Sign up to receive the TV WEEK e-Newsletter and offers we choose to share with you straight to your inbox  By joining, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use WARNING: The White Lotus season three finale spoilers ahead the fractured female trio of Kate (Leslie) Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) and Laurie (Carrie Coon) comes to a resolution with the women capturing the comparative nature that comes with a decades-old friendship and how it often holds a mirror up to our own lives Leslie and her co-stars were concerned the storyline would be “mundane” compared to the other arcs “The three of us didn’t look at it [their friendship] as toxic, we were playing the stakes of relationships and had our whole backstory figured out – how old we were when we met, where we met etc,” Leslie tells TV WEEK “But I do remember wondering whether this is going to be boring as there are a lot of dramatic storylines on the show one of the guys from the crew came up to me and said ‘the girl’s storyline is my favourite’ I thought maybe something is going to break through it’s about all human relationships.” Natasha Rothwell wasn’t sure what would happen to her returning character after she was left high and dry by Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) in season one she watched along and audibly gasped at Tanya’s tragic demise at the hands of her husband Gary (Jon Gries) – and soon reached for her phone “I texted Jennifer and Mike when she fell of the boat to say Why didn’t you tell me?’ she says with a laugh “But I read all the scripts [for season three] in one sitting and called Mike immediately who was in Thailand at the time I was going off saying how cool it was [to see her storyline arc] To see so many different sides to her this time around has been really cool.” Belinda was faced with an ultimatum: turn Gary over to the police or accept his “blood money” and leave Thailand The latter would also see her turning her back on Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul) and her promise to run a business together – a betrayal not dissimilar to her own at the hands of Tanya “The world want vengeance,” Natasha says “And Jennifer does not wish him well either.” [laughs] “The fact that he’s been there for three season is crazy he won’t go away,” Leslie adds While the shock factor of The White Lotus is what keeps fans coming back time after time the things we don’t say out loud that resonate the most Leslie likens it to Sam Rockwell’s character whose sex and alcohol addiction is aired in unfiltered honesty.“Sammie’s monologue is seemingly shocking because you’re hearing all these words put together and you’re like ‘Woah!’ But I don’t think what Mike’s saying is shocking it’s very deep and interesting,” Leslie who’s been with Sam Rockwell for 17 years in real life “It’s someone living in their truth and unapologetically.” Natasha adds that Frank’s bold nature is brutally honest and invites viewers into his inner thoughts “Frank is saying the quiet part out loud We’re being honest?’” she says “The truth can be that shocking and when someone says it that plainly and with a steady hand you know they’ve been through something.” Leslie and Natasha have their own gasp-worthy shows on the box Game of Thrones will forever hold a spot in her mind I realised that no one is safe!,” Leslie says “Oh that’s good,” Natasha replies I had some pretty gasps at Severance recently It’s similar in to Lotus in that you’re trying to figure it out and get ahead You want to figure out what’s happening but you can’t.” “Kind of like Mike White,” Leslie notes Leslie and Natasha often enjoyed learning about their characters off-set But Natasha did take a sneak peek.“Here’s a secret I haven’t told you…” she says to Leslie I went down to set and you were shooting the breakfast scene with Carrie and Michelle — I do that a lot because a lot of time the storylines don’t interact… “So I texted Mike [White] to see who was filming and he said Leslie ‘On my way!’ If you think the tension was high on screen “Ahhh!” It was just so good.” I always want to go but I’m too shy,” Leslie adds Carrie did it once and Mike kicked her out because she started talking about global warming!” [both laugh] “You’re voted off the island!” Belinda jokes referencing Mike White’s stint on reality series With both Belinda and Kate still in play – neither of them died in the shootout episode that saw multiple people die including fan favourites Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and Rick (Walton Goggins) – there’s always the potential to see them again in season four But where in the world will the notorious hotel be found this time around “It’s like the Olympics!” Natasha says with a laugh. “Everyone is trying to get it [the show] to come to their city!”Stream three seasons of The White Lotus on HBO’s Max in Australia Sign up to the latest news at Marie Claire If you’ve been watching Netflix’s new crime drama, Apple Cider Vinegar you probably have a lot of questions about Belle Gibson and her real-life partner For many, Apple Cider Vinegar will be their first introduction to the fascinating real-life story of Gibson an early 2010s wellness influencer who faked terminal brain cancer and then claimed she cured it with diet and natural ‘remedies’ And while the series changed the names of some characters others—like Clive—have remained the same who is Clive Rothwell and what happened to him after the Belle Gibson scandal broke Rothwell stayed largely out of the spotlight some aspects of his life portrayed in Apple Cider Vinegar are reportedly true and he allegedly did have a personal relationship with Belle and her son Most of what we know about Clive came through court statements made by Belle Gibson was extremely tight-lipped on her relationship with Clive denying their romantic involvement and even saying she didn’t know what he did for a living When Belle was grilled in court regarding her expenses, she said she owed $90,000 to Clive Rothwell but would not say what for. She also said that although the two lived together but did not have a romantic relationship. However, Gibson’s friend Chanelle McAuliffe had previously referred to Rothwell as Gibson’s “partner” in an interview with Woman’s Day Meanwhile, in 2015 Woman’s Day also reportedly separately that Gibson and Rothwell had suffered a miscarriage in 2012 Following the exposure of Belle’s fraudulent activities she said Clive was “supportive but obviously devastated” ‘I just want you to acknowledge where you’ve f***ed up and not try and smooth over that’,” she shared Although Rothwell has escaped any link to Gibson’s crimes, he was involved in her The Whole Pantry business, and reportedly registered the website domain name in 2013 Meanwhile, in 2019, The Age reported on Gibson’s appearance in court where she was challenged for not paying her $410,000 fine for crimes relating to her cancer charity fraud and said Rothwell had been the one paying for her rent She also claimed he paid entirely for a $5000 trip she and her son took to Africa and also gave her $2000 cash for accommodation “that’s not my business” it appears Rothwell decides to stay with Gibson amid the scandal This also appeared to be the case in real life as the couple were still living together in 2019 it is possible they are no longer together In 2023, the Daily Mail obtained photos of Rothwell with another woman Clive Rothwell reportedly still lives in Australia He has not spoken about the portrayal of ‘Clive’ in Apple Cider Vinegar Rebecca Mitchell is a Senior Writer at Marie Claire Australia She graduated from Charles Sturt University in 2011 with solid media experience already under her belt as a radio presenter and reporter on WIN News Subscribe or renew your current subscription and receive $500 worth of value as part of your membership.  Exclusive access to our monthly LUXE newsletter Sign-up to the latest news from Australian Women’s Weekly Disclaimer: By joining, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use If you haven’t heard of The White Lotus have you (and I mean this in the nicest way possible) perhaps been living under rock?  and directed by Mike White – first premiered in 2021 and was instantly lauded by critics and viewers alike for its sharp social satire and deeply flawed but enjoyable-to-watch characters.  Today, The White Lotus has won a staggering 15 Emmy Awards and is the preferred topic of choice for water cooler chat at The Weekly’s office; especially as the Season 3 finale is about to premiere on new streaming service Max.  And so, I obviously jumped at the chance to catch up with Leslie Bibb and Natasha Rothwell, who both star in Season 3 to talk about all things White Lotus.  that when I first found out that I’d be interviewing Leslie and Natasha together I thought it was an odd pairing – their respective characters never really interact and their storylines barely intersect.  the chemistry between Leslie and Natasha was palpable.  it was clear the two are definitely great friends in real life; which made for a dynamic interview.  Read The Weekly’s full interview with Leslie and Natasha below… Natasha:  Yeah, I was [surprised] too! Season 2 was filming and that year the Emmys for the previous year were being held Mike [White] came back from Italy for the Emmys and he wanted to meet up for dinner while he was in town.  but I’m already thinking about three I didn’t know when or where or anything [about Season 3] I just knew the answer is always yes with Mike.  I’ve been in this industry for a while so I know nothing’s real until you put pen to paper so I also know that things change once you start the writing process So I never wanted to hold him to that.  He reached out a second time and he’s just like Are your bags packed?’ I’m like I don’t know who hasn’t seen Seasons 1 and 2 but then this load [was lifted onto my shoulders] don’t screw this up!’ This show is so beloved so there was a little bit of that pressure.  But it was so nice to have Natasha there who’s been through it once and I think all of us – the entire cast – was like Leslie: But she was so great and such a good captain he’ll never drop you.’ And it’s true But after the first couple of episodes aired, [Jennifer] texted me and she was so sweet when it was announced that I was coming back He keeps coming back and he’s a real marauder I never approached when working on it like this is a frenemy.’ It never was like anything –  Natasha: But we are frenemies [laughs].  Natasha: I’m so sorry [laughs].  but to me – and it sounds counterintuitive – I think it’s very important to Kate for these friendships to make it through To literally survive and figuratively survive this trip.  I think her vulnerability and her insecurities is what I sort of rooted everything in with her Natasha: It’s one of my favorite storylines this season I think that each of them possess qualities that the other should.  you kind of find yourself drawn to someone who will complement you they’re just watching other members of the group shine in areas they lack.   Natasha: The way [Mike] captured that kind of jealous Jaclyn and Laurie’s relationship is based on] that comparative way we look at one another or each other’s lives ‘They’re important because their life looks better,’ but I think it’s all a facade.  It’s like this [gesturing to her suit]! It looks like I’m wearing this great suit. But it’s borrowed, it’s going back to Victoria Beckham This idea of what you think is really happening versus –  Natasha:  You’re comparing your inside to someone’s outsides.  Natasha: So there’s always going to be some dissonance there where you’re just not able to catch up what you’re seeing is not who someone really is.   Natasha: He’s just so wonderful and delightful.  I got to Koh Samui in Thailand before he did And when he arrived we had this big cast dinner but he slept through it because he –  ‘Where is he?’ He had just landed and he was so tired ‘Let’s just you and me grab dinner,’ because I wanted to get to know him he’s slightly younger than me [laughs] he definitely wants to hang out with some of the younger kids in the cast so we’ll just make it a quick drink.’  But we ended up having like a four hour dinner on the beach and he’s so deep and wonderful and smart and kind and symmetrical [laughs] I spent a lot of time in my life in teaching roles and so being around someone who was younger and finding an affinity to sort of encourage them on and off screen kind of came naturally.  It happened really quickly and he’s just so warm and generous and –  Leslie: He’s got a kind heart.  