Patrick Schwarzenegger is having the time of his life as he has received a career boost thanks to going naked on White Lotus.
He plays the arrogant trust fun kid Saxon Ratliff in season three of the HBO drama.
But things got weird when the 31-year-old’s porn-addicted character was seen in a sexual situation with his brother Lochlan, played Sam Nivola, on screen.
‘When you join The White Lotus, you know Mike is going to push boundaries,’ the actor explained of the incestual twist to writer Tim Teeman of C Magazine.
‘That’s why he’s a genius. As an actor, playing the most uncomfortable scenes is the most fun because they are the biggest challenge,’ he remarked.
‘I’m not saying that scene was the most fun, but it’s fun to push yourself and put yourself in uncomfortable positions because then you learn.’
The sex scene was made easier by the bond the cast had built.
‘It wasn’t difficult filming intimate scenes with Nivola because by then the pair had been filming together for a couple of months, Schwarzenegger says. ‘Our whole on-screen family — Sam, me, Jason, Parker, and Sarah Catherine — worked together, hung out together, had meals, built a family dynamic,’ he says. ‘I became super close with all of them and continue to be really close with them today.’
Patrick Schwarzenegger is having the time of his life as he has received a career boost thanks to going naked on White Lotus. He plays the arrogant trust fun kid Saxon Ratliff in season three of the HBO drama
But things got weird when the 31-year-old’s porn-addicted character was seen having sex with his brother Lochlan, played Sam Nivola, on screen
‘When you join The White Lotus, you know Mike is going to push boundaries,’ the actor explained of the incestual twist to writer Tim Teeman of C Magazine. ‘That’s why he’s a genius. As an actor, playing the most uncomfortable scenes is the most fun because they are the biggest challenge
The 31-year-old actor — who lives in Santa Monica, California with his fiancée Abby Champion — can relate to coming from a wealthy family like Saxon does. His father is movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger and mom is Kennedy relative Maria Shriver.
Patrick, who was photographed for C Magazine by David Roemer, got the acting bug from his father who has appeared in Terminator, Last Action Hero and True Lies.
Patrick’s first role was in the film The Benchwarmers when he was 10-years-old.
He was then in Midnight Sun in 2018 and the TV series The Staircase.
But he doesn’t take advice from Arnie. ‘I don’t ask my dad for any acting advice. He’s a movie star,’ he says of his father.
‘It’s not that I don’t want to become that one day, but I want to focus on trying to get my feet wet in acting roles, then one day come to do those types of movies.
‘We have two different routes of how to go about it. He’s all about, “You should be number one on the call sheet, the biggest name, your name should be on the poster. Go big.”
‘I’m of the opposite mindset. By going small and continually growing with my roles, I’m trying to build my résumé.’
And he added he is not into fame.
‘Being around fame has probably been beneficial,’ Schwarzenegger said.
‘I don’t act so I can be famous. Is it cool when someone comes up to you says, ‘I love your work and character’? Yes, it feels great. But I don’t mind if that doesn’t happen.’
‘I’m not saying that scene was the most fun, but it’s fun to push yourself and put yourself in uncomfortable positions because then you learn.’ The sex scene was made easier by the bond the cast had built
‘It wasn’t difficult filming intimate scenes with Nivola because by then the pair had been filming together for a couple of months, Schwarzenegger said
‘Our whole on-screen family — Sam, me, Jason, Parker, and Sarah Catherine — worked together, hung out together, had meals, built a family dynamic,’ he added. ‘I became super close with all of them and continue to be really close with them today’
Instead he wants to work on his acting chops even if it means minor roles.
‘What it does do is open doors for filmmakers, writers, and directors hopefully considering me for future projects,’ he said carefully as he again stressed he wants to be an artist and not a movie icon.
And he noted he liked the arc of his White Lotus character.
‘Saxon entered the show with all this confidence,’ Schwarzenegger shared. ‘Now he finds himself the most lost and confused of everyone.’
He also admitted to being ‘nervous’ about how his famous family would take the incest as the interview was conducted before the episode aired.
‘I’m nervous about how everyone will react. Anytime you’re putting yourself out there in a vulnerable way, people can be judgmental. But I trust Mike’s vision in pushing the story forward.’
The 31-year-old actor — who lives in Santa Monica, California with his fiancée Abby Champion — can relate to coming from a wealthy family like Saxon does. His father is movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger and mom is Kennedy relative Maria Shriver
Patrick, who was photographed for C magazine by David Roemer, got the acting bug from his father who has appeared in Terminator, Last Action Hero and True Lies. His acting career began at age 10 in the film The Benchwarmers
After earning a bachelor’s degree from the USC Marshall School of Business, he won roles in movies (including Midnight Sun in 2018, his first leading role, opposite Bella Thorne ) and TV series (including The Staircase). But he doesn’t take advice from Arnie. ‘I don’t ask my dad for any acting advice
He also said that he is happy to be fit because it ‘serves’ the character.
When asked what he thinks of Saxon losing his money, he said money is not on his list of important things in life.
Schwarzenegger then listed his core values: ‘Family, faith, fiancée, and friends. The four Fs.’
He also said he is very close to sisters Katherine, who is married to Chris Pratt, and Christina.
He has two brothers: Christopher, and paternal half-brother, Joseph Baena. He and Champion got engaged after seven and a half years together. They plan to marry this summer, he said.
‘There’s no rush, but I can’t wait,’ he said adding he would ‘have children tomorrow if I could.’
But it’s hard for Abby and her work as a model. ‘She’s at the height of her career, and I absolutely support her in whatever she wants to do,’ Schwarzenegger noted.
Patrick with his dad Arnold as well as Alec and Hilaria Baldwin on March 11 in New York City
His parents are ‘massively influential in my life — my dad on the work ethic side, and my mom on finding ways to be a public servant, giving back, and helping others.
‘They were from very opposite backgrounds, but I think the different values they had meshed and worked well — for a while, anyway. That helped me understand the value of seeing things from different perspectives.’
Their split was ‘difficult’ for Schwarzenegger.
‘I don’t think there was any way that it wouldn’t have been. Anytime there is massive change, it’s difficult. It was not easy. But they did a great job of putting their differences aside for family celebrations like Thanksgiving and Christmas.’
Schwarzenegger is very close to his mom as they see each other around five days a week. ‘Besides my fiancée, she is the person I see most,’ he says.
He also said he has political ambitions. ‘Yes, for sure down the road. I love it. I feel very fortunate and blessed to be in my position and feel it’s my calling to try and help others. I want to find ways to help and give back.’
This story originally appeared in the Men’s Spring 2025 edition of C Magazine.
Read the full article here
