Sam Nivola Says “Thirsty Older Men” Flooded His DMs After “The White Lotus”
Sam Nivola says fame hit fast after The White Lotus season 3. In a new Variety cover story, he recalls the peak of the show’s hype: “I literally couldn’t walk down the street in Brooklyn, my hometown, without being swarmed.” He also says his Instagram inbox filled up with messages from “thirsty older men”. The profile frames him as “one of Hollywood’s most promising young stars and perhaps a new kind of sex symbol”.
What he thinks about Lochlan’s reception.
Nivola played Lochlan Ratliff, a teenager whose choices sparked heated debate. He admits it was tough to watch sympathy fade for a character he had to embody. “You have to love your character, otherwise you’re fucked,” he says. “My character jerked off Patrick. I don’t like that. It’s a bad thing he did. But I try not to pass judgment,” he told Variety.
Typecasting offers, and what he wants next.
Post-The White Lotus, casting emails poured in. Many were near-clones of Lochlan, “socially awkward, virginal kids who are a little weird,” as he puts it. He adds he’s starting to feel boxed in, while also getting scripts that feel more adult. “Hopefully the next one will be something a little different,” he says.
Family name, on his terms.
Coverage of the Variety story notes Nivola pushed back on the “nepo baby” tag tied to his parents, actors Emily Mortimer and Alessandro Nivola. He stresses recent wins are the result of his work, saying success has come “sometimes in spite” of his parents’ influence.
Season 3 premiered on 16 February 2025 and is streaming on HBO’s platform, and HBO Max in many regions.
Patrick Schwarzenegger e Sam Nivola em The White Lotus. pic.twitter.com/DSguRWYfcn
— CINEMA 505 (@CINEMA505) March 17, 2025
So, what’s the real headline here…?
At DNA, we see the same pattern every time a young star breaks through: a hit show, a complicated character, then a tidal wave of interest that is not always the kind you want. Nivola is still figuring out how to manage that visibility while selecting roles that demonstrate his ability to portray multiple facets of the “vulnerable boy”. The question now is, which project lets him reset the narrative?