Natasha: And the way the storylines in the show [rarely intersect] everyone’s sort of like in their own little world Nicholas and I were always in our little bubble.  because you’re; we were there for six to seven months Leslie: Oh yes, my beloved but the story is he was shooting a movie in South Africa and I was gonna go see him in South Africa but his movie kept pushing [filming back] and we kept pushing [back] my time with him was going to be much shorter because I had to get back to Bangkok and then Mike and [White Lotus executive producer] David Bernad were like you can’t be mad at me if he doesn’t do it That jet plane’s gonna fly whichever way it’s gonna fly And [Sam and I] don’t sort of mix pleasure and work he was on the fence about it just because the monologue is so big and he really likes a lot of prep time and he wasn’t going to get that.  ‘I’ll get you off book for that monologue’  I went to see him and we’d go out for a game drive in the morning Natasha: I’m just imagining him saying the monologue with a pride of lions walking by [laughs].  The Season 3 finale of The White Lotus premieres on Max on April 7 Subscribe and be in with the chance of winning $25,000 cash or prize pack exclusive content via our monthly subscriber newsletter Natasha Rothwell recently revealed a funny text that she received from Jennifer Coolidge the duo starred alongside each other in the first season of Mike White's acclaimed anthology series in 2021 Natasha Rothwell portrayed the character of the spa manager Belinda Lindsey whereas Jennifer Coolidge played the wealthy and eccentric hotel guest Tanya McQuoid she recalled the message Jennifer sent her during the show's broadcast when she mentioned that Natasha fears a fate similar to her for her character in season two of the show Jennifer Coolidge's husband Greg plotted her murder for her money believed that she would face the same face 'You better kill him!'" Natasha shared Jennifer's response when she told her this news she recounted working with Jennifer for the first time and shared that she was already a huge fan of her Speaking of her work experience with Jennifer Coolidge in the show’s first season “I remember when they told me who I'd be playing against and I was like This is nuts!'" she recounted referring to Jennifer Coolidge's iconic role in the show American Pie after which she moved to a new topic Your support helps make our show possible and unlocks access to our sponsor-free feed Natasha Rothwell is one of those performers who became successful in part because people just love having her around She was a writer on Issa Rae's show Insecure and Issa loved her so much that she put her in the cast after snagging an Emmy nomination for season one of The White Lotus creator Mike White brought her to Thailand for Season 3 because what fun would it be without her We'll see if she ever wants to come back to our show after playing our quiz Become an NPR sponsor The six-part series dives headfirst into one of Australia's most shocking deceptions — a story that began with a young Melbourne mum claiming she'd cured her terminal brain cancer through clean eating and alternative therapies and ended with thousands of devastated followers learning it was all an elaborate hoax Here's what we know about the real Clive Rothwell He was indeed. But, as with the rest of Gibson's life… it's complicated Rothwell was reportedly an IT consultant in real life Gibson has always remained fairly tight-lipped about the nature of her relationship with Rothwell Gibson said that she and Clive had experienced a miscarriage "She becomes visibly upset when questioned about this and refuses to discuss it, other than to tearfully deny allegations it was another false health crisis," Woman's Day wrote in a 2015 interview with Gibson Chanelle McAuliffe was the whistleblower who confronted Belle Gibson listen to her interview on True Crime Conversations The short answer is that Rothwell was not technically linked to any of Gibson's crimes Gibson even told Woman's Day about Rothwell's initial reaction to her lies being exposed 'I just want you to acknowledge where you've f**ked up and not try and smooth over that,'" she said Although Gibson claimed that Rothwell was not involved she dropped some serious financial bombshells about Clive Rothwell's role in her life Gibson was reportedly still living with Rothwell in 2019 While being grilled about her expenses (and her failure to pay a $410,000 court fine) Gibson casually name-dropped how Rothwell had bankrolled her lavish lifestyle footing the bill for her half of their $600-per-week rent and — perhaps most shocking — thousands in legal fees when her empire began crumbling In a letter Gibson wrote to the Department of Justice Court documents also revealed that Rothwell was quietly involved in Gibson's business in the early days registering The Whole Pantry's domain name back in 2013 Rothwell did seemingly stay with Gibson through her legal troubles given they were still living together in 2019 Currently, it still remains unclear whether Belle Gibson and Clive Rothwell are still together. However, images obtained by Daily Mail of Rothwell with another woman in 2023 sparked rumours that the two had broken up Feature Image: Netflix / Instagram/aprilbevin TAKE SURVEY ➤ After taking a break from her resort vacay, fan-favourite Natasha Rothwell is *finally* returning as Belinda for Season 3 of The White Lotus. While her time on the show may have earned her a loyal fan following (and a Primetime Emmy nomination) viewers have been eager to learn more about the star behind one of the franchise’s most beloved characters Natasha made her start in the TV industry while also working as a teacher for the New York City Knowledge is Power Programme – a nationwide network of free college prep schools located in low-income communities After pursuing her degree in journalism at the Univerisity of Maryland Natasha made her first steps into Hollywood on Saturday Night Live where she worked as a writer across the 2014 and 2015 seasons Natasha landed her first on-screen role in 2014 in the comedy-drama Royal Pains and after making a brief feature in several TV roles the 44-year-old’s breakthrough came in 2016 through her work as writer Natasha has gone on to star in several Hollywood blockbusters Natasha has gained international recognition following her starring role as Belinda in Seasons 1 and 3 of The White Lotus While Natasha has not spoken publicly about her relationship status it has been reported that she is currently married to producer Wale Lawal Given there is no information surrounding the couple’s relationship the timeline of their rumoured relationship is currently unknown but we’ll be sure to keep you posted should any updates arise Gracie launched her career in journalism at Are Media Working as a Digital Content Producer across WHO Gracie has combined her love for all things music and style with her journalistic and social media skillset to create engaging content covering pop culture’s biggest trends If she’s not busy telling you how much she loves The Beatles (a lot) you’ll probably find Gracie counting down the days until her next concert or testing out TikTok’s favourite new beauty trend The comedian and former drama teacher was only expecting to do one series of HBO’s hit comedy-drama Natasha Rothwell pops up on video from the US looking super-glamorous in a silvery-grey dress Did we miss a memo about a dress code for our interview “You know what they say: share the hair and never waste a face.” Rothwell is currently stealing the show as spa manager Belinda in season three of HBO hit The White Lotus – reprising her role from season one Having endured the whims of Jennifer Coolidge’s needy heiress in Hawaii Belinda has now travelled to the titular resort in Thailand to take part in its wellness training programme as Rothwell puts it – and in the process both finding romance and uncovering a potential crime The 44-year-old was born in Kansas but spent her childhood moving around the US due to her father’s job in the air force before becoming a high school drama teacher in the Bronx Her first professional gig in showbiz was as a writer on Saturday Night Live She found on-screen fame in Issa Rae’s hit comedy Insecure on HBO; Rothwell was originally hired as a story editor but her script readings in the writers’ room inspired Rae to cast her as Kelli Prenny about a lonely airport employee who has never been in love her daily Donald Trump protests and recent ADHD diagnosis Was it always the plan to come back for The White Lotus season three or did it come out of the blue?It definitely wasn’t the plan thanked her and watched season two as a fan like everyone else the show’s creator] reached out about returning for season three It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity that I got twice you can drink a pint on the street and no one looks twiceHow was filming in Thailand?Beautiful but too hot It teaches you a bit of Buddhism: want is the root of all suffering I tried to stop wanting it to be cold and it did help Resisting it every day for five months was not going to be fun Lisa from K-pop band Blackpink plays health mentor Mook Were lots of Lisa fans hanging around?She is huge but also wonderfully ordinary She’s just the sweetest – then you see people peeking in Scream!” I can’t imagine that kind of mega-wattage celebrity so to see someone handle it with such aplomb was cool Belinda is so pleasantly surprised to see a black couple in the hotel restaurant that she gives them a little wave Have you had moments like that in your own life?I actually pitched that to Mike I told him that when you see other people of colour travelling – particularly if they’re moving in spaces that are quite homogenous – you want to let them know that you see them I didn’t know them from Adam but I just walked over and hugged them I was so grateful that Mike added that part in was it a struggle not to laugh while shooting scenes with Jennifer Coolidge?She’s so deeply funny I cut my teeth in improv and sketch comedy But the moment where I’m singing a hymn to her and she sings it back Apparently she’s keen for her villainous ex to get his comeuppance and messaged you saying “Go get him girl”?(Laughs) She’s been texting me throughout the series Rothwell in the third series of The White Lotus ‘A once in a lifetime opportunity I got twice.’ Photograph: HBOWe’re midway through the series What’s in store for Belinda over the next four episodes?Expect the unexpected That’s kind of a piss-poor answer but I can’t say much You’ll see sides of Belinda that emerge when she’s confronted with fear I was a David Brent purist and only watched the BBC original Was Insecure a gamechanger for you?Without question It showed me that black female comedy could succeed plus-size actresses who are brown still come up and say “Kelli Prenny is on my wall!” For me that inspiration was Nell Carter on [80s sitcom] Gimme A Break I’m able to unmask some of my traits and let my freak flag flyYou used to teach at a high school in the Bronx Tell us about that.I loved teaching theatre so much My older sister has been in elementary education for over 25 years so I definitely “phoned a friend” a time or two Now I have several young writers and actors in LA that I mentor It’s important to send the elevator back down Was it hard to get over the disappointment of How To Die Alone not being renewed for a second series?You have to accept sometimes that things are unjust or unfair award-winning show that gets great numbers and it still not be enough I’ve had to remind myself to be proud of what I put into the world and the effect that it had on people Post-strike Hollywood is operating from a place of fear and that’s no way to make art so I’m not going to have the funeral quite yet Great comedians make incredible dramatists and I don’t know if the opposite is true George Saunders defined comedy as the truth told quickly Comedians are fearless in their confrontation of the truth That’s why I’m so grateful for The White Lotus It enables me to use my comedic training in a dramatic way With Yvonne Orji in Insecure. Photograph: Raymond Liu/Warner MediaWhat projects are in the pipeline for you?A series about [internet personality] Reesa Teesa who found viral fame after a TikTok post about how she was hoodwinked by her husband It’s my first role where I’m playing someone who’s living Talk about resilience: she used her platform to tell everyone how she was taken advantage of It inspired me to have courage to be more vulnerable We admire your dedication to