Acclaimed actor Walton Goggins has opened up about the profound personal impact of his role in the hit HBO series The White Lotus, a part that catapulted him to global recognition. The 54-year-old star, who recently posed nude for a candid GQ photoshoot, described feeling 'liberated' and 'reborn' now that the frenzy surrounding the show has subsided.
A Transformative Role and Newfound Fame
Goggins portrayed the tormented and vengeful Rick Hatchett in the third season of the black comedy drama. Despite his long and successful career, this role marked a significant turning point, earning him his first Emmy nomination and firmly establishing him in leading-man territory. The part brought with it unprecedented levels of fan obsession and public interest, including intense speculation about his on-screen relationship with co-star Aimee Lou Wood.
Reflecting on leaving the character behind after the awards season concluded, Goggins confessed he had been carrying the weight of Rick's 'prolonged sadness for so long'. He described a moment of rediscovery, saying he recently looked in a mirror and said, "Hello, Walton, nice to meet you", as he eagerly anticipates his next adventure.
Feeling Liberated and Reborn
When asked about his current state of mind, the Fallout star was remarkably candid. "It has been the most blissful, circuitous kind of path," he declared. "I've been torn down to nothing and rebuilding. I feel like I've been reborn. I do. I feel like I've gone through my mama's vagina. I've gone through the birthing canal. I feel liberated, man. Yeah. I feel unencumbered. I feel light."
This sense of liberation was mirrored in his stark naked photoshoot for GQ. He had previously admitted that getting into character for Rick Hatchett was a taxing process, purposefully emulating the character's solitude on set, which he found emotionally difficult.
Navigating Sudden Stardom and Family Life
Speaking on the sudden surge in his profile, fuelled by both The White Lotus and the HBO drama The Righteous Gemstones, Goggins acknowledged there had been 'a shift', but remained grounded. He stressed his awareness of how quickly such fame could disappear, showing a pragmatic perspective on his newfound status.
His comfort with nudity isn't confined to professional photoshoots. Walton has previously revealed his love of being naked in his garden, often reading film scripts while nude and sipping morning coffee. He reflected on his character becoming a sex symbol, admitting it gives him 'a smile in my heart'.
However, his wife of 14 years, Nadia Conners, with whom he shares a son, Augustus, admitted she finds the increased female attention challenging. The TV scriptwriter described her husband as a 'zaddy' but confessed, "It's hard as I'm a middle-aged woman. So suddenly I feel like 'all these women find him attractive'. But what's so amazing is he's always made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the room."
