The White Lotus newcomer sits down with Wonderland to talk joining one of TV’s most coveted casts, Thailand shenanigans, sharing the screen with industry heavyweights, and all things Amrita.

After a long and agonising two-year wait, The White Lotus fans can finally exhale—season three has arrived. The first episode is already out on NOW TV in the UK, and as expected, the show delivers its signature blend of jaw-dropping twists, breathtaking scenery, and top-tier fashion. But beyond all that, one of The White Lotus’ greatest tricks is its ability to launch rising stars into the limelight. The latest name to watch? Sri Lankan actor Shalini Peiris.

Catching up with Wonderland just days after the new season’s US premiere, she dives into all things Amrita, the once-in-a-lifetime whirlwind of filming in Thailand, and the art of embracing the unknown. Keep scrolling…

Hi Shalini, thanks so much for chatting to us. How are you today? How’s 2025 treating you so far? 

Pretty freaking sweet! I had a really cup-filling time at home in Sri Lanka and saw in the new year with family and currently I’m writing to you from sunny L.A. where I’m still on a high from Monday’s premiere!

Before we dive into your new project, tell us about your creative upbringing. Where did you grow up, what were some of your earliest influences in the acting world, and when did you fall in love with the craft?

I was born in Kandy, Sri Lanka and my parents kept it interesting by giving us an international upbringing which took us to Newcastle and then Hong Kong. Drama was always a through-line no matter where I was… I got involved with every drama group, dance class & school play I could get my hands on! I honestly think I was born loving this. 

What an iconic role you have in your hands—huge congratulations on The White Lotus! When did you first hear about the project, and do you remember your initial reaction to the script? What was it about this new chapter that first caught your attention?

I was happy to just have them watch my tape and leave it at that! To get your hands on a Mike White script is such an honour and I was so excited that it was coming to Asia for the first time. 

Have you been a fan of the series for a long time? Do you have a favourite character from it? 

I’m a superfan of the show! I’ve watched seasons 1 & 2 twice over! Every WL character is brilliant, but personal favourites have to be Tanya, Armond, Belinda, Mark, Bert, Daphne & Kitty.

Talk us through your character’s storyline and what about her excited you about the role.

Amrita is a member of TWL wellness team and is their resident spiritual counsellor and meditation teacher. She has a particularly significant connection with Rick Hatchett played by the brilliant Walton Goggins. I instantly connected with the healer, nurturer and caretaker core of her and she’s a very grounding presence for a lot of the chaos that surrounds her.

How was your time in Thailand? Any favourite memories from set? 

Heaven!! Thailand is one of my favourite places on earth and shooting there just reaffirmed that. It didn’t happen often but I always loved the bigger group scenes where we’d all be on set together or at least overlap because then we’d be together in the greenroom chatting over snacks!

You star opposite Aimee Lou Wood and Jason Isaacs this season. How did you work on creating these on-screen bonds? And what did working with them teach you about the craft? 

This is a seriously heavyweight cast which I’m genuinely so honoured to be a part of. Most of my scenes were with Walton Goggins and the combination of working with him and Mike White was a serious masterclass! Getting to now see everyone’s incredible work is so exciting!

The world of The White Lotus has such a massive and dedicated following—did you feel any pressure going into this project? How did you navigate those expectations?

Yes! Walking into season 3, you know what this show is and the standard has been firmly set so it was extremely intimidating. I spent the first week waiting for someone to tell me that there was some sort of admin mix-up and I shouldn’t actually be there! But it was such sweet relief to then learn that everyone, some of the most experienced actors included, were feeling the exact same way!

What are your expectations for the release? Have you had any memorable interactions with TWL fans so far? 

Well pretty much all of my friends are huge TWL fans, so I am trying to be as un-spoilery as possible with their 150 questions! 

Moving forward, what excites you most about the future? 

Huge excitement for what’s to come and I think for the first time in a very long time, and very significantly this being the year that I turn 40, the unknown doesn’t scare me as much anymore. I feel like I’m exactly where I’m meant to be, and I’m nothing but grateful.

The White Lotus Season 3 is available on NOW in the UK, with new episodes airing weekly.