tweeting “You are trash” at Donald Trump every day I went on hiatus during Biden’s presidency but now I’m back It’s just a reminder that what’s going on is not normal and to speak truth to power It’s a micro-resistance but it makes me feel better I sent the first one and the next day was like: “that motherfucker is still trash.” Until I get it out of my system and I feel everyone’s chanting the same thing People ask if I have an AI bot that does it for me I roll over in the morning and if that idiot comes to my mind I love that people have tuned into something so simple Did things suddenly make sense for you?Massively I’ve always felt a little neurospicy but have found ways to work with it and move through the world I’d get frustrated at some of the symptoms Understanding that it’s just my factory setting has made me accept who I am in total I’m able to unmask some of my traits and let my freak flag fly What makes you happy when you’re not working?Did my therapist tell you to ask that (Laughs) I’m actively pursuing a hobby that has nothing to do with my vocation I love what I do so much that work/life balance can be tricky The White Lotus airs on Mondays on Sky Atlantic and is available on streaming service Now This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Credit: HBONatasha Rothwell is also scared for Belinda the only consistently normal person in The White Lotus ensemble of kooks With one episode to go in this current third season the question of who dies at whose hands is still up in the air the spa manager from the show’s first season in Hawaii She knows the almost certainly murderous Greg’s secret and his attempt to buy her off with a paltry $100,000 wasn’t enthusiastically received Get the first look at the digital newspaper curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox Get the NewsletterBy continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.It looks dicey for the well-intentioned Natasha Rothwell in The White Lotus season three in Sydney to promote the launch of streaming service Max on which The White Lotus and other HBO shows now call home But like everyone else involved with the production would risk life and limb if she even breathed a whisper of a spoiler I’m glad everyone’s going to have a nice exhale or scream next week,” she added Rothwell added it was “a gift to play a character that people who watch the show just wish her well” The White Lotus has become a cultural phenomenon they couldn’t have fathomed just how much it would penetrate the zeitgeist “So the stakes were very low, and to have watched it blow up to what it is, I had the choice to get swept up into it.” Rothwell wasn’t in the second season set in Sicily but her character was written back in for the third. Rather than feel the pressure of The White Lotus’ popularity, she said it was easy to feel grounded during production because White had created an atmosphere that was “still small and creative at its heart”. She said, “I showed up to set in Thailand and I saw the same (director of photography), the same editor, the same (assistant director) and some of the same (production assistants). It felt like coming home, even though the exterior has changed.” The White Lotus's Morgana O'Reilly, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Natasha Rothwell and Leslie Bibb in Sydney. Credit: Scott Ehler/MaxDespite being the returnee in the cast, she was still too shy to approach her famous colleagues at the first cast event, until Carrie Coon made the first move. “It is quite nerve-wracking when you look at the performers on that call sheet. There are people I’ve idolised my whole career and it’s exciting to get to rub shoulders with these greats. “I also suffer from social anxiety and I was a wallflower at the event, I was like ‘OK, I don’t know how I got the courage to go up and talk to Walton (Goggins), to Parker (Posey) and to Leslie (Bibb). I was literally against the wall. “Carrie Coon comes up to me and I vomited verbally. I was like, ‘I’m so sorry, I really want to come over and hang with you guys but I’m just super nervous. She just grabbed my arm and she was like, ‘We’re all over there and we’re nervous to talk to you, you’ve done this before’. Then my shoulders, which were by my ears, kind of went down. “I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve done this before’. She reflected me back to me, which is just a part of why she’s lovely. Then, throughout, I tried to give little tips and tricks that I would’ve wanted someone to tell me in season one.” Natasha Rothwell is one of two returning characters in the third season. Credit: HBOThe first season was filmed in a covid bubble but the camaraderie has carried through with subsequent productions. Filmed primarily in Koh Samui at the Four Seasons which stands in for the fictional onscreen resort, the cast and crew live and work on the premises for months, forming their own little temporary family. When New Zealand actor Morgana O’Reilly, who plays the scene stealer Australian hotel worker Pam, arrived on set, Posey gave her a list of spa experiences — all in the name of “research”, of course. “We just went, she took me to all the places,” O’Reilly said. “But in the end, my favourite places was just a little spot down the road from the Four Seasons. “I know it’s controversial because everyone in the cast, you’d always hear about so-and-so at the so-and-so spa or whatever, and some of the best (massages) I had were next to the beach and it was like five bucks.” O’Reilly pointed out that what that the foundation of what this season, set a luxurious wellness resort and spa, is about is that throwing money at bougie massages and cleanses is just a band-aid. “There are only so many wellness retreats you can go on, but if you’re not digging down and doing the work, if you’re not embracing what is hard in your life, nothing will change. You might ease up a muscle here and there, and have a relaxing moment. But if you want a transcendent moment and if you want transformation, that hurts. "Phones, please!" Morgana O’Reilly in The White Lotus. Credit: HBO“It’s only through the hard stuff in your life that get you to those places. Maybe that’s a difficult pill to swallow when you’ve got heaps of money, and you’re like, ‘surely I can avoid the pain’.” While she understood the appeal of avoiding discomfort, O’Reilly would always prefer authenticity. For anyone who quickly booked themselves into the Four Seasons Koh Samui after seeing it on The White Lotus, O’Reilly recommended you actually leave the resort and walk past the tennis courts to the little beach with a tiny little Thai restaurant and a little coffee shop. Being ensconced in luxury is “not Thailand, and it’s also not the world, this is not how we live,” she added. “I’m hyper aware of that, and if anything, it was more confronting to be like, ‘Why do a very small amount of people get this?”. One of the reasons audiences love The White Lotus is the befuddling behaviour of its over-the-top characters, but running beneath the wild antics is a satire about bad tourism. Unfortunately, it’s a point that is often missed as the more privileged viewers rush to book those same experiences. “Mike talked about that,” O’Reilly said. “I remember him saying that on set, ‘Everyone is going to come here and it’s just going to ruin it’.” The 90-minute season finale of The White Lotus will stream on Max and Binge* on Monday, April 7 Latest EditionEdition Edition 5 May 20255 May 2025All-powerful Anthony Albanese says give me some R.E.S.P.E.C.T Tickets & Hospitality Matches Shop LUTV Foundation More... Daniel Farke sat down with the press ahead of his side's trip to the Kassam Stadium where Leeds United will take on Oxford this Friday Despite a few knocks in the previous game against Preston Farke expects to have all those that featured available on Friday with Joe Rothwell and Daniel James expected to return over the next week hasn't played since the 2-2 draw with Swansea in March and "will definitely miss this weekend's games" but Farke did inform the media that he "hopes to then have him available for the last home game against Bristol City." who has recently been shortlisted for the EFL's Championship Player of the Year is looking likely to make an appearance this Easter weekend his first since scoring in the 1-0 win over Middlesbrough I think it's fair to say at this stage that we will definitely have him available for Monday's game [against Stoke] if he's able to play a part in the Good Friday game against Oxford We have 24 more hours and of course we're trying everything to make him available for Oxford but we'll make that decision tomorrow after training." Map We sat down with Natasha to talk about her return to The White Lotus, what Belinda has been up to, and whether this season will be even darker than the last. Plus, she spills on behind-the-scenes spa perks and that steamy massage scene. Did you ever expect to come back into this show and how did you feel about it? No, not at all. It was always meant to be a limited series and so it was just super surprising and I’m so grateful. How did it happen? Did Mike (series creator, writer and director, Mike White) ring you? What did you think when you read the script? Has the character changed very much? Not in discernible ways. I think internally, there’s this big shift in terms of her worldview. I binge-read the scripts and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. It’s just action-packed. You get to see Belinda go on this amazing journey this season. She was quite let down by Tanya in the first season when her promised funding for Belinda’s dream of her own wellness centre failed to materialize. Is she over that now? I think she’s over it in… she can’t really change anything. But I think she feels that it’s hard to trust people. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Max (@streamonmax) I feel an element of sadness about Belinda maybe aspirations she hasn’t quite reached She’s a woman with a lot of dreams and she’s constantly working to try to bridge the distance between who she is and who she wants to be especially when she was so close the previous season So I think that we’ll see Thailand revive her and bring her joy I think that Belinda being in this new environment is allowing her to see herself differently and that’s a beautiful thing She’s a single mum and I think she’s able to kind of shed that identity on vacation trying to figure out what fits and seeing if there’s any of that you can bring back home So we’ll see her sort of spread her wings a little bit There’s a hint of that with her masseur counterpart at the hotel There’s a lovely scene where you both give each other your signature massage and she is impressed when he is looking buff in just his underwear it’s tough baby but someone’s got to do it who’s my scene partner there is just so lovely And so it was just really cool to see him… in all his glory were you able to try some of the spa treatments I have to learn the craft if I’m going to do it properly I definitely enjoyed the spa situation over there and learned a lot from having technicians that were actually from the resort present to make sure that we were doing the right things on camera This season seems to be a bit darker than previous ones I think there’s darkness in all of it because in order to show the full spectrum of humanity that Mike does in his work And especially because spirituality is such a huge theme this season there’s a real need to pay attention to what drives us to those spiritual salves We see perhaps a little bit more darkness but I don’t think there’s anything evil per se It’s just showing perhaps more of the underbelly of what we’ve seen across the seasons Did you get the chance to explore Thailand when you were filming there when they weren’t shooting their storyline but I stayed there the whole time because I couldn’t do that time difference It’s so hot there so I tried my best to endure some of the sightseeing during the day But it kind of encouraged a nocturnal experience because during the day it can be pretty impressive with the heat and at night being able to explore different restaurants and the nightlife was really great Everything that I experienced in season one was pretty exciting Because as someone who’s also a writer and a director and an actor to be able to watch someone who’s also a multi-hyphenate create and work… I’m just in awe about how he moves He has such a vision of what he’s looking for and can sometimes be editing in real-time It’s one of my favourite things about him to be able to talk through scenes