EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: BENEATH THE SURFACE – ARNAS FEDARAVICIUS TALKS FITNESS, FAME, AND ‘THE WHITE LOTUS’ SEASON 3
In the thrilling and unpredictable world of The White Lotus, where power dynamics, luxury, and scandal collide, Arnas Fedaravičius has stepped into one of the most memorable roles of Season 3. Known for his striking presence and undeniable charm, Arnas plays Valentin, a Russian wellness guru whose job at the luxurious resort becomes entangled with drama, desire, and a dash of mystery. As The White Lotus continues to captivate audiences, Valentin’s character is quickly becoming a fan favorite—and those abs certainly don’t hurt either!
In this interview, Indira Cesarine sits down with Arnas to dive deep into his journey from Lithuania to becoming one of the breakout stars of one of TV’s most talked-about series. From his early days studying philosophy to working odd jobs in London, Arnas shares the winding path that led him to the intriguing world of The White Lotus. Along the way, we discuss his transition from epic fantasy dramas like The Last Kingdom and The Wheel of Time to the contemporary, high-energy world of White Lotus, the intense, hilarious moments behind the scenes, and his thoughts on playing a character who’s both a sex symbol and a deeply layered individual.
Get ready for a playful and insightful chat with one of Hollywood’s rising stars as we talk fitness, career, and the unpredictable ride that is The White Lotus Season 3!
Indira Cesarine: I’m excited about our interview today! You’ve been doing some really cool stuff. Where are you now—LA or London?
Arnas Fedaravicius: Yeah, I’m in LA.
Indira: Are you based in LA these days?
Arnas: I split my time between Los Angeles and London. I feel at home in LA, so I’m considering moving here. What about you?
Indira: I used to live in London, but I’m in New York right now. I’ve lived in LA briefly for work, but New York is where I’ve been based for the last 10 years. It’s definitely easier to run a magazine here with everything—fashion, culture—right at your doorstep. London’s great too.
Arnas: I do like New York. Everything’s so close, and you’re always in the mix. Whereas in LA you’re isolated in your car most of the time.
Indira: Yeah, driving in LA is overwhelming for me.
Arnas: It gets like that.
Indira: So, let’s dive in! I want to hear all about your experiences on The White Lotus and how you went from doing epic fantasy dramas to becoming one of the hottest characters on this hugely controversial and wildly popular show! Everybody’s talking about those abs, right? You have that one scene where it’s like, “Woah!” But I don’t want to objectify you—let’s talk about your character…
Arnas: Haha, Hilarious. I love it!
Indira: So, tell me, how did you initially get into acting? I want to start from the beginning. I know you studied acting in Lithuania, and your mother was a beauty queen – Miss Lithuania, right?
Arnas: Yes, that’s right. I briefly studied acting in Lithuania, but before that, I studied philosophy for a year. I’ve wanted to be in acting or directing since I was 15. For some reason my parents were okay with me studying philosophy because that was academic. But then I auditioned for a movie called Siberian Education, and I got a lead role with John Malkovich. That was my beginning in acting.
After studying for less than a year in Lithuania, I moved to London, where life kind of kicked me in the ass. I was expecting things to all of a sudden unravel, and everything’s going to be easy… but it wasn’t. I had to take more courses and do odd jobs until I landed The Last Kingdom, about eight years ago.
Indira: Tell me a little about these odd jobs you did on your way up the ladder?
Arnas: I worked in luxury retail in London for a few months. I created a fake CV with experience at Armani and Zegna because nobody hires you without a background. I did some homework, like an acting exercise! And then I kind of winged my way into that line of work. I eventually worked my way up as a salesman. All of these experiences were instrumental in understanding human behavior.
After that, I handed out flyers around London—people really don’t want to interact with you when you’re doing that, which taught me a lot about human behavior. I was trying to figure out ways to communicate with people and use all of those experiences as platforms to enhance my understanding of acting.
Indira: I think handing out flyers on the street would be good training for acting because you’d have to be pretty fearless, walking up to people and talking to random strangers and interacting with people you don’t know… and responding to a lot of negative sort of, ‘no, go away, leave me alone,’ kind of behavior.
