the HBO drama. Despite this initial bias, Lisa’s audition impressed the team enough to invite her to a secret in-person audition in Phuket.
The White Lotus creator Mike White on casting Blackpink's Lisa in Season 3: 'She’s like Taylor Swift meets Princess Diana'#TheWhiteLotus #TheWhiteLotus3 #BLACKPINK #LISA #LISAxTheWhiteLotus https://t.co/hAJ291YScB
— OTTplay (@ottplayapp) April 5, 2025
Lisa, who launched her solo label LLOUD after leaving YG Entertainment in 2024, took the role seriously. “I’ve been performing [in Blackpink] for a long time, and this opportunity came right when I was trying to find a new challenge,” she said. “They sent over the script, and I sent a tape back.”
A reluctant yes turned into a fan-favourite performance
Executive producer David Bernad recalled that Lisa's humility and determination were pivotal. “Her audition was amazing. And Lisa’s so nice and uncomplicated,” he said. Still, White hesitated. “I’m just used to not having so much attention—we don’t need it. But I wanted to be respectful to Thailand. She’s like Taylor Swift meets Princess Diana there.”
Even castmates were taken aback by the reaction to Lisa on set. “They definitely knew of Lisa or someone who’s absolutely crazy about her,” said Tayme Thapthimthong. Lisa, who brought her mother to the audition and had been taking acting lessons in preparation, went on to win hearts both on and off the screen—turning her uncertain casting into one of the season’s most talked-about successes.
Also Read: Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon calls Taylor Swift’s ‘Exile’ performance an ‘out of body’ moment during Eras Tour reflection
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