The third season of The White Lotus is in full swing, with another murder mystery sending shockwaves through the hotel chain.
Mike White's critically acclaimed drama made a comeback in February, introducing new faces to the cast and welcoming back some familiar ones.
As per the show's tradition, the first episode hinted at a tragic death this season, but the identity of the victim will remain under wraps until the finale. Among the returning stars is Natasha Rothwell, who plays the role of spa manager Belinda Lindsey.
While the 44-year-old actress has been in the industry since 2011, viewers might not be familiar with her past roles. Let's delve into her career journey so far.
The Kansas-born actress got her big break as a writer on Saturday Night Live (SNL) during its 2014-2015 series. She initially auditioned for a spot in the iconic sketch show's cast but didn't make the cut.
However, Rothwell left such a lasting impression that she secured a place in the writers' room. In a recent TED Talk, she shared that seeing her name in the SNL writers' credits for the first time was her first 'pinch me moment,' reports the Mirror US.
The TV star has spoken candidly about her experience, revealing that she often felt the need to prove herself. "I didn't want folks to think I got in to satisfy a requirement", Rothwell shared in a 2021 interview with the Los Angeles Times.
"I wanted to show that I belonged. I wanted to be at the table at SNL and I wanted them to think, 'F***, she's funny. I like what she has to say. And I see her and, oh, that joke is great.'"
She continued: "That's a lot to carry. And I think that's also an expression of privilege for white writers: They don't know what it's like to walk into a room and feel like the audition is not over. I didn't feel seen, always. Putting my hand up was me wanting to know if my voice could be heard. It was Pavlovian for me."
Rothwell later found her confidence when she landed a writing gig on HBO's hit comedy Insecure. Originally aired between 2016 and 2021, the beloved drama boasts a stellar 97 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes.
She was the first writer hired to work alongside show creator Issa Rae and later joined the cast as Kelli Prenny. Although she was a supporting character, Kelli quickly became a fan favourite, with audiences often raving about her comedic one-liners.
It was her time on the HBO hit that fuelled Rothwell's confidence as a writer and performer, which impacted her approach to The White Lotus role.
In the same 2021 LA Times interview, she confessed: "The confidence that I had coming into White Lotus ran laps around what I started Insecure with." Rothwell went on to explain that she did not simply accept the opportunity to play Belinda with 'no questions asked. '
Instead, she sought a conversation with the showrunners to discuss her role in the production as a person of colour. She expressed her desire to "make sure [we] do this right" to the director. "There's no way I would have had that confidence had it not been for Insecure," she admitted.
Post-Insecure, Rothwell landed a part in the 2023 musical comedy Wonka, sharing the screen with Hollywood stars like Timothée Chalamet, Olivia Colman and Hugh Grant.
The subsequent year saw the SNL alum blend her writing and acting prowess for the Hulu series How To Die Alone. The plot centres on Melissa (Rothwell), a woman down on her luck working at JFK airport, who opts to embrace life fully following a near-death experience.
Donning the dual roles of series creator and lead actor, Rothwell's show premiered to resounding acclaim. It currently holds an impressive 92 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
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