and pitch him ideas and he’s so receptive Were there times when you suggested saying or doing things in a different way than was in the script Season one was really important to me playing a character that’s in a very homogenous white environment I wanted to make sure that the character wasn’t feeling cliche or a trope and so I asked to work with him on the scenes and we sat down and literally went page by page through all of Belinda’s lines for a season and I was pitching dialogue to really put it in my mouth and make it sound grounded and authentic because we were able to work on that prior to being on set he would encourage us if we wanted to add anything But we got through a lot of that workshopping before the cameras were up Does he give you a lot of backstory for your character because I get to do that work myself and really sort of discover and think through what I think and believe her story to be if that inner work that I do is delivering what he needs He doesn’t feel like he has to be privy to how she came to be a single mom and all of that But I need that to know how to move through the space played by the amazing Nicholas Duvernay is a part of this season and so unlike the first season where it’s just a phone call with her son we played scenes together and so really had to explore our relationship Stream The White Lotus now on Binge, live and on demand with a 7-day free trial. Subscribe here. Season three is set to premiere on February 17 This week's show was recorded in Chicago with host Peter Sagal Not My Job guest Natasha Rothwell and panelists Joyelle Nicole Johnson Click the audio link above to hear the whole show A New War On Christmas; Love After Brady; How To Be An Alpha Our panelists tell three stories about historical facts being proved wrong Not My Job: Natasha Rothwell gets quizzed on people who froth well: Baristas The White Lotus' Natasha Rothwell plays our game called "Sure you Roth-well but do you froth well?" Three questions about baristas High January; New York Times Finds Unexpected Paradise on Earth Bill Kurtis reads three news-related limericks: Bubbly Medicine; Fashion Flops; Best Man's Best Friend All the news we couldn't fit anywhere else after the Bill Belichick & Jordon Hudson story.. what will be the next hot celebrity gossip we get from CBS Sunday Morning who got honest about Belinda's fate at the end of the story you should have taken Pornchai with you.' And I'm like While Belinda might have enjoyed her tryst with Pornchai it's probably for the best that she put herself first That includes getting out of Thailand with Greg's money and finally starting her own business in the states But that also meant that she had to reject Pornchai You can also prepay for a year and save up to 20% The Season 3 White Lotus finale saw Belinda in some ways mirror what Tanya did to her in Season 1 After getting Pornchai's hopes up that they might open a clinic together in Thailand she ultimately went with a more enticing option which is a world-changing amount of hush money Fans are wondering how Belinda might change with this money and Natasha Rothwell addressed whether or not she might become a bad person but I do think that she was flirting with being a baddie by taking this money.. but I do think there's maybe a consequence by all those decisions have Rothwell mused about her character's future might hold: It seems unlikely that Belinda would logistically return to another White Lotus location in order to appear in a future season, so we might not ever see Rothwell back in the Emmy-winning series All three season of The White Lotus are streaming now on Max Hopefully information about the next chapter comes sooner rather than later Corey ChichizolaSocial Links NavigationMovies EditorCorey was born and raised in New Jersey Graduated with degrees theater and literature from Ramapo College of New Jersey After working in administrative theater for a year in New York he started as the Weekend Editor at CinemaBlend He's since been able to work himself up to reviews and press junkets-- and is now able to appear on camera with some of his favorite actors.. just not as he would have predicted as a kid He's particularly proud of covering horror franchises like Scream and Halloween as well as movie musicals like West Side Story Favorite interviews include Steven Spielberg you will then be prompted to enter your display name After Bowen Yang Reacted To Aimee Lou Wood's Criticism Of That White Lotus SNL Sketch Chloe Fineman Shared Her Thoughts On What Happened Full House’s Jodie Sweetin Opens Up Years After ‘Never Actually’ Feuding With Candace Cameron Bure Over ‘Traditional Marriage Beliefs But It’s Clear They’re From ‘Very Different Worlds' After Netflix’s CEO Called Theatrical Movie Releases An ‘Outdated Concept,’ Knives Out 3 Director Rian Johnson Weighed In White Lotus star Natasha Rothwell backs her onscreen character Belinda's choices reiterated her support during Jim Thompson’s White Lotus Soirée as well which was held on April 24 in in Los Angeles While addressing the bombshell season 3 finale Rothwell responded unapologetically to her character Belinda's choice to go back on a promise with her colleague and love interest She is centering herself,'" the How to Die Alone star told People Magazine the actress reprised her season 1 role as Belinda a spa manager at the fictional White Lotus resort in Maui Belinda and her son (Nicholas Duvernay) are shown riding off into the sunset after securing a $5 million check from Greg (Jon Gries) in exchange for keeping quiet about his involvement in his late wife Tanya's (Jennifer Coolidge) murder While Belinda had initially planned to start a wellness spa with her colleague and love interest the season finale saw her fall back on her promise Rothwell also answers if her onscreen character will turn evil after the exchange but I do think that she was flirting with being a baddie by taking this money," Rothwell told the publication of the finale She theorised that Belinda may face consequences "as a result of the decision she made," rather than an act she commits that probably would be the thing," she explained The White Lotus seasons 1-3 are streaming on Max The Weekly SOURCE is published by DCM Media This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page LOS ANGELES – Fan-favorite Natasha Rothwell has once again captured hearts in Season 3 of HBO’s hit anthology series The White Lotus Known for her warm screen presence and standout comedic timing Rothwell’s return to the series as spa manager Belinda Lindsey brought both charm and emotional depth to the Thailand-set season it was a heartfelt message from her co-star Jennifer Coolidge that reminded fans why the cast of The White Lotus is just as close-knit off-screen as they are compelling on it became a breakout star when Issa Rae cast her in the HBO series Her rise continued with an Emmy nomination for The White Lotus Season 1 creator Mike White brought her back for the third season – because let’s face it The White Lotus wouldn’t be the same without her Rothwell revealed a playful and supportive text she received from Coolidge during the airing of Season 3 ‘You better kill him!’” Rothwell recalled with a laugh referencing her character’s interaction with Greg Tanya McQuoid’s scheming husband from previous seasons Rothwell responded to the fan-favorite actress: “Sorry Coolidge and Rothwell’s chemistry was first seen in The White Lotus Season 1 where Tanya (Coolidge) promised Belinda (Rothwell) a better future that never came While Coolidge’s character met a dramatic end in Season 2 her influence remains strong—especially in her real-life support of Rothwell Season 3 of The White Lotus features an all-new cast alongside Rothwell including Aimee Lou Wood and Patrick Schwarzenegger Natasha Rothwell continues to be a standout voice in TV’s most buzzworthy shows Whether she’s stealing scenes or sharing heartfelt texts with Jennifer Coolidge In the show, Rothwell (Ashley Zukerman), an IT consultant, helps Gibson (Kaitlyn Dever) pay for programmers to build her app in the early 2010s He also funds various flights and hotel stays so she can establish her wellness empire Rothwell knows that Gibson faked having cancer and profited from people who had the disease He decides to stay with her and help her raise her son The Netflix series is adapted from a book about Gibson "The Woman Who Fooled the World," and title cards in the series describe it as a "true-ish story based on a lie." Some elements of Gibson and Rothwell's relationship are faithfully adapted. In the third episode, Gibson has a miscarriage, which she briefly addressed in a 2015 interview with The Australian Women's Weekly in which she "tearfully" denied allegations she faked it Here's what happened to Rothwell in real life Gibson described Rothwell's reaction when he learned she lied about having cancer She said he was "very stern," adding that she thought he wanted her to just acknowledge her mistakes and "not try and smooth over that." Rothwell declined to speak to the publication The Australian outlet The Age reported that in 2019 Gibson said in court that she owed Rothwell $90,000 and that they lived together in Northcote She said that they "did not share a romantic relationship." Gibson added that she didn't know what job he had at the time and wasn't aware of what he earned because "that's not my business." But she said that he earned enough to give her $5,000 to take her son on a trip to Africa and $2,000 in cash to cover their accommodation Subscribe to BuzzFeed Daily NewsletterCaret DownNatasha Rothwell Just Changed Her Daily Trump Tweet And It's Clearly Going To Piss The POTUS OffShe's back with the remix Stage One: The first stage involves upgrading Old Melbourne Road and Rothwell Road This stage will focus on a complete rebuild of: Future Stages: Stages two and three will include upgrades to: These stages are subject to future funding These important upgrades address the significant growth in traffic seen in recent years ensuring that Little River’s road infrastructure can safely accommodate increased traffic movement now and in the future These works form part of our Connecting Wyndham Strategy – an investment into our future to better keep Wyndham connected This project is projected to delivered by late 2025 Home » MMA News » Ben Rothwell » Newly minted BKFC heavyweight champion Ben Rothwell responds… Ben Rothwell wouldn’t mind throwing down with Mark Hunt again Rothwell scored a massive victory this past Saturday night at BKFC KnuckleMania V The former UFC star challenged Mick Terrill for the BKFC Heavyweight Championship It only took Rothwell 36 seconds to deliver an emphatic one-punch knockout to claim gold Winning a title for a major promotion has been a long time coming for “Big” Ben who has been fighting professionally since 2001 A familiar foe of Rothwell took note of the title win and the “Super Samoan” is looking for a rematch RELATED: MARK HUNT WAITING ON JUDGE’S ORDERS DESPITE UFC LAWSUIT BEING TOSSED: “FINALLY, JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED” During the BKFC KnuckleMania V post-fight press conference Ben Rothwell was asked about potentially fighting Mark Hunt under bare knuckle rules Hunt had been calling for a second showdown with the newly minted BKFC heavyweight champion Rothwell responded exactly how you’d expect “What you think I’m gonna say no Hunt seemed pleased with Rothwell’s response and he took to his Instagram account to make it clear that he will test the champion’s willingness to scrap “U sure u want the smoke @rothwellfighter lets see it then,” Hunt wrote Rothwell and Hunt shared the Octagon during their time under the UFC banner back in 2011 The bout was featured on the main card of UFC 135 which was headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson Hunt defeated Rothwell via unanimous decision Hunt hasn’t competed since late 2022 when he defeated Sonny Bill Williams via fourth-round TKO in a boxing match “The Super Samoan” will turn 51 years old this March Time will tell if the BKFC brass attempts to book such a matchup between the two combat sports veterans This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM BJPENN.COM is your premier source for all MMA and UFC News We serve you with the latest breaking news It is also the home of 2X UFC Hall of Fame Champion After a decade of on-line operation BJP has evolved into the most reliable destination for all of your MMA needs contact@bjpenn.com advertising@freestar.com 2025 BJ Penn Enterprises Privacy Policy 2024 BJ Penn Enterprises Privacy Policy Clive Rothwell and influencer Belle Gibson's relationship is portrayed on Netflix's 'Apple Cider Vinegar' The season 3 finale saw Belinda and Zion come out on top The White Lotus star Natasha Rothwell has addressed what the future could hold for her character, Belinda, who is a newly minted millionaire following an eventful trip to Thailand The spa manager went to the Koh Samui branch of The White Lotus on an employee training programme but was shocked to run into former acquaintance Greg (Jon Gries) – the murderous widow of her one-time business partner Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge) After quickly unravelling the plot that he concocted against Tanya Belinda ultimately accepts a life-changing $5 million in hush money from Greg in exchange for her continued silence as he lives out the rest of his days in Thailand In an interview with RadioTimes.com Rothwell explained that she was \"so excited\" by Belinda's new-found \"financial catharsis\" which recalled her own journey from being \"dirt poor\" in the early days of her career is really real for her,\" the actor continued \"But I'm also terrified because there's a line in the script I remember circling it and underlining it when I was reading it she knows that this is not 'no strings attached' It's 'I gotta get out of here because bad things happen to good people when money's involved' – but she's at least conscious of that.