Arnas: Yes, and it took me a little while to understand that because at first I was like, oh God, everybody hates me! To them, it’s just a brief interaction. And if you can find a way to develop some sort of communication in hopes of moving away from the negativity, it becomes really fun. And it is, like you said, a great background for acting. That’s how I saw it. I started with juggling. I started singing, I started telling stories to people. And I was like, oh wait, this is actually an education!
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Indira: I think that’s cool. What better way to use your life experiences, and to channel them into your career.
I understand you are also very into boxing. Did you box professionally? There’s a lot of talk about your past boxing experience, and I wasn’t sure if it was professional or if it’s just a passion?
Arnas: No, it’s just a passion of mine. Someone called me a boxer, and I was like, “Whoa, no!” But I do enjoy the discipline. I think it’s one of the most disciplined, demanding types of sport. As I have a lot of energy, I like to just kind of submit to it. I love working out intensely because there’s a certain peace to it. I have a very hyper brain, and when you’re doing something that active, everything drifts away, and it becomes a meditation
I had a couple, you call them smokers in the United States, but they’re called interclubs in the UK. Like non-decision fights in a safe environment. Those were kickboxing fights. It’s just a part of my life that I really enjoy. You can apply that discipline to everything else in life, whatever you do, whether it’s acting or any other line of work.
I think even the philosophers of 2000 years ago boxed or wrestled. There’s a certain peace and tranquility in that kind of physical exertion.
Indira: Your role as Valentin in Season 3 of The White Lotus—what a character! Tell me about your role on the show and what makes him tick?
Arnas: From the start, the character was described as a ‘beefcake/yogi.’ And I’m like, all right. Okay. I gotta lean into this a little bit. Valentin enjoys his work and the perks of the job. Every week there’s a new group of people that comes in, and usually Valentin is sent to the female counterparts of the visitors…There is a certain level of objectification. I think he leans into it, and he doesn’t take himself too seriously.
He doesn’t shy away from the looks and the expectations that people put upon him. It was important to me to portray this stereotype of a person that I’ve seen in Thailand before, while also giving him some sort of humanity and essence of this fun person who’s also escaping from his past.
Indira: And the character is actually Russian, right? A Russian wellness guru… it must have been interesting walking into that kind of role after having played these epic fantasy characters on your previous shows, like The Last Kingdom and The Wheel of Time.
They’re these epic dramas, and it’s one extreme to the other in the sense that Valentin is a real dude. You know, he goes clubbing and he’s hooking up with girls and he’s buttering up all the ladies at the hotel. Right?! How did you transition from your previous roles into this contemporary character?
Arnas: It is, like you said, very different. Those like more epic worlds have a certain gravitas to them that you expect those men to be burly and very strong and restrictive of their emotions. So the transition felt very refreshing and liberating because, like you said, he’s like a dude.
First of all, it was nice to remove all the leather suits and costumes that I had to wear for those other shows that were in themselves very demanding and time-consuming. It was nice to put on a little shirt, get into slides, and just go on set.
The way I perceive it is whatever characters you play in whatever century or whatever world, you just try to bring in as much humanity as you can. And whether they’re epic or not, ultimately, they are one way or another, just dudes. Some dudes are on horses with plastic swords running around and shouting ‘this is my land’. And other dudes are wearing a tank top and saying, ‘now go into downward dog.’
Indira: What was your reaction when you found out you were cast in The White Lotus? It’s one of the hottest shows out there!
Arnas: It took me a long time to believe it was for real. Every day I’d wake up and ask myself, ‘Wait, did I dream that? Is this really happening?’ Am I now part of the most spoken-about high-quality shows in the world? It was really hard to believe. Throughout the entire six months, there were constantly these pinch-me moments where I was like, I can’t believe this is happening! It’s just wonderful, exceptional, and incredibly exciting.
Indira: So you stayed at the Four Seasons in Thailand while filming?
Arnas: The first two months we were at the Four Seasons. 63 nights specifically! Four Seasons sent me a breakdown of all the time that I spent there… And then we stayed at a different hotel in Phuket and a Rosewood Hotel, and these different, five-star incredible resorts.
It’s fascinating how quickly you get used to this kind of life because you’re like, well, yeah… turn down service… yeah!
