‘The White Lotus’ season three boasts a cast chock full of card-carrying celebrities—Parker Posey, Patrick Schwarzenneger, K-pop darling (and V cover star) LISA, Leslie Bibb, and So. Much. More. But, in a definitively established lineup, one newcomer stands out. Tayme Thapthimthong, the actor behind the charmingly sweet Gaitok, plays a committed hotel security longing for a spot in hotel owner Sritala’s personal patrol. Yet, his time spent serving in the Thai Army, working for the Armed Forces Security Center (Thailand’s CIA equivalent), and managing a two-year stint in the private security sector reveal just how versed the man behind the myth can be. 

Below, Tayme tells V how he discovered the beloved comedy-drama blockbuster (or rather, how they found him), auditioning for ‘The White Lotus,’ what it’s like introducing the cast to his native culture, and more. 

Photography Jesse Joel / Fashion Branden Ruiz / Grooming Sonia Lee for Exclusive Artists using 111SKIN & Oribe Haircare

V Magazine: What was the audition process like for The White Lotus Season 3? 

Tayme Thapthimthong: The audition process for me was pretty straightforward in the way that the White Lotus team contacted me because they heard that I had come out of the Thai Army and was now working around Bangkok. When I first received the call to cast for the role of Gaitok, I honestly had never heard of The White Lotus before, as I have always just watched action and spy thriller shows and movies. So at first, I almost didn’t go as I was already working as a bodyguard for a Thai rapper at the time, and it was going well.  But when my client heard about me receiving a casting, he asked, “What’s this casting for?” and I told him, “The White Lotus.” he said, “Dude! That’s a huge show in the US, You have to try it out!”  So that’s when I decided to go for the first casting.  My first casting went well, even though most of the dialogue was done in Thai, which is new to me, and all the English dialogue had to be spoken with a Thai accent.  I wasn’t that nervous as I did not know the scale of how big the show was at the time, so I wasn’t that nervous, which helped a lot.  A few weeks passed after the first casting, by which time I had gone back home and binge-watched Season 1 and 2 of The White Lotus and was hooked! Then the casting director called me and said that I got a callback to meet Mike White and his team and audition for him. So I went back to meet Mike White and do the scenes for him.  It went well again, and on the way out of the casting, I ran into Mike White in the hallway, and he stopped me to ask, “I really want to know more about you, and how you ended up in Thailand, and how do you have an English accent? Can you please write me a mini biography and send it to me?”  Of course,I said yes and went home to get started on it. After I sent it in, they told me right away that they loved my life story, and about 2 weeks later, the casting director called me and told me, “Congratulations! You got the part!”  I was beyond happy!

V: How did you experience filming in a location you have such a personal connection to and seeing others interact with that environment? 

TT: Even though I have been living in Thailand for the last 12 years before this, I was very new to Samui Island, where we did most of the filming, especially new to The Four Season Hotel there! So, for me, I felt like a tourist there as well, and I enjoyed exploring life and places to go on the island with all the other actors — the parts where I was able to help the other cast members by helping them learn some local Thai language and phrases to help them get through the day.  It was particularly funny to see some of the cast try local Thai food for the first time and see their reaction to the spicy dishes!  Also, seeing them all have to adjust to the heat of the Thai weather brought back memories for me of when I first moved to Thailand from the UK. I also struggled with the heat when I first moved here, but time spent training in the Thai Army quickly got me used to it.

V: If you could describe the upcoming season in three words, what would they be? 

TT: Sweet, Spicy, Chaotic!

Photography Jesse Joel / Fashion Branden Ruiz / Grooming Sonia Lee for Exclusive Artists using 111SKIN & Oribe Haircare

V: From serving in the Royal Thai Army to working at the Armed Forces Security Center, acting, to many, would seem like the least likely next step, and it’s incredible that you took it! How did that transition come about? What is it about acting and performing that pushed you enough to make that jump? 

TT: I have always wanted to be an actor, especially a Hollywood actor, but it felt like it was such a farfetched dream, which is why after trying out acting in Thailand in international movies for 5 years, and felt like it wasn’t getting anywhere, I decided to enlist in the Thai Army.  So I served for a total of 3 years, and after that, I left the Army to come and work in the private sector to make more money for a further 2 years.  For me, the transition wasn’t too hard as acting is something I have always wanted to do as a career, so once the chance came around, it was all about getting myself into the right mindset.  I had acted before, so I knew I could do it, but this is the biggest platform I could ever ask for to show everyone that I can do it at this level! Also, acting is something that has always made me happy, and I love being on set and working with other actors and crew, meeting new people, etc.

V: Which, if any, skills from your previous career in security and the armed forces translated into your acting? Do you find yourself channeling similar attitudes/expertise?

TT: I can see myself doing action movies and spy thrillers in the future as I do believe that my time training in the Army taught me a lot, and I would love to display my skills with weapons and my physicality on the big screen!  Also, the army taught me how to get along with other people from all walks of life and to accept that everyone is different but special in their way.  Also, from my time working with guys in the private sector, these were guys that had been through a lot and seen a lot in terms of real combat, and they have a certain way about them, which I naturally observed and absorbed into myself. I feel like I can always draw from their experiences and emotions if I were to act out scenes of a similar nature.  I do feel that throughout my life so far, I have been very fortunate to meet amazing people who have taught me so much and I feel that no matter what character I have to portray in the future, there is always someone in my past and present that I can draw from, and then build upon as an on screen character.

Photography Jesse Joel / Fashion Branden Ruiz / Grooming Sonia Lee for Exclusive Artists using 111SKIN & Oribe Haircare