From the South to Hollywood to Thailand, Parker Posey’s road to an Emmy nomination has been anything but predictable. The actress stars in Season 3 of HBO’s The White Lotus as Victoria Ratliff, a North Carolina matriarch navigating the chaos of a family vacation in Thailand.
Soon after the show aired, Posey made an appearance on the Today Show, where she delighted viewers with her now-iconic Southern accent channeling Victoria’s dramatic flair and lingering drawl on words like “tsunami” and “Buddhism.” The moment unexpectedly took on a life of its own.
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“People were like, ‘Oh my God, you’re going viral.’” she recalled. But the Internet craze came with a twist. “I caught a bad virus the week when I got back after the Today Show. I went viral and then I got a virus.”
Now recovered and riding high, Posey says she’s savoring every part of the experience. It’s the latest chapter in a career that began with her breakout in Dazed and Confused (1993) and took off with Party Girl (1995), the indie cult classic celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. “It’s a full-circle moment and I’m just really grateful,” says Posey, also beloved for her roles in Christopher Guest films like Waiting for Guffman, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration.
For her White Lotus character, Posey drew inspiration from her own Southern roots, having grown up in Louisiana and Mississippi. “People in the South, they emphasized the feeling more than what they’re actually saying,” she explained. She also credits her parents for her love of storytelling and performance. “My dad and my mom fell in love and they didn’t come from money and they’re both very entertaining and dramatic and funny.”
For Posey, filming the acclaimed HBO series in Thailand proved to be more than just a job, it was a personal reset. “I was kind of on a journey on my own, getting massage work and sound baths and immersing myself in the culture,” she says. “I started to listen more to a peaceful part of me. I needed this healing.”
Sarah Catherine Hook, Parker Posey, and Sam Nivola in The White LotusFabio Lovino/HBO
Working with White Lotus creator Mike White, she says, brought out a new creative energy. “It is very high performance. It’s extreme, it’s very playful. I felt like an athlete,” she said. “I think he’s very much a maestro in how he gets all these different dynamic actors together and just lets the energy play.”
Despite all the acclaim — the show received 23 nominations — Posey admits she still hasn’t seen it. “I haven’t seen anything. I just wanted to give some space,” she said. “I feel like as an actor, I write a book that no one else will read, and then you don’t really want to open it up.”
For now, Posey is excited for the next chapter and looking forward to Emmy night. “I hope people come up to me and introduce themselves and I can’t wait to celebrate with the cast.”
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