\" Amid accusations from some viewers that Belinda had stooped to the lows of Tanya by dropping Pornchai (Dom Hetrakul) after gaining a fortune the actor did confess her \"worry that money corrupts Rothwell pondered: \"Even if nothing bad happens to her will she be able to resist those pitfalls and not turning into the very people that she had to suffer?\" the actor remained optimistic that Belinda would cope with her sudden influx of cash gracefully albeit perhaps not by throwing herself into the spa business that she had once imagined I think that it also gives her some modicum of joy but I would love to see her find something that money provides is not joy – it's the space and reprieve from obligation,\" said Rothwell \"If you have that space and reprieve from obligation it's a cathartic experience because you get to be able to play in the 'what ifs?' So while I can't say 100 per cent that she would open the spa I know that she would do something philanthropic with some of the money.\" She added: \"But my hope for her is that she would be able to give herself the vacation that she deserves to take Zion places and give him the life that she wants and – whether it's Pornchai or someone else – that she's booed up and happy.\" Although speculation about the next chapter of The White Lotus is now building Rothwell assures us that she knows \"nothing\" of what Mike White has planned for season 4 – but would return if asked The White Lotus seasons 1-3 are available on Sky Atlantic and NOW The White Lotus's Natasha Rothwell addresses what comes next for BelindaThe season 3 finale saw Belinda and Zion come out on top The spa manager went to the Koh Samui branch of The White Lotus on an employee training programme In an interview with RadioTimes.com Rothwell explained that she was "so excited" by Belinda's new-found "financial catharsis" which recalled her own journey from being "dirt poor" in the early days of her career is really real for her," the actor continued "I think it's exciting to see that "But I'm also terrified because there's a line in the script Keep up to date with all the dramas - from period to crime to comedy By entering your details you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply she knows that this is not 'no strings attached' It's 'I gotta get out of here because bad things happen to good people when money's involved' – but she's at least conscious of that." the actor did confess her "worry that money corrupts Rothwell pondered: "Even if nothing bad happens to her will she be able to resist those pitfalls and not turning into the very people that she had to suffer?" Natasha Rothwell as Belinda Lindsey in The White Lotus season 3 Fabio Lovino/HBO"I think that massage is not joy – it's the space and reprieve from obligation," said Rothwell "If you have that space and reprieve from obligation it's a cathartic experience because you get to be able to play in the 'what ifs?' So while I can't say 100 per cent that she would open the spa I know that she would do something philanthropic with some of the money." She added: "But my hope for her is that she would be able to give herself the vacation that she deserves to take Zion places and give him the life that she wants and – whether it's Pornchai or someone else – that she's booed up and happy." Rothwell assures us that she knows "nothing" of what Mike White has planned for season 4 – but would return if asked David CraigSenior Drama WriterDavid Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield you are agreeing to site title privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Subscribe to RT!Subscribe to Radio Times magazine and get £10 issues for £10! Could your home unlock your dreams?Releasing equity from your home could help give you the retirement you've been dreaming of? Holiday brochuresNeed inspiration of where to go next? Escorted tour, river cruise, yacht cruise, short break. Request a free brochure and start your journey. Now taking bookings for 2025, 2026 and 2027! Your Ads Privacy ChoicesIMDb Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar depicts Belle Gibson and boyfriend Clive as a romantic couple Netflix's Apple Cider Vinegar is a "true-ish story, based on a lie" with a mix of real and fictional characters (like Milla Blake) and storylines scattered throughout the series which is based on Australian wellness influencer Belle Gibson who falsely claimed to have cured terminal brain cancer using natural remedies features a character named Clive Rothwell (played by Ashley Zukerman) who In the show, Clive meets Belle in 2010 and the two start a relationship. Clive becomes a step-father to Belle's young son and stays with Belle when her lies are exposed in the Australian press Where is he now and is he still with Belle Here's everything that we know about Clive Rothwell and his relationship with Belle Gibson in 2025 the real life Belle has been fairly tight-lipped about the true nature of her relationship with Clive The Netflix series depicts Belle and Clive as a couple they also experience the devastating loss of a child following a miscarriage which is something that the real life Belle and Clive also went through In a 2015 interview with The Weekly Belle publicly denied claims that she lied about that and refused to talk about it Belle told the court that she had Clive did not share a romantic relationship Belle also claimed that she knew very little about Clive and what he did for a living In a January 2024 interview with Woman’s Day former friend Chanelle McAuliffe (who inspired Aisha Dee’s character in the series) referred to Clive as Belle’s “partner” Chanelle also gave an brief insight into Clive's relationship with Belle's son Recalling the moment she confronted Belle about her lies Chanelle says she urged Clive to tell her the truth to which he apparently replied: "'I need to protect that little boy She’s not sick and she’ll try to destroy anyone that exposes her.'" it appears as though Belle and Clive might no longer be together – in any capacity Photos of Clive with another woman were published in 2023 sparking rumours that he was no longer linked to Belle Clive reportedly stayed with Belle until at least 2019 it was reported that Belle and Clive were still living together and that he funded a month-long trip for Belle and her son to go to Africa as well as her living expenses In her 2015 interview, Belle shared Clive’s reaction to her lies being exposed, she told Woman's Day that he was "supportive 'I just want you to acknowledge where you've f**ked up and not try and smooth over that,'" she added According to reports from Australian media Clive has kept a low profile since Belle’s scandal broke He also hasn't publicly spoken out since the release of Apple Cider Vinegar on Netflix either He's said to have repeatedly declined media requests for interviews It's also been reported that he has since moved into a new home on a different side of town to Belle Love Island Rihanna One Direction News Dua Lipa See more Featured Artists he could have another challenger on his hands in the form of a fellow UFC legend And it’s fair to say the man in question would be nothing short of terrifying in a bare-knuckle fight On Saturday night, Ben Rothwell produced a truly spectacular performance against Mick Terrill in front of a raucous crowd at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia the American unleashed a thunderous right hand to knock his opponent unconscious to claim the BKFC world heavyweight championship Ben Rothwell knocks out Mick Terrill QUICK pic.twitter.com/XQa97hF9DH After a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice by the time he’d arrived at the post-fight press conference attention had switched to whom he might take on next Sheesh: Hall of Famer confirms end of 19-year UFC run in ‘not my retirement’ post With his eyes set on a monstrous showdown, ‘Big Ben’ called out Francis Ngannou in a battle of the power punchers And the PFL Super Fights heavyweight King isn’t his only potential foe with Mark Hunt taking to social media to give Rothwell an opportunity to avenge his loss from their MMA fight in 2011 BKFC: Knucklemania 5 certainly delivered in abundance, with a plethora of stars landing memorable knockouts right in front of Conor McGregor it comes as no major surprise that the Irishman is keen to set foot in the ring himself After the event, he spoke to David Feldman, and gave the businessman a huge update on his potential debut in the promotion Ouch: Jon Jones reveals the UFC legend that hurt him the most, and it’s not who you’d expect Rothwell Temperance bring their brand of brass band entertainment to the Leeds 'Best of Brass' series in Pudsey later this month Rothwell Temperance Band will bring their brand of brass band entertainment to Pudsey Civic Hall on Saturday 29th March As part of the 2024/25Leeds Best of Brass series the Yorkshire band will be led by MD David Roberts on an eclectic programme aimed to appeal to all musical tastes They will be showcasing music from the pens of composers Marc Jeanbourquin Mark Taylor and Nigel Lawless as well as touching on works from Salvation Army composers Norman Bearcroft The band's fine stable of soloists will also be featured with the spotlight falling on bass trombone Tristram Cox solo trombone Paul Woodward and solo euphonium Matthew Reasbeck There is also an interview with cornet player Kathryn Firth to help you find out more about the band Saturday 29th March:Rothwell Temperance BandPudsey Civic Hall https://www.leedsconcertseason.co.uk/whatson-event/rothwell-temperance-band-2/?venue=10011 Saturday 12th April:Leyland BandPudsey Civic Hall https://www.leedsconcertseason.co.uk/whatson-event/leyland-band/?venue=10011 Saturday 24th May:Hammonds BandPudsey Civic Hall https://www.leedsconcertseason.co.uk/whatson-event/hammonds-band/?venue=10011 TAGS: Rothwell Temperance 4barsrest continues to be a proudly independent voice There are no paywalls to overcome to be able to enjoy what we do to keep our journalism at the heart of the brass banding world Support us with a one-off donation or subscribe from just £2.50 per month May 5 • 60 bands will look to take one step closer to the British Open this weekend in Blackpool May 5 • There has both audience and critical approval in abundance after David Childs gave the world premiere of James MacMillan's Euphonium Concerto 'Where the Lugar meets the Glaisnock' in Cardiff May 5 • Granite City Brass will celebrate its 175th anniversary thanks to sponsorship from leading vehicle assessor and towbar specialists Mototech Aberdeen May 5 • The Onyx Brass quintet will join forces with Hammonds and Amersham Bands for a musical soundscape of the Halocene epoch as part of the New Music Biennial 2025 Saturday 10 May • Winter Gardens Complex May 5 • Ocean Brass are inviting applications for our Principal Cornet position as we prepare for an exciting schedule of concerts and contests in the second section through 2025 and beyond May 4 • Following a successful start to our 2025 contest season Rode Hall Band are looking for a good FRONT ROW CORNET player to join this enthusiastic friendly and progressive 3rd section band based on the Cheshire/Staffordshire