The White Lotus Season 2 Episode 2 “Italian Dream” may end with Tanya (Jennifer Coolidge) surprising her husband Greg (Jon Gries) in a secret phone call, casting suspicion on their marriage, but the love life of her assistant Portia (Haley Lu Richardson) is much better. Or not? As Tanya told Portia to get out of sight after Greg complained about the girl’s presence, she goes out with the Di Grasso family. And it turns out that Albie Di Grasso (Adam DiMarco) is obviously in love with Portia.
The two sweet twentysomethings have a great Italian dinner together and give each other an incredibly awkward kiss. Albie is so afraid of being like her adulterous father (Michael Imperioli) that she asks Portia for permission to kiss him. . . while she pulls out what she has, learn about Tanya’s traumatic past. Albie is possibly a chivalrous young man, but he still has a lot to learn about romance.
While it’s unclear if Portia and Albie’s budding romance will last, White Lotus stars Haley Lu Richardson and Adam DiMarco obviously have chemistry. The actors laughed and joked like best friends when Decider told them about this new season of HBO’s hit. they were given top points about how hard it is for Richardson to pretend he hates running for Jennifer Coolidge’s Tanya and how that first kiss is harder to nail down than you think. . .
DECISION MAKER: First of all, Haley Lu, I must say that Portia doesn’t like being Tanya’s assistant. But I’m curious to know how it felt to work with Jennifer Coolidge so much, and if you have any favorite memories. to run with her on the show?
HALEY LU RICHARDSON: Well, yeah, I mean, it was obviously difficult for me because I was so excited to paint with her, and I’m also betting on this character that she’s not that excited about the paintings. So it was difficult. In fact, the first day, the first scene I shot with her, I’m pretty sure it was the scene from [Episode 3] with her fortune teller. In this scene, you know, Portia is having a tough day, a tough time right now. In fact, I think that from the beginning she has been going through a difficult time. I just don’t forget to think to myself, “Really, all I have to do today is have all these reactions of being depressed and bored and tired through this woman. ” But it was the first time I painted with Jennifer and I saw her carry out and do these absurd things. It was hard for me not to laugh. Like it was hard for me. In fact, I realized in this scene, looking at it, that every time I get interrupted, I have a completely different expression on my face. A lot of times she was like this [she makes a tense face] and I feel like I’m doing this because she was trying not to smile.
ADAM DIMARCO: I just saw that scene, it’s great.
RICHARDSON: Did you do it?Did you notice me like that, doing it like this [makes the same face. ]
Adam, Albie is a bit painfully adorable and cute in the series. The scene where he needs to kiss Portia is so kind and gentlemanly, but at some point, it seems that this quality he has may hurt him more than it is helping him. How did you balance that and where do you think it came from here?
DIMARCO: I think it was our first day racing together, which is funny.
RICHARDSON: That! It’s our first day.
DIMARCO: yes, I mean Haley laughing at me. Every time.
RICHARDSON: It’s hard. Every time he leaned over. [makes a comfortable grimace] It’s so hard not to laugh.
DIMARCO: yes, it’s pretty adorable that way, sweet and blameless that way. But also, I mean, in this scene, your character is talking about something pretty serious, right?With your boss, and like, I check exactly.
RICHARDSON: yes, I say [Tanya] may have been raped.
Dimarco: Did you say that?
RICHARDSON: For his father.
DIMARCO: yes, you know? And then, Albie only thinks about the kiss that is innocent, but you are also more. . . You are more emotional.
RICHARDSON: Read the play.
DIMARCO: yes, yes. It’s fun to play with your levels. . . You know, because he’s a great guy and he’s definitely a feminist. But struggle with this inner preference for the other because kissing is fun.
RICHARDSON: Albie loves to curl up.
Haley Lu, your character uses a lot of knitting and crochet, and I sense that you are crocheting. I’m curious, because I crochet, you wove some of the pieces, you had a contribution there, how?
RICHARDSON: I love that question! I love crochet, it’s what I like the most!Oh yes, I’m so excited. There’s a hat I’m dressed in in one of the episodes, like a little beige-white crochet bob, which I crocheted. It’s the only thing I’ve used that I’ve done. But, it’s anything I like to do. Every time I can throw like an Easter egg anything I’ve done to my character, or turn my character into a prostitute. Which, honestly, I don’t think Portia has the patience to do.
DIMARCO: Portia bought it on her Etsy page.
RICHARDSON: My Etsy shop! Yes, Portia is shopping for groceries at Hooked By Haley Lu. But, yes, I still have a comfortable place to love, knit and crochet things because, you know, I love it.
DIMARCO: You also dragged me a little more.
RICHARDSON: Did I do it? Do you crochet?
DIMARCO: That’s fine, yes. I don’t crochet, but I’m a fan.
RICHARDSON: Oh, okay, I’ll teach you someday.
DIMARCO: Maybe.
This interview has been edited and summarized for clarity.