Jason Isaacs, 62, best known for his roles in the Harry Potter film franchise and most recently, The White Lotus, spoke about his decades-long career as an actor in a June 16 interview with Vulture.
While speaking to the publication, Isaacs said he had an unpleasant interaction with an iconic actor on one of his projects. According to Isaacs, the unnamed individual “was the worst bully ever and a global icon.”
“Did all the old tricks of doing a completely different performance off-camera than on. Yeah, it sucked. I’d never seen anything like it. Before, I would’ve licked the ground that this person walked on,” said Isaacs during the interview.
Isaacs also told the publication that he has dealt with several actors who he has not enjoyed working with while on set.
“Mostly, what I judge on set is bad behavior. It’s selfishness, cruelty, bullying, or people complaining to the person who’s getting them dressed, who doesn’t get in a year what they earn in a day to pick their filthy underwear off the floor,” said Isaacs, who has starred in films like Armageddon, Event Horizon, and Peter Pan. “That, or not turning up, or going home early, or thinking they know better than the director, or being on crack and calling prostitutes to their trailer. I come across all that stuff.”
Isaacs clarified that he would never name names when it comes to said actors.
“I know where all the bodies are buried. I often fantasize about doing a junket and telling the truth, and when I win the lottery, possibly that will be the case. But there is no value, other than masochism and sabotage, in telling people the truth about people I’ve worked with or experiences I’ve had. Acting is all about secrets,” said the Star Trek: Discovery actor.
In a June 2025 interview on the Dinner’s On Me podcast, hosted by Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Isaacs said he gave some advice about the entertainment industry to his younger White Lotus castmates during the production of the show’s third season. According to Isaacs, he became close to his on-screen children, Samuel Nivola, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Sarah Catherine Hook, and wanted to impart some words of wisdom.
“I keep saying, ‘Go to Sundance, find filmmakers you like. Have lunch with them. Find the people. I know that your agents will be going, you’ve just had this giant launch. Let’s get you in a huge franchise,'” said the Harry Potter actor. “‘You can do that too, but make sure you find interesting people making interesting projects and do that stuff. Because otherwise you can suddenly find yourself, you know, on a happy meal, but not having a career.'”
