Honest to god, casting a show like this must be a nightmare. You’re trying to bottle lightning twice, but instead of Hawaii’s corporate dread, Mike White dragged us to Sicily for a seven-episode meditation on sexual jealousy. And it worked. The White Lotus Italy cast didn't just show up; they basically rewrote the rules for how an ensemble should function. It's 2026, and we are still dissecting that finale.
Usually, when a show swaps out its entire roster, there’s this awkward "adjustment period." You miss the old faces. But by the time Jennifer Coolidge—bless her—stepped off that boat in Taormina, the new vibe felt instant. It was sun-drenched, a bit more dangerous, and way hornier.
The Power Players of the White Lotus Italy Cast
Let’s talk about the Spillers and the Sullivans. Honestly, the tension between Aubrey Plaza and Meghann Fahy was the engine of the season. Aubrey Plaza played Harper with this prickly, "I’m better than this" energy that felt so real it was almost physically painful to watch. She’s an employment attorney who hates everything, especially the fact that her husband, Ethan (Will Sharpe), is suddenly rich and hanging out with his douchey college roommate.
Then you have Daphne.
Meghann Fahy is the MVP here. On the surface, she’s just a "bubbly" stay-at-home mom who doesn't watch the news because it's "depressing." But Fahy plays her with these tiny, jagged edges. There’s a scene on a beach—you know the one—where her face goes through about six stages of grief in four seconds before she just... switches it off. It’s chilling. It’s basically a masterclass in how to play someone who has decided to be happy because the alternative is too dark to contemplate.
Theo James, playing Cameron, was the perfect foil. He’s magnetic but also just a total predator in a linen shirt. The way he casually invades people’s space? Terrifying. He represents that specific brand of "money-is-no-object" entitlement that makes your skin crawl.
The Di Grasso Men: Three Generations of Mess
While the couples were busy gaslighting each other, we had the Di Grasso family.
- F. Murray Abraham (Bert): The grandfather who can't stop flirting with anything that moves.
- Michael Imperioli (Dominic): The sex-addicted Hollywood producer trying to "fix" himself.
- Adam DiMarco (Albie): The "nice guy" who is actually just a different flavor of problematic.
Watching them walk through Sicily trying to find their "roots" was kind of hilarious and tragic. Dominic is basically a walking mid-life crisis, and Albie is so desperate to not be his father that he ends up getting played by the locals. Speaking of which, the Italian contingent of the White Lotus Italy cast absolutely stole the show.
Why the Local Casting Matters
Simona Tabasco and Beatrice Grannò (Lucia and Mia) weren't just background characters. They were the protagonists in their own story. Lucia, especially, is the one who actually wins the season. She’s a sex worker with a plan, and by the end, she’s walked away with the money while the Americans are still crying in the hotel lobby.
Sabrina Impacciatore, who played the hotel manager Valentina, gave us a totally different energy than Murray Bartlett’s Armond from Season 1. She was rigid, lonely, and eventually, surprisingly vulnerable. Her character arc with Mia was one of the few things that actually felt kind of sweet, in a "White Lotus" sort of way.
📖 Related: Why the Blurryface twenty one pilots album is still the blueprint for modern fandom
The Tragedy of Tanya McQuoid
We have to talk about Jennifer Coolidge. Coming back as Tanya was a gamble, but she’s the glue. She’s the only person who could make a line like "These gays, they're trying to murder me!" iconic instead of ridiculous.
The "High End Gays" led by Tom Hollander’s Quentin were a stroke of genius. Quentin was so charming you almost forgot he was a broke aristocrat trying to kill a woman for her inheritance. And Leo Woodall as Jack? That "Essex boy" energy was the perfect chaotic element to throw at Portia (Haley Lu Richardson).
Jack was supposed to be the fun distraction, but he ended up being the saddest character in the whole group. That scene where he's drunk and crying about his "uncle" told you everything you needed to know about the dark underbelly of the luxury lifestyle they were all chasing.
✨ Don't miss: The Grinch's Dog Max: Why This Scrawny Pup Is Actually the Hero of Whoville
What We Learned from the Sicily Crew
If you're looking for a takeaway from this specific group of characters, it’s probably that everyone is transactional. Every relationship in the Italy season was a trade. Money for sex, attention for status, silence for peace of mind.
It’s a bit cynical, sure. But Mike White has this way of making the worst parts of humanity look gorgeous under a Mediterranean sun.
What to do next:
If you’re doing a rewatch, pay attention to the "Testa di Moro" statues scattered throughout the hotel rooms. They’re based on a Sicilian legend about a woman who beheaded her lover after finding out he had a family back home. It’s not just decor; it’s literally the plot of the season hidden in plain sight. Also, check out Simona Tabasco’s other work in Italian TV—she’s a powerhouse.
✨ Don't miss: Denzel Washington Fallen Trailer: Why This 90s Supernatural Thriller Still Creeps Us Out
Keep an eye on the upcoming cast news for the next installment, but honestly, the Sicily group set a bar that’s going to be incredibly hard to clear. They captured a very specific moment where we all realized that "paradise" is just a fancy cage you pay $3,000 a night to sit in.
Go back and watch the scenes between Harper and Daphne one more time. The "I’m not a victim" speech from Daphne tells you everything you need to know about how to survive the White Lotus universe. She’s the one who knows how to play the game; the rest of them are just tourists.