The third season of The White Lotus, which premiered on February 16, 2025, introduced viewers to a new set of guests at a luxury resort in Thailand. Among them were three childhood friends—Kate, Laurie, and Jaclyn—whose girls’ trip highlighted the complexities of long-term female friendships. Actress Leslie Bibb, who played Kate, has since opened up about the one thing that could have prevented the dysfunction between the trio and the personal lesson she took from the show.
The Problem with Keeping Up Appearances
On the show, the characters of Kate, Laurie (played by Carrie Coon), and Jaclyn (played by Michelle Monaghan) are lifelong friends who reunite for a vacation. Instead of genuine connection, their time is marked by constant comparison, competition, and gossiping behind each other’s backs. They focus on presenting a perfect image of their lives, rather than being honest about their struggles.
Leslie Bibb discussed this dynamic on The Kelly Clarkson Show in March 2025. She explained that the root of the problem was their inability to be vulnerable from the start.
“We sort of laughed and said, ‘If they’d just gotten there and been like, “I gotta tell you, my life right now is not great,” or “this is where I am.”‘ But all three of them are trying to like sort of keep up and keep up appearances, like being comparative and competition,” Bibb said.
This lack of authenticity created a toxic environment where their friendship could not thrive. Instead of supporting each other, the women judged one another and engaged in gossip as a faulty way of bonding.
The Real-World Lesson in Vulnerability
Portraying Kate had a significant impact on Bibb herself. She shared that the role made her reflect on her own life and the importance of being open and honest, especially when things are difficult.
“I think what I have taken from the girls and that relationship and that storyline is to try to be more vulnerable, and try to just be like really present. And doing that, it makes me feel more in my body, which is really nice,” Bibb stated.
Her co-star, Carrie Coon, echoed this sentiment, noting that the characters’ choice to hide their true selves led to a disappointing vacation. She suggested that if they had been authentic from the beginning, their trip would have been entirely different. The storyline serves as a powerful reflection of how women are often socialized to compare themselves to one another, a habit amplified by social media.
A New Depiction of Older Female Friendships
Beyond the lessons on honesty, Bibb expressed pride in portraying a story about complicated friendships between older women. She noted that it’s a powerful reminder that compelling female stories are not just for younger women.
“I think it’s a reminder [of] how powerful female stories are, and not just female stories for 20-year-olds,” Bibb told Elle. “There’s this old idea about women, that your prime is in the beginning. And I really think for every woman, the aging process is really interesting.”
She hopes that the portrayal helps young women see what their futures might hold and shows that all stages of a woman’s life are interesting and worthy of exploration. The friendship between Kate, Laurie, and Jaclyn is not simply toxic; it is complex, loving, and ultimately real. They are imperfect friends for imperfect people, which is a dynamic many viewers can recognize from their own lives.
The Finale’s Moment of Truth
The season built towards a dramatic confrontation where the friends’ frustrations came to a head. In the finale, Carrie Coon’s character, Laurie, broke down during dinner and delivered a poignant monologue about the meaning of their long-lasting friendship.
“I just feel like as you get older, you have to justify your life and your choices. And when I’m with you guys, it’s just so transparent what my choices were and my mistakes,” Laurie confessed. “I look at you guys and it feels meaningful and I can’t explain it, but even when we’re just sitting around the pool talking about whatever and name s–t, it still feels very f—ing deep.”
This moment of raw honesty provided a path forward for the characters, showing that their bond, however flawed, had a profound depth that could withstand conflict. It underscored the central idea that true friendship can survive imperfection when met with vulnerability.
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