After what's felt like an eternity, The White Lotus is finally back on our screens for season three, which means another round of sharp social satire, a slew of mysteries and an exotic location that makes you want to book your next holiday ASAP.
The star-studded season three cast includes Nathasa Rothwell(who played spa manager Belinda in season one) Aimee Lou Wood, Leslie Bibb, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Jason Isaacs. The show takes place at a wellness resort in Thailand, where, as per the show's format, disaster strikes.
Who plays Mook on The White Lotus?
One of the newer faces joining the cast is Lalisa Manobal, aka Lisa, who will make her acting debut in The White Lotus season three as Mook. Although she's new to acting, Lisa is no stranger to publicity, as she is a member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink. In fact, her co-star Natasha Rothwell called her the 'Beyoncé of Thailand' because she has such a high profile in South East Asia. She added, 'Couple of times, outside when we're off the campus of shooting, just people leaving their businesses and taking photos. And [Lisa] would just stay there and just take photos and pictures. She's so loving and sweet.'
Aimee Lou Wood also sang Lisa's praises saying it was 'amazing to witness how scared' she was only to watch her 'absolutely nail it'.
Here's everything we know about Lalisa...
Who is Lalisa Manobal?
Lalisa Manobal is known as Lisa, a member of the K-Pop band Blackpink. She was born in Thailand, and is the main dancer, sub-vocalist, lead rapper and the maknae of the girl group. This makes Lalisa the second member of Blackpink to appear in a HBO series. Jennie (Jennie Ruby Jane) had her first acting tole in the drama The Idol.
Lisa began her career at the age of 13 after succeeding at an open audition for the South Korean entertainment agency, YG. She began her formal training in 2011 in South Korea, and was a background dancer for K-boybands iKon and Winner. When Blackpink was formed, Lisa completed gruelling 14-hour training days alongside the other members.
How old is Lalisa Manobal?
Lalisa was born on March 27, 1997. This makes her 27-years-old.
What is Lalisa Manobal's role in The White Lotus?
Lisa plays Mook, the cheerful wellness adviser at the hotel. We caught a glimpse of Mook in the teaser, where she says 'Welcome everyone to The White Lotus Thailand.' In an interview with Elle, she revealed she didn't expect to get the part after auditioning, but cried when she received the news she'd been successful. 'I’m super excited and nervous, because it’s my first acting project,' she said. 'So I was happy for a second, and then I was like, "Oh, wait, wait, how am I going to deliver this?"' She said she took acting classes before she arrived in Thailand to begin filming the series in February last year.
Lisa acts alongside co-star Tayme Thapthimthong, who plays Gaitok, the friendly White Lotus front gate attendant who is romantically interested in her. In an interview with Forbes, Tayme spoke about what it was like acting alongside Lisa. 'She’s an amazing person, to start off with,' he said. 'I mean, she’s very friendly to me. The first time we met, I was a little nervous - like sweaty palms. She just broke the ice so easily with me. You know, like - Let’s get a drink and talk. She made such a nice effort to involve me in going to lunch with her, dinners and just get to know each other, so that our characters actually feel authentically sort of like good friends.'
What have fans said about Lalisa Manobal's acting?
Naturally, Blackpink fans are extremely excited that Lisa is trying her hand at acting. Several of them have taken to social media to praise her performance already. 'Oh LISA, the multi-talented queen that you are!' wrote one. 'Lisa taking over The White Lotus as Mook—absolute perfection!' reads another X post.
A third fan did not hold back on Instagram: 'Lisa is more than just an artist – she is the standard. A true legend, a global superstar, and now a professional actress making her highly anticipated debut in The White Lotus. She represents the pride of Thailand, Southeast Asia, and the world, continuously breaking boundaries and inspiring millions.'
Does Lalisa Monobal have Instagram?
Yes. You can follow Lisa at @lalalalisa_m where she has an impressive 105 million followers.