The White Lotus fans were left stunned after discovering that actor Sam Nivola, who plays Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey’s character’s son Lochlan Ratliff, has a famous mother
Viewers of The White Lotus were gobsmacked to learn that Sam Nivola, who stars as the son of Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey’s characters Lochlan Ratliff in the hit HBO series, comes from a line of celebrity blood.
With five episodes already heating up screens with jaw-dropping drama and side-splitting antics, the revelation has stirred quite the buzz. Eagle-eyed fans might recognise Sam from his roles in White Noise and Eileen, but what sets him apart in the glittering world of Hollywood is his mother – the acclaimed actor, writer, and director Emily Mortimer.
Known for her stellar performances in Lovely and Amazing, The Newsroom, Doll and Em, and The Pursuit of Love, and with nominations including BAFTA and Saturn Awards under her glamorous belt, it’s no wonder talent runs in the family.
Twitter practically lit up as fans expressed their surprise about Sam’s star-studded lineage. One tweet read: “Sam Nivola has his mom Emily Mortimer’s whole face, any time I see him on #TheWhiteLotus all I can think of is her on 30 Rock lol.”
Another fan tweeted in disbelief: “Sam Nivola iS from the UK? His mum is Emily Mortimer??” Meanwhile, another realised: “Today years old when I found out that The White Lotus’ very own Sam Nivola (Lochlan) is Alessandro Nivola and Emily Mortimer’s offspring.”
Someone else cheekily noted the family connection: “Just found out Emily Mortimer is married to Alessandro Nivola and that Sam Nivola is their son… I love nepotism,” reports the Mirror.
Sam’s dad is none other than Alessandro Nivola, the acting ace known for his stints in flicks like Mansfield Park, The Brutalist, and Selma, not to mention American Hustle. The star has even snagged himself a heap of nods, including a Tony Award, an Independent Spirit Award, and bagged a SAG win.
This Brit-American thesp was born in the Big Smoke in 2003 and spent his younger years flitting between Notting Hill and Brooklyn, across the pond.
Sam’s been talking about how The White Lotus is his ‘meatiest gig yet’. He’s also been bigging up Mike White and said: “We shot it in Thailand for seven months, and I was there with no connection to the outside world, which was really scary – but creatively, it was very fulfilling to be able to have a role that’s big enough to really sink your teeth into.”
The lad’s love life is just as star-studded; he’s dating Iris Apatow, another actor with a hefty Hollywood lineage, what with her folks being comedy king Judd Apatow and actress Leslie Mann. According to reports, they’ve been an item for a fair few years.
Iris rocked up to The White Lotus season three bash arm-in-arm with her beau, and Sam let slip she’d popped over to Thailand during the shoot.
He gushed: “It was so nice of her to sacrifice that time to come be with me and I’m incredibly grateful to her.”
Earlier this year, chatting with British Vogue, Sam cracked a joke about their nepo baby status, calling his mates a “secret cabal of nepo kids who hang out in black robes”.
Sam isn’t the only star with famous parents on the show, as Patrick Schwarzenegger takes on the role of Lochlan’s brother. Patrick is the first-born son of Hollywood legend Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
