Patrick Schwarzenegger, an accomplished actor with a career that began in high school, recently addressed rumors that he secured a role in the third season of "The White Lotus" due to the influence of his father, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Patrick, who has appeared in films and TV shows such as "The Benchwarmers," "Grown Ups 2," and "Scream Queens," played Saxon Ratliff in the hit TV series. Despite his family's collective love for "The White Lotus" and having watched the first two seasons together, Patrick chose to keep his audition and subsequent casting a secret from them.
Auditioning for the role without informing his family was a strategic move by Patrick, who faced a prohibition against revealing his casting news. Reflecting on his journey, he expressed awareness of public perception regarding his famous lineage.
"I know there are people who'll say I only got this role because of who my dad is," said Patrick Schwarzenegger.
Despite the assumptions about nepotism, Patrick has dedicated over a decade to honing his craft. He has committed to countless hours of acting classes, character development, and has faced numerous rejections throughout his career.
"They're not seeing that I've had 10 years of acting classes…worked on my characters for hours on end or the hundreds of rejected auditions I've been on," he stated.
The journey to landing the role in "The White Lotus" involved rigorous auditions, and it was not until he received a callback from creator Mike White that Patrick decided to share the news.
"And then I got the call back with [creator] Mike White, and I was like, I'm not gonna tell them for that. And then I booked it," he explained.
Upon finally revealing his casting to his family, the emotional moment unfolded in a restaurant setting.
"There was just this domino effect of us all crying…at a restaurant," Patrick recalled.
Patrick is no stranger to the challenges posed by his last name. As the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, and the nephew of late U.S. President John F. Kennedy, he often grapples with public perceptions about his career achievements. He candidly expressed frustration over assumptions tied to his family background and wishes that it wouldn't overshadow his dedication to acting.