It was like a magical bubble of a world to live in. I was in these epic shows about mythical places, but here we are constantly in this mythical jungle place. And even watching the show now, when you hear all those birds chirping or different nature sounds, it just takes me back. Every now and again, you’re walking through the hotel and there’s a snake passing, there are these birds you haven’t seen before…
Indira: That must have been incredible!
Arnas: Absolutely. It’s just magical to live in a bubble with phenomenal people you’re constantly bumping into, Michelle Monahan, Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, and Mike White. You’re in this isolated hotel with no one else apart from the filming crew there.
Indira: So you guys must have become quite good friends! Did you become close with some of your other castmates when you were filming? It sounds like it was almost like a little family vibe going on?
Arnas: Absolutely – over time we developed really close friendships. Go out for dinners, on different adventures. Some people would fly to Japan together, or go to Cambodia. It was like this ongoing summer camp for adults – just good times. Everyone was so connected. Everyone was generous with their time and emotions.
Indira: Did you relate to Valentin? Was there anything about him that resonated with you?
Arnas: Every character has a bit of you in them. Valentin’s fitness and fun-loving nature are things I can relate to. You bring little parts of yourself into every role, sometimes without even realizing it.
I think whoever you play, that’s the only thing you can rely on – your own experiences. And of course, the incredible writing that Mike White brings does a lot of the work for you. But ultimately, I think whatever you’re playing in, whatever era, there’s something of yourself that you bring to the character.
And sometimes you didn’t even notice until later on. I’m like, oh my God, I am a little bit like this person in some regards. Valentin’s fitness and fun-loving nature are things I can relate to. You bring little parts of yourself into every role, sometimes without even realizing it.
Indira: You had some pretty intense scenes, particularly with Michelle Monahan and Carrie Coon and the little love triangle that you guys had going on. There’s definitely a little bit of competition going on and some very interesting dynamics between the three women and you. Particularly with Michelle and Carrie Coon’s characters – who are very much are vying for your attention.
And then the other one is more of an observer, right? Leslie Bibb. She’s kind of like observing and commenting on all of it. It’s really interesting to see the interaction you guys have. How did you handle the intensity of some of those scenes?
Arnas: There was a lot of laughter for me because those actresses are incredible. Sometimes there was an improvised line that one of them would throw at the end of the scene, and it’s just very funny. I find it all very amusing to see that intensity unravel in front of me. And a lot of the work, again, is done for me because I would just have to react to their incredible performances. It was a constant dance, and they made it so easy. They’re just providing you with new moves, and you just have to respond to them and be present in the moment, and it’s just incredibly fun.
Indira: I would imagine there were also a lot of challenging moments on set. What was the most challenging scene to film in Season 3?
Arnas: It was quite challenging to start because the very first scene I got to shoot was the pool scene. The other cast had already shot for a week. Jumping into the most intense level of partying and suddenly exposing yourself vulnerably to this huge crew, while trying to constantly be fun on demand, was challenging at first. Hats off to the rest of the cast that I was working with at the same time, because everybody made it very light and very easy.
I think scenes of having fun, even though they’re fun to watch, are actually really hard to shoot because maintaining that intensity is quite demanding.
But again, everyone was so generous. I was just very grateful to be there with them. It set the tone of the rest of the shoot. It was challenging, but also helpful in removing this suit of armor that perhaps I brought from my other previous jobs.
Indira: That’s interesting. So, you shot scenes out of order, right?
Arnas: Yeah. It’s fascinating because usually in my experience, shows that have eight episodes or something, they’re shooting blocks of episodes. Because Mike White is directing, writing, and running the show, we shot episodes out of sequence. We started episode five the following day, somebody’s shooting episode eight, and then they’re shooting episode one. Everybody has to be on their toes at all times and be aware of what’s going on at any given moment.
Indira: Wow, that’s pretty intense. It must be such a different experience being the actor in those scenes versus a viewer watching it one episode at a time. You’re getting a completely different experience.
Arnas: And if anything, it’s a testament to Mike White’s intensity and presence. To us, we’re just following our storylines, whether it’s episode three, episode eight, or whatever. Whereas Mike always has to be on point with the entire story. That man has a mind unlike anyone – genius is definitely the word for it.
Indira: Do you feel like you learned a lot being on set?
