Fans have been loving BLACKPINK’s Lisa in The White Lotus Season 3, all thanks to her role as Mook in the series. But guess what? Director Mike White originally didn’t want her on the show. Even after her impressive audition, he wasn’t sold on the BLACKPINK rapper for the role.
During a chat with The Hollywood Reporter, Mike confessed he initially thought, “We’re not doing that,” after learning BLACKPINK’s Jennie had appeared in The Idol. Then, producer David Bernad recalled inviting Lisa to Phuket for auditions, where she impressed everyone with her humility and passion. In the end, her dedication was impossible to ignore, sealing the deal.
“Lisa was so humble, and she’d worked so hard on her performance. This was someone fighting for this part,” he revealed.
For her part, Lisa went all in: she took acting lessons, rehearsed, and even brought her mom for moral support. Mike ultimately cast her to honor Thailand, comparing her national treasure status to a combination of a Thai version of Taylor Swift and Princess Diana. Lisa didn’t just land a role—she proved that her star power shines far beyond the music stage.