border Rode Hall Band are looking for a good SOPRANO CORNET player to join this enthusiastic Jaidon Anthony had to watch most of Leeds United’s 2023-24 season from the bench The winger started only twice across the 46 league matches as Crysencio Summerville’s run to the Championship’s Player of the Season prize strangled his chances But living on the margins of that ill-fated run to the play-off final did not stop the Bournemouth loanee encouraging Joe Rothwell to return north Elland Road and manager Daniel Farke was not exactly a hard sell for the Manchester native anyway but he did lean on Anthony for that personal insight into life as a player here Rothwell initially followed his Bournemouth colleague’s lead after signing on a season-long loan of his own with no starts in any of the opening eight league games he has nearly quadrupled the 500 league minutes Anthony racked up for Leeds and there are still nine regular-season matches to play Based on the evidence of Wednesday’s 2-0 home win against Millwall and the way he has been playing as winter turns to spring Rothwell needs to add to that tally before the show ends away to Plymouth on May 3 Rothwell was the one change Farke made to Sunday’s losing XI the one starter not sullied by that Portsmouth experience and he led from the front The 30-year-old has come to Leeds seeking a second promotion in as many seasons after helping Southampton go up on loan last time but the summer will be at the back of his mind The midfielder’s Bournemouth contract expires in June 2026 but he has been deemed surplus to requirements for effectively two full seasons by his Premier League parent club Andoni Iraola’s side are chasing European qualification and on an upward trajectory Rothwell is experienced enough to know he is unlikely to be playing for them next term This is the question which revolves around virtually every member of Farke’s squad If they deliver promotion over the coming weeks what use will they be to the club in the top flight When you see Rothwell lead from the front like he did last night it’s easy to see how he would at least make a serviceable squad member in the Premier League especially if you picked him up for a — comparatively cheap — seven-figure fee there is no pre-agreed purchase option in place for Leeds at the end of the season Leeds will have to bid for him and fight off any competitors A few more goals and assists might go some way to convincing chairman Paraag Marathe he is worth an investment Goals are one of the key reasons Farke brought him to West Yorkshire Only one of his four assists has come from open play The manager is still holding his feet to the fire in that regard “(There are) still a few challenges in his game and also in possession he could do with a goal,” Farke said after the Millwall win “He could also do with an assist out of the game (in open play) (Rothwell’s) goals and assists could be a bit more there were one or two situations where he could have scored “We will hold the pressure high to get always the maximum out of him When a team have lost once in 19 league games there are not too many selection headaches to sink your teeth into Farke’s revolving door in midfield is one of few narratives to have emerged of late Since Ilia Gruev returned to the line-up against Burnley on January 27 he and Rothwell have traded starts in the engine room The Bulgarian has started all five away games and the hardest home one while Rothwell has started all of the other four Elland Road matches but Rothwell has made his strongest case yet for breaking that mould when Leeds head south again to meet Queens Park Rangers on Saturday In a team that needed to reset the tone after Sunday’s loss to relegation candidates Portsmouth Rothwell played like the one man without that blot in his copybook He was responsible for the third-minute opener He nicked possession from Casper De Norre and sparked the counter-attack Rothwell carried upfield and the ball was eventually pushed to Manor Solomon to play the cross that forced Jake Cooper’s own goal There were multiple passes which caught the eye in a first half that showed the rest of the team were searching for confidence Rothwell split the Millwall defence from deep to the tip of Junior Firpo’s boot down the left He was accurate and progressive with his distribution the weight of that aforementioned personal goal drought seemed heavier than ever on Rothwell’s shoulders he rolled a short corner to Solomon and bounded around the back of the winger as he drove into the box and past a challenge before drilling a low shot at goal Rothwell delivered a corner into the box which was cleared back out to him on the right flank Instead of aiming for someone in the crowd of gathered bodies he decided to push the ball left and drive his weaker (left) foot at it wide and arguably the riskiest thing he did all night He was yearning for the net to ripple and tried too hard in that instance He made blocks and interceptions and tidied up one loose ball after an errant Piroe pass left Farke with his head in his hands The loanee just seemed one step ahead of everyone on the field save for Ao Tanaka in a resurgent second-half showing but is he emerging as one of the unheralded heroes of the promotion push He may not have started enough games recently for such a tag but those two assists in the Sunderland fightback seem to have already secured his place in any future folklore about the 2024-25 campaign He is certainly not going to be remembered as someone who was banging on dressing-room walls Though he is one of only four outfield players over 30 years old in the squad and that has not prompted Rothwell to take a lead as an experienced head ‘Calm’ is a word Farke and captain Pascal Struijk both used after full time on Wednesday but it’s not like he’s always there with a speech or talking that much I enjoy when he sometimes touches (the ball) so tender but that doesn’t take anything away from what he brings to the table.” Rothwell complained of a stiffening knee in the latter stages of last night’s win Farke hopes an ice bath and treatment will keep him in contention for Loftus Road at the weekend that big selection decision will be taken out of the manager’s hands Rothwell could not have done more with his chance to break the cycle of rotation Beren Cross is a football writer for The Athletic, covering Leeds United. Before joining The Athletic, he reported on Leeds United for Leeds Live. He was born in Doncaster and grew up in Lincoln. Follow Beren on Twitter @Berencross The news: Takeover target Austal has announced founder John Rothwell will step down as chair and will be replaced by ex-US Navy official Richard Spencer The numbers: Rothwell will step down as chair on 1 July after 37 years in the role He will remain on the board as a non-executive director and is also one of Austal’s biggest shareholders with a 9% stake The context: The change of guard comes amid a long-drawn takeover tussle after the Australian shipbuilder rejected a $1 billion bid by South Korean shipbuilding giant Hanwha Spencer is a former US Secretary of the Navy has served as an advisor to the Pentagon and has also worked at several investment banks including Goldman Sachs and Bear Stearns designs and builds defence vessels for the Australian and US navies and was last year appointed the federal government’s strategic partner for vessels to be constructed in Western Australia The source: ASX announcement Natasha Rothwell is best known for her role in the hit HBO series "The White Lotus," in which she plays the endearing Belinda Belinda is one of the more likable characters in the show Rothwell is just another snotty liberal elite Just look at her recent activity on the social media service we didn't repeatedly embed the same post Rothwell wakes up every morning and sends the same post calling President Donald Trump "trash." she did change it up a bit on Easter Sunday wishing the president a "shitty Easter."  According to Yahoo Rothwell has sent the post about Trump more than 100 times on X this year The last time she posted something different was on Feb "HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH TO BEYONCÉ AND BEYONCÉ ONLY!!!! an X user asked the actress if she plans to continue the bit "Every day for the next 4 years." She replied If efforts to keep biological males out of female sports constitute "weaponizating the culture war," Coon might have a point Don't let intolerant dolts like Rothwell and Coon ruin it for you You are agreeing to OutKick's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy DISCLAIMER: This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting. Gambling related content is not intended for anyone under the age of 21. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER Just a heads-up - this episode contains a little bit of colorful language.Is there anything in your life that feels like praying?NATASHA ROTHWELL: It comes to the art for me And improv - you tap into something that's bigger than you when you're improvising and you're in that pocket It's cringe to say it because it's just like how does a eloquent d*** joke equal praying But sometimes...MARTIN: (Laughter).ROTHWELL: Sometimes the game where cards control the conversation.(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)MARTIN: Each week my guest answers questions about their life They're allowed to skip one question and to flip one question back on me My guest this week is Natasha Rothwell.ROTHWELL: We would do takes and I wouldn't even remember having done those things because I was so in it - in the moment And it's - I was able to channel the creative in that moment and commune with something bigger.MARTIN: Anyone who has watched Season 1 of "The White Lotus" knows that Natasha Rothwell's character She's a massage therapist at a fancy resort who puts up with a lot of very privileged people It's shaping up to be the same in Season 3 as Belinda returns to the show she gets to enjoy the luxuries of resort life herself in Thailand Belinda is at sort of a crossroads in her life putting herself first for a change - her dreams It's hard not to draw a parallel between Belinda and the woman who plays her because Natasha Rothwell is at her own kind of crossroads.She perfected the hilarious best friend role as Kelli in Issa Rae's show "Insecure" and enjoyed some blockbuster buzz as Rachel in the "Sonic The Hedgehog" movies - my kids' favorite But she got to take center stage in her own show called "How To Die Alone," which was about waking up to your own worth and it won an Independent Spirit Award for best ensemble cast but was abruptly canceled after one season And everyone who loves to watch her shine is anxious to see what she does next welcome to WILD CARD.ROTHWELL: Thank you for having me.MARTIN: I'm so...ROTHWELL: I need you to write all of my intros forever (laughter) on my list of people that I was desperate to have on Me too.MARTIN: How do you feel about games?ROTHWELL: I'm very excited 'cause I'm a fan of the show and just the spontaneity of this and the depth.MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: I'm just - like You ready to go?ROTHWELL: Let's do it (laughter).MARTIN: Let's do it.ROTHWELL: Let's do it.MARTIN: OK two or three?ROTHWELL: Three.MARTIN: Three What's a piece of advice you were smart to ignore?ROTHWELL: Don't move to New York.(LAUGHTER)MARTIN: OK Who told you to never move to New York?ROTHWELL: Yeah - after I had graduated college at University of Maryland And I'd always had ambitions to go to New York and I had - kind of had my crosshairs set for New York and you're going to be one of all of these people But I was just like...MARTIN: That's so often what happens yeah.ROTHWELL: So often.MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: And so I was glad that I didn't (laughter) listen to that or allow it to affect my eventual trajectory.MARTIN: So when you landed in New York How were you making a living?ROTHWELL: Yeah So I was teaching English and performing at the Tokyo Comedy Store as sort of two part-time jobs to make a living And I did that for...MARTIN: You know that I lived in Japan and taught English?ROTHWELL: No.MARTIN: I did.ROTHWELL: What?MARTIN: Same.ROTHWELL: Where did you - where?MARTIN: Although I was not doing comedy in a comedy club in Tokyo.ROTHWELL: (Laughter).MARTIN: But I also did that.ROTHWELL: I was in Sakura-shi gotcha.MARTIN: Anyway...ROTHWELL: (Laughter).MARTIN: ...I also had that experience which is a particular...ROTHWELL: Yes.MARTIN: ...Experience And I did it because I didn't want to show up to New York with an empty cup And so I was like...