Tanya’s Arc In The White Lotus Season 2 Was Inspired By Jennifer Coolidge’s Personal Quirks – Looper

Tanya’s had a memorable journey throughout the series; unfortunately, that all came to an end with Season 2’s finale. While it might have come as a shock to most viewers, Jennifer Coolidge knew about it long before the camera rolled. According to a Variety interview with the actress, creator Mike White told her of the death but didn’t have the actual ending finalized. As this was not exactly what she wanted to hear at the time, Coolidge had to trust White would bring the story to a satisfying conclusion.

On “The White Lotus,” Tanya meets her demise not at the hands of a killer but due to a rather subtle instrument. Coolidge, however, was quick to point out her character didn’t see that fateful ladder, and that Tanya’s ending was inspired by Coolidge’s tendency to miss smaller details that could actually be important in a broader sense. “Mike White thinks it’s very funny that I can handle big things, but a little thing will be my demise,” the actress told Variety. “These small things throw me off. It was so in line with who I am — I even heard Mike say that to somebody. Not noticing something that could save my life.”

Season 3 of “The White Lotus” is sure to carry on the mysteries around the famed chain of hotels. White has already hinted at a possible location for the next set of weary travelers (via People). Still, it leaves Coolidge wondering what she’ll do when the series resumes filming with a new cast; “I’ll just have to go on some different adventures this year and maybe go visit Mike when they’re filming [Season 3],” she quipped.