Arnas: I think this has been the most educational job I’ve ever had up until this point. Just the freedom, the playfulness, and also the constraints, because it’s a big show, and the crew, the director, the director of photography, they know what they want. As soon as you’re done with one setup, they move on to the next. There are these time constraints that they have to fulfill. And you have to be open to constant changes. And because of Mike’s ability to give you new lines every day – if he sees something new, he’s like, ‘Why don’t you say this instead?’ It was just really educational, creative, playful, and focused.
Indira: So, what advice would you give to your character if you were Valentin’s friend and you could say, Hey dude… what advice would you give him?
Arnas: I would say just have a good time. Be good at your job. Be empathetic to the customers that arrive because they want to hear that they’re the best, they’re the only ones. And keep doing what you’re doing because I think you’ve worked at The White Lotus for so long, you probably know what you’re doing… so keep doing what you’re doing.
Indira: How did you feel about the whole beefcake component of the character and the fact that he is a bit of a sex object? It’s undeniable, he is a sex symbol. You’ve got these other male characters in Season 3. They get into some pretty odd behavior that is a bit of a turnoff pretty quickly, right? Whereas you maintain this hottie presence throughout the season…
Arnas: Thank you so much! Well, first of all, whatever job you approach, I think it’s important to be open and at the same time, not to take oneself too seriously. Because there’s a certain level of objectification that he has to, I don’t know if endure is the word, but it’s part of it. So you can either be like, well, I’m not that. Or, all right, this is the character, and let’s play it and enjoy it.
Over time, doing the job and wearing some of those costumes that are not even costumes or are not covering anything, you realize that there’s an archetype we’re trying to play here. I fully trust Mike, and I can see his vision and I can see what he’s trying to do with this character. I just find it all very funny and amusing. It doesn’t bother me. It’s fun to lean in and not take yourself too seriously and be silly and whatever, and yes..a beef cake.
Indira: What’s next for you after The White Lotus? Do you have anything in the pipeline that you’re excited about or any dream roles that you want to pursue?
Arnas: I’ve recently finished shooting a movie with Jason Statham called The Mutiny that’s coming out early next year. I’ve also done a Channel Four English-Scottish production called Summer Water, where I’m playing a dramatic, problematic character.
I have a huge list of dream roles. Westerns… I do love cowboys! That’s one thing I would like to play. I love cop dramas. I love action movies. And after doing The White Lotus, I really like comedy. Whatever comes my way, I intend to keep improving, and have more challenging roles, some of them sillier, some of them more serious, and just have a great time while doing all of it!
Indira: What’s the reaction been like from fans? Have you found that life has changed a little bit for you? Is there a before and after with this role?
Arnas: I think the before and after was just receiving it. In actors’ lives, there’s a certain uncertainty throughout most of their experience. There are certain events that bring certainty into your perception of life. And White Lotus was one where, when you get it, you’re like, okay, I’m doing this for real!
Yesterday, Nick and I, Nicholas DuVernay, who was on the show as well, we were in LA we went to a Muay Thai gym together – we did a lot of that in Thailand too. And somebody’s like, ‘Oh my god, guys, you did great yesterday on the episode.’ It’s nice to have a positive impact on people. It’s nice when people recognize you for the right reasons. I’m excited to see what else happens after all of this.
Indira: Well, congratulations on the new season and everything you’ve got going on with the movie with Jason Statham. Sounds pretty exciting. You went from being a young actor handing out flyers on the streets in London to climbing your way to the top over the years…
Any advice you would give to other actors who are trying to make it? How to navigate the world of entertainment and make your mark?
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Arnas: Well, it’s a very hard line of work. There are so many of us who want to make it. Not everyone is successful at all times. I would say one thing I’ve learned over time is just to have patience. If you really believe something, if you really want something, you will find your way into it.
Just have patience. Just dedicate your life to it and know that the effort that you put in one day will pay off. Have faith in yourself. Have faith in the journey that is in front of you. Be nice to people, whoever they are, and don’t give yourself a hard time. Sometimes it’s important because it adds to discipline, but be nice to yourself as well.
And again, most importantly, patience!
Indira: I love that. Those are great words of wisdom to live by. Thank you so much for taking the time for our chat, and looking forward to seeing you in your next big thing!
Arnas: Thank you so much. I had a really good time, and thank you for having me!
For more from Arnas Fedaravičius, head over to his Instagram, and check out some of The White Lotus Season 3 trailers below.
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