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...I want to choose this adventure And it was from there I went to New York.MARTIN: Ah.ROTHWELL: And my little sister who's been a New Yorker now for over 20 years And there was a full-time teaching job that she helped me secure that's how I - my entry point into New York was teaching.MARTIN: OK but I have to ask one more question about Japan because...ROTHWELL: Yes.MARTIN: ...To be in a place that is so - for people who haven't been to Japan there are very few cultures like it anymore because...ROTHWELL: Yeah.MARTIN: ...Everywhere is heterogeneous...ROTHWELL: So - yeah.MARTIN: ...And there's so many different kinds of people And Japan is really...ROTHWELL: Homogeneous yeah.ROTHWELL: Yeah.MARTIN: And to live there as a woman or a woman of color is a different thing and...ROTHWELL: Yeah.MARTIN: ...You kind of stand out everywhere you go.ROTHWELL: Oh leave all those parts of me that I didn't want to confront...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...Behind me.MARTIN: Right.ROTHWELL: But when you are in such a homogeneous environment I felt like I was wearing polka dots to a stripes party things that I was just like - it all was kind of brought to the surface.MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: And everywhere I went in Japan as a Black woman I had people stop me for photographs.MARTIN: Oh It was wild.MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: It was also when Obama was elected the first time I just remember riding my bike and people shouting And I was just like...MARTIN: Like you knew him?ROTHWELL: (Laughter) Yeah I am part of the royal - I'm in the royal family It was so funny.MARTIN: That Japan experience I feel like there's more to plumb in there We're moving...ROTHWELL: Yeah.MARTIN: ...On everyone.ROTHWELL: (Laughter).MARTIN: We're moving on did you spend the most time alone?ROTHWELL: Oh I wrote a show about being alone and dying alone but I think I learned that about myself in my teens.MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: I would go up to my room And it - I think protecting that alone time is something I learned Did that put you separate in a social way from a group of friends you just knew when to pull out and recharge and come back?ROTHWELL: Well I didn't know when to pull out of those situations 'cause I was a pretty severe people-pleaser And being around other people and making them happy and and in those moments of aloneness I - it was just it took me a while to click in realized I need to find time to do this solo come back to myself.MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: Yeah I betrayed that solitude for a long time because of people-pleasing.MARTIN: Yeah It's an important thing to realize about yourself It was the same...ROTHWELL: Yeah.MARTIN: ...For me I will pay extra for my own room (laughter).ROTHWELL: Yes I saw something on social media that was just like nothing is more foreign than when Ariel says in "The Little Mermaid," I want to be where the people are.MARTIN: (Laughter).ROTHWELL: I don't want to be where the people are I'm good.(SOUNDBITE OF BLUE DOT SESSIONS' "DEACON JEANIE")MARTIN: So we're going to push back for just a second to talk about "White Lotus." Congratulations "The White Lotus"...ROTHWELL: Thank you.MARTIN: ...Season 3.ROTHWELL: Yeah.MARTIN: I read in my prep for this conversation that you literally put it on your actual vision board that you wanted to work with Mike White I will - in the - I do have a literal vision board a list in my phone of people I wanted to work with And so when...MARTIN: You're telling me my nice little story isn't true Mike White was in your notes app.ROTHWELL: He was in my notes app - but in my sort of emotional vision board I had no idea I was going to be a part of it or that he would ask me to be a part of He's - and we're very similar in that we're both writers We're both...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...Directors And I feel like he built such an interesting character that I was really nervous to play there's a character of color in a mostly white environment in a servile position Right?ROTHWELL: ...'Cause I'm wanting to make sure that I not only take care of this character for me playing her I'm not contributing to perpetuating a stereotype really wanting to see how I could differentiate her from And what I love about this show is that collaboration with Mike and developing Belinda and also just being in his orbit and his proximity...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...Because it's just amazing to watch him work he's so wonderful to be around.MARTIN: I read that it was you who suggested this beautiful scene in the latest season where Belinda's on this exchange where she's there in Thailand to learn how they do their stuff in the wellness space and she notices a Black couple sitting at another table Talk about why that was important to include and why you advocated for that.ROTHWELL: Yeah real broke and seeing a Black person sitting in first class when I was on my way to coach And it subconsciously let me know that I should be able to do that when I was talking to Mike about that moment and pitching it I want Belinda to have an interaction where she sees the potential of what could be she's there flirting with being a guest anyway because she's doing her workshop and but she's truly cosplaying what it might be like to...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...Be in that space And so I get excited when I see Black people traveling especially luxury travel...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...Because I think it's something that is not showed a lot on television And I think so much of what I've aspired to be and do is a consequence of representation I saw Nell Carter in "Gimme A Break!" and I was like I want to do that.MARTIN: I have not thought about Nell Carter in that show in so long That was an awesome show.ROTHWELL: It's epic.MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: It was such an awesome show.MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: But I would not have known to aspire...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...For that if I had not seen her And I feel travel does the same thing in real life And so...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...I was so glad that that made it in so it was definitely just truncated to the glance because I - and this is Mike's genius That glance did more than the scene ever did.MARTIN: Oh just for those...ROTHWELL: Yeah.MARTIN: ...Who haven't seen it yet You're just...ROTHWELL: No.MARTIN: There's just a mutual awareness...ROTHWELL: You see this nod.MARTIN: I acknowledge you...ROTHWELL: Yeah it says a lot.(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)MARTIN: OK Round 2.ROTHWELL: All right.MARTIN: Round 2 - insights but I think they're pretty.ROTHWELL: Ooh.MARTIN: OK What are you feeling?ROTHWELL: Let's start with two.MARTIN: Two or do you plan for all outcomes?ROTHWELL: Yeah And it's because I'm preparing for all eventualities.(LAUGHTER)ROTHWELL: And It's just like...MARTIN: ...Ballet slipper.ROTHWELL: (Laughter) I'm in my 40s I need to make sure I'm prepared for all of that (Laughter).MARTIN: 'Cause they're definitely not going to have drugstores where you're going.ROTHWELL: Yeah I'm planning as if there's no - it's the end of the world Wherever I'm getting...MARTIN: That's right.ROTHWELL: ...I'm ready for it the mom because in my little fanny pack I'd have everything neurosis was definitely rewarded for a long And I like to - I don't like to be beholden to those plans but it's nice for me to have...MARTIN: That doesn't throw you You're pretty good at that part?ROTHWELL: I'm pretty good at pivoting but it will throw me (laughter).MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: Do you know what I mean?MARTIN: Yeah It's what I did...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...For a living for...MARTIN: Right.ROTHWELL: ...A long time being able to pivot in a moment's notice and What do you feel like you're constantly chasing?ROTHWELL: Oh Or just go for it.ROTHWELL: I'm going to flip.MARTIN: You're going to flip this one?ROTHWELL: (Laughter) You would think I have answers to all these questions I actually don't.ROTHWELL: (Laughter).MARTIN: This is real spontaneous.ROTHWELL: For a long time - I'm Am I going to say that?ROTHWELL: (Laughter).MARTIN: I - sure I didn't have any - I was a journalist for many years and got my dream job But I just had a whole lot of impostor syndrome I didn't have any journalists in my family And so I was always - I always really wanted to be validated by my peers and by my industry And I felt like I was always really desperate for that...ROTHWELL: Yeah.MARTIN: ...And still find myself in that place.ROTHWELL: That's so relatable And it's like the barnacle that sticks on you in your...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...Tweens and teens I can acknowledge them and let them go and not...MARTIN: Live them.ROTHWELL: ...Identify with them Which I guess is just another way of saying what does time teach you about love?ROTHWELL: Yeah My parents celebrated 47 years being married on 23 February And...MARTIN: It's a long time.ROTHWELL: It's a long time And I have had a front seat to their love for 44 years And - I don't know why I'm getting emotional honestly.MARTIN: Tell me.ROTHWELL: Seeing my parents' love at this age - it's beautiful And my mom forgets - it's just - and my - they call (laughter) Bay (ph) and Day (ph) are their nicknames for each other you can't have that.MARTIN: (Laughter).ROTHWELL: You know And it's a beautiful thing to see that expression of love over time.MARTIN: And what do you take from what they're teaching you by example what have you learned from them as you watch what can't have been an easy marriage and partnership's not easy over time?ROTHWELL: No.MARTIN: So are there things they demonstrated for you that you find that you apply in your own life There's just - quitting is not on the table and have accepted all of those versions of each other And my dad had a very demanding job in the Air Force there was mutual respect and understanding and levity it's just shown me kind of the diversity of the expressions of love you guys don't make a whole person unless you're together he's got...MARTIN: (Laughter).ROTHWELL: ...One eye you know - I see just how ordinary and extraordinary their love is.MARTIN: I love that.(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)MARTIN: All right two or three?ROTHWELL: Three.MARTIN: How have your feelings about God changed over time?ROTHWELL: Whoa I think that...MARTIN: He exists for you - or it exists for you.ROTHWELL: It exists for me I think I've pivoted from religion to a spiritual practice and am no longer sort of bound by specific tenets that worked for a lot of old white dudes it's about a personal relationship with something bigger than myself And I feel like my art is an expression of that I was trying to do it right.MARTIN: Were you?ROTHWELL: Yeah my radicalization happened when I found theater It was just a playground where I can do and be and explore all the things that may not have been permitted or sanctioned And it just - that's what I mean by bigger It just sort of like opened up my eyes to sort of the beautiful sort of textured landscape and tapestry of just humanity and what it means to be alive and what things are beautiful and worthy on the page and in the moment when I'm acting a - yeah - an expansive process and...MARTIN: Do you ever wander into churches anymore?ROTHWELL: I haven't in a long time But I think for me - I think that's also the growth of my perception And my parents still go and it's a huge part of their lives it was realizing that the location is interior And I return to that temple now as much as I can where it's just like - it's not feeling guilt - oh I haven't been with myself in a while.MARTIN: I hear a contrarian voice 'cause it's still my nature as a...ROTHWELL: (Laughter).MARTIN: ...In my head saying when you center yourself so much that it no longer becomes external or accountability that a religious structure holds you to - but if it's just about you and it becomes kind of an egocentric exercise?ROTHWELL: I think you - for me I look inward in order to show up outwardly So it's a place where I can audit who I am and who I am becoming in relationship to other people So it's quite a community experience to turn inward because I do think that those are the relics of my upbringing that