Tayme Thapthimthong Recalls Being ‘So Nervous’ to Meet LISA Ahead of ‘White Lotus’ Filming
Written by djfrosty on April 22, 2025
Tayme Thapthimthong and LISA are close both on and offscreen — but before the pair met for the first time to shoot White Lotus, the actor says he was “so nervous” to meet the BLACKPINK star.
While guesting on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Tuesday (April 22), Thapthimthong opened up about the first time he interacted with LISA, who played his love interest on season 3 of Mike White’s hit HBO/Max series. “It was amazing,” he began. “She was so nice, friendly, kind.”
“The first time I met her, I was so nervous,” Thapthimthong continued. “Before actually getting to know her, I knew her from my daughter. She was 4 at the time, I went to see her at her mom’s house, and she had BLACKPINK on YouTube … I really enjoyed it. I was like, ‘Oh damn, this is good. LISA, her rap — it was like, good flow.’”
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The Skin Trade star went on to say how the Thai rapper’s casting as Mook was one of the last to be revealed to the rest of the season’s actors, noting he only learned who would be playing his primary scene partner with just a month left to go before filming started — and only after he signed NDAs. After getting to know LISA, he says the “Rockstar” artist invited him and his daughter out to lunch.
“She’s got so much going on at the same time,” Thapthimthong told Hudson. “I never wanted to impose, but she was so kind. She even bought [my daughter] a little Labubu doll for her birthday. She still talks about it — but now she calls me Gaitok all the time. She doesn’t call me dad anymore.”
As for whether or not he would ever get in the studio with LISA, Thapthimthong — who also sings and showed off his chops for Hudson on the talk show — said he would “absolutely love” to work with the K-pop idol. “That would be really cool to do,” he added, doubling down on what he previously said about teaming up with his costar on music. (For a taste of what their potential future collab might sound like, check out the pair’s impromptu “No Diggity” duet.)
Watch Thamthimthong gush about LISA on The Jennifer Hudson Show above.