Jason Isaacs is a widely admired English actor who has been doing standout work on stages and screens big and small for some 35 years. But he has never been more at the center of the cultural conversation than he has been over the past few months, during which seemingly everyone has been devouring, dissecting and discussing the third installment of Mike White’s hit HBO drama series The White Lotus, on which he played Timothy Ratliff, a wealthy businessman who is on vacation with his family in Thailand and privately spiraling as his life begins melting down back in North Carolina.
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During an episode of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast that was recorded just days after the season finale of The White Lotus in front of an audience at the Miami Film Festival — where Isaacs was being recognized with the fest’s Precious Gem Award for “one-of-a-kind artists whose contributions to film and television are lasting and unforgettable” — the 61-year-old reflected not only on his experience with that show and his collaborators on it, but also on his rollercoaster journey to it.
After being the target of virulent antisemitism as a child and while grappling with drug addiction as a young man, Isaacs stumbled into acting — and quickly made a name for himself. He was hailed for his performance in the first London theatrical production of Angels in America. He helped to make Brotherhood and The OA must-see TV shows. And he popped up in films of a wide variety of sizes and sorts, from Armageddon to The Death of Stalin to the Harry Potter series.
Along the way, Isaacs has been nominated for Golden Globe, BAFTA TV and International Emmy awards. And for The White Lotus, he is now very much in contention for a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.