influence how I commune with myself you don't want to throw the whole thing out the principles and qualities of my upbringing in the church that resonate with me still are a part of my own communion with God and with I remember having this moment where I was like I don't want to believe in anything just because my parents did you know?MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: Yeah.MARTIN: I've talked about this - oh everyone wants me to ask you to scooch...ROTHWELL: Oh sorry.MARTIN: ...A little more in the chair I got emotional...MARTIN: There you go.ROTHWELL: ...And went into my safe space.MARTIN: (Laughter).ROTHWELL: I sunk down into the deep I'll sit up.MARTIN: So after my parents died - my mom died a long time ago of cancer three years ago - and they were the ones who kind of built this spiritual architecture for me And so it felt like there was a scaffolding there that I was supposed to build in myself I just kind of - just dealt with the scaffolding and...ROTHWELL: Yeah.MARTIN: ...Didn't build it myself and it's sort of falling down because I never made it my own.ROTHWELL: Yeah.MARTIN: And...ROTHWELL: Yeah.MARTIN: ...Yeah like - and faith and doubt necessitate each other right?MARTIN: Totally.ROTHWELL: And so I think that I've tried to be as curious as possible about all things find those pieces of the scaffolding that hold me up how are you edifying yourself and nurturing yourself and building yourself up late-in-life expedition.MARTIN: You know...ROTHWELL: (Laughter).MARTIN: ...We all got to keep moving forward doing our thing.ROTHWELL: We just got to keep moving forward.MARTIN: God we've got three...ROTHWELL: OK.MARTIN: ...New cards we've got more to do.ROTHWELL: I love it.MARTIN: One two or three.ROTHWELL: Let's do one.MARTIN: One Is there anything in your life that feels like praying Maybe praying.ROTHWELL: Maybe praying.MARTIN: I don't know if you do that.ROTHWELL: Anything that feels like praying if our definition of prayer is sort of communing with a higher power There are moments where I - and this happened a lot on "Insecure," I think; it's related to improv - you tap into something that's bigger than you when you're improvising and you're in that pocket and then we would do takes that - 'cause they knew improv was kind of - I was kind of a hired hand for that And I wouldn't even remember having done those things because I was so in it And so it felt very much like I was able to channel the creative in that moment and commune with something bigger it's cringe to say it because it's just like But sometimes...MARTIN: (Laughter).ROTHWELL: Sometimes (laughter) It's the last one.ROTHWELL: (Screaming) Ah only one more.MARTIN: (Singing) The last one What you feeling?ROTHWELL: I'm feeling like two.MARTIN: Like two Do you think there is order in the universe I think it's - nothing's planned out or scripted But I do think that...MARTIN: You don't - so there are limits on the idea of God that there isn't some predestined God's will that's kind of running the show?ROTHWELL: Well I think it's - I don't think that will is fixed Do you know what I mean?MARTIN: Mm-hmm.ROTHWELL: I think it's...MARTIN: Say more.ROTHWELL: Yeah And I think it's - so that chaos is at play with the order they both...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...Are true And I think that with every decision you make we're in the middle of running amok right now but I do think that there are lessons to be learned I'm curious if you do too - that when you feel like you're on the there's kind of a synchronicity that happens where you're like - you feel in flow that there's...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...Something larger at play.MARTIN: Yeah that's why you pack a full suitcase.ROTHWELL: That's right.MARTIN: That's (laughter) - you prepare for all the outcomes.ROTHWELL: You plan for every outcome That's right.(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)MARTIN: OK we end the show the same way every time...ROTHWELL: OK.MARTIN: ...The trip in our memory time machine you pick one moment from your past that you would like to revisit You do not want to change anything about the moment You just want to linger there a little longer What moment do you choose?ROTHWELL: I'm thinking specifically - I went on a trip to Greece and I was there with and I just remember floating in the pool in this two-piece I took (laughter) - at one point I took my top off.MARTIN: As you do.ROTHWELL: As you do And I was just kind of floating there and there - I was at such peace but it was also peace with my body and myself would wear giant T-shirts over a one-piece So to be at this pool - and I should clarify this wasn't a public pool My courage is not that far to go to a nude beach But in the privacy of this place we were staying...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...In this quiet moment by myself and I was floating in this little doughnut (laughter) and just had my eyes closed And I was...MARTIN: Yeah.ROTHWELL: ...Just like - didn't - had no worry in the world I would not...MARTIN: Love it.ROTHWELL: ...Change a thing about that moment.MARTIN: I love it.ROTHWELL: Yeah.(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)MARTIN: Natasha Rothwell She is now in Season 3 of "White Lotus," which you can see on HBO I'm so happy for all your success lately...ROTHWELL: Thank you.MARTIN: ...And it was just such a pleasure to get to do this with you Likewise.(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)MARTIN: If you liked this conversation with Natasha Rothwell check out our episode with Michelle Buteau They are both super-successful comedic actors with loads of confidence that they've had to cultivate in the face of some of the same kinds of barriers This episode was produced by Chris Benderev and edited by Rommel Wood WILD CARD's executive producer is Yolanda Sangweni You can reach out to us at wildcard@npr.org Copyright © 2025 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights Virgie Tovar covers how weight bias affects culture ShareSaveCommentNatasha Rothwell at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards held at Microsoft Theater on September 12 (Photo by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images) How To Die Alone doesn’t tiptoe around the stigma and discrimination faced by women in larger bodies Mel quits a waitressing job and calls her boss a fatphobe before she storms off “It was cathartic to do that scene,” shares Rothwell in an interview with me ESSENCE FESTIVAL: Disney is returning to The ESSENCE Festival of Culture More world's premier Black storytellers Disney will amplify and celebrate their important contributions which are driving culture-defining storytelling and innovation through can't-miss panels The ESSENCE Festival of Culture takes place July 5 7 in New Orleans The show’s premise is loosely based on an experience Rothwell herself had while living in Los Angeles for Insecure “I spent the best part of my twenties in New York City I wouldn't even say near death experience I ended up in urgent care when I was in LA I realized I was afraid of the wrong thing.” How To Die Alone spent over six years in development and followed Rothwell from HBO to Disney via Hulu she was tapped by HBO exec Amy Gravitt and encouraged to create the show of her dreams I don't have to do something you're telling me to do I can do whatever I want?” Though Rothwell describes this opportunity as a dream scenario “I really wanted to do right by the opportunity and my initial forays into trying to figure out what I wanted to say they just were ringing hollow and I knew that I wanted to be as authentic and as honest as possible.” CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: (L-R) Natasha Rothwell and Tika Sumpter attend the Premiere of .. More 'Sonic the Hedgehog 2' at Westwood Village on April 05 (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures) It was after that urgent care visit in Los Angeles that she decided she wanted to create a show that explored her experience and the questions that came after it How do you go from trying to pursue romantic partnership because that's what romantic comedies have told us to do It was an opportunity for me to really dive in and get granular about the difference between being lonely and being alone I went really deep cracking the story and exploring the world of JFK.” New York City’s bustling JFK airport is the primary setting of the show because it’s where Mel works Rothwell says that even early on in development she wanted to find a location that was rich in character wonderful petri dish of people.” She remarked that she sees the airport as a liminal space where she does a lot of dreaming “You get to put an out-of-office reply on your email You get to go to Hudson News and buy a book that you will never read It’s literally the most hopeful act that I do in the airport is buying a book at Hudson News It’s a space where people want to be their best selves and I thought for a story about someone who's trying to close the distance between who they are and who they want to be CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 12: (L-R) Jake Lacy and Connie Britton winners of Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for "The White Lotus" pose in the press room during the 74th Primetime Emmys at Microsoft Theater on September 12 Rothwell admits she came had to come face to face with her own internalized weight bias as she undertook making the show I didn't think that stories of love and romance and hope were allowed to be had by someone who looked like me I didn't know I could be those things or have access to those things The airplane seats aren't going to fit everyone and you walk into a store and it might not have plus-size clothing The world is screaming at me constantly that I don't belong or that I'm too much and so it would be impossible for that not to seep in I just thought it would be interesting to be honest about that And not in a way where (Mel is) going to lose 50 pounds This is about realizing I have limited my choices in life because I don't believe that I'm worthy or deserving of them because the world is built against me having them.” Rothwell did plenty of work to get the cast crew and writers room on board with a show that would address these loaded topics She shares that she did some level-setting on day one “I had a very frank open conversation with all cast and crew before I started production and just talked about how we’re not using the word 'fat' pejoratively here I feel fat,’ because we do not want to create the culture on set where anyone feels that who they are is not enough or they should be embarrassed or ashamed about it It was just very important for me to have us not to be afraid of the word ‘fat’ and to own it and to not have that feel like it can be weaponized on or off camera we don't talk about other people's bodies like that.’” but she’s worked hard to love her body as it is “Melissa is a love letter to the unhealed version of myself If I could go back and tell the 15-year-old me who wore t-shirts at the pool because she didn't want to be seen that she would be in her bra and panties and jumping into a lake on national television CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: Natasha Rothwell attends the ESSENCE 15th Anniversary Black .. More Women In Hollywood Awards highlighting "The Black Cinematic Universe" at Beverly Wilshire Leeds United manager Daniel Farke says Daniel James will “probably” be available to face Stoke City on Easter Monday and could even be available against Oxford United on Good Friday finished the 1-0 win over Middlesbrough on April 8 with a hamstring injury and subsequently missed the 2-1 victory over Preston North End on Saturday Farke feels confident the Championship Player of the Season nominee will be involved against Stoke but they are pushing to have the Wales international in the squad for the Kassam Stadium visit too midfielder Joe Rothwell has been ruled out of the weekend’s matches Farke is hopeful the Bournemouth loanee will be fit for the final home game of the season against Bristol City on April 28 “Joe Rothwell will definitely miss this weekend’s games,” said Farke “We hope to have him available for the last home game against Bristol we will probably have him available for the Monday game “If he is already able to play a part in the game on Good Friday at Oxford It’s pretty likely he can be involved on Monday we’re trying everything to make him available to travel with us to Oxford We will take the decision tomorrow (Thursday) after training.”