Julian Kostov Stars on DSCENE Magazine’s April 2025 Cover

Julian Kostov is no stranger to intensity. Whether he’s bringing dark charm to genre roles or jumping into the deep end of emotionally complex characters, he does it with edge, humor, and startling honesty. For Season 3 of The White Lotus, HBO’s sun-soaked satire of wealth and moral rot, the Bulgarian-born actor steps into one of the series’ wildest seasons yet, playing Aleksei, a volatile Russian expat with unclear motives and even murkier alliances.

EXCLUSIVE

In this exclusive conversation with DSCENE editor Katarina Doric, Kostov opens up about stepping into the role after a major recasting shakeup, how the chaos of filming in Thailand inspired a whole backstory for his character, and why this season’s finale might be the most unhinged yet. Along the way, he shares behind-the-scenes stories, unexpected friendships, and just enough cryptic hints to keep fan theories spinning well into summer.

Julian Kostov fronts DSCENE Magazine’s April 2025 digital cover story, photographed by Jemima Marriott and styled by Alexandria Field in a full BOSS look. Prepare for monkeys, improv, and maybe even a twin brother with a lion.

The White Lotus is known for its razor-sharp satire and unexpected twists. What was your first impression when you read the script for Season 3? – I was like: “What a start! Multiple shots fired! Then wow, haha, no way, what, wow, damn, oh no, God! What the f*ck?! He what? She what? Then I do what? And then I say that?!! Haha! Jesus… Hell yeah! And of course, it ends with a HUGE Wooooooooow… Best season ever. By far.” That’s pretty much how it went. It was such an easy read, and as I flipped through the pages, I kept admiring Mike White’s ability to capture the voices of all these ideologically and culturally diverse characters so brilliantly. He really understands human nature and has the pulse of present-day society and its cultural discrepancies down to a T. Beyond the remarkable dialogue, I also got the sense of how much bigger this season is. The universe expands beyond the White Lotus Hotel.

Aleksei is neither a guest nor staff, and he brings both a fun and intense energy, along with a temper and aggression that make him a bit of a wild card. We can only speculate how he’ll evolve leading up to the final showdown.

What can you tell us about your character, and how does he fit into the story’s web of luxury and dysfunction? – At this stage of the show, all I can say is that Aleksei is a Russian expat, likely avoiding being drafted into the war in Ukraine. He can’t, and doesn’t want to, go back, so he must do whatever he can to stay in Thailand. Aleksei, Valentin, and Vlad were childhood friends from Vladivostok, and that loyalty means a lot. They show up when Jacklyn, Laurie, and Kate are in desperate need of infusing their gossip-ridden vacation with some fun and excitement. And the boys deliver.

Aleksei is neither a guest nor staff, and he brings both a fun and intense energy, along with a temper and aggression that make him a bit of a wild card. We can only speculate how he’ll evolve leading up to the final showdown.

Your casting came after Miloš Biković exited the role. How did the opportunity come about for you, and what was it like stepping in at that stage? – You know, like any other Eastern European actor out there, I had taped for The White Lotus. My girlfriend Mirela was so excited because TWL is her favorite TV series of all time, and she said she had a good feeling about it. The life of an actor is full of exciting opportunities you think you’ve nailed and are perfect for, but then they don’t go your way, so I’ve become pretty good at managing that part of the game. There are so many factors that influence casting decisions, and as actors, we should never take rejection or approval personally. Easier said than done, by the way.

Oh my God… you haven’t even seen some of the most shocking and cringe-worthy scenes yet.

Anyway, back to the story, I got a call a month later saying I was being heavily considered for Valentin. Then, a few days after that, I heard I didn’t get it. I let out a disappointed sigh, accepted it, and moved on. But when I told my girlfriend, she started crying uncontrollably. I hugged her, and I don’t know if it was truly a gut feeling or just something comforting to say, but I told her, “Don’t worry, I’m sensing it’s going to come back somehow.”

Sometime later, just as we were about to book a vacation to Thailand, I got the call. Naturally, I did three backflips in a row and started an immediate diet and workout plan because we were kicking things off with the pool scenes in less than two weeks. That was wild too, we had to create the vibe for the end of Episode 5 and build those relationships between the six of us almost instantly. No pressure, right?!

But honestly, once I stepped onto set, with Mike at the helm, it felt like I belonged. Everything flowed naturally, like second nature.

The season was filmed across Thailand, from Bangkok to Phuket and Ko Samui. How did the locations shape the atmosphere on set and influence your performance? – It was on Bangla Street in Phuket where it really clicked for me. I realized that Aleksei would’ve fancied himself as the “king” of this place the moment he arrived in Thailand. But to become king, I thought, you need a queen. So as I wandered through the nightclubs, scheming and trying to figure out Aleksei’s angle to make money, I saw an aerialist perform in one of the clubs, and instantly knew that should be his girlfriend, Nadya. Someone who can’t be bought, only won over. I came up with her nickname- The Queen of Samui – and you can actually hear it in one of the Russian improv scenes with Victoria Kvitkina. That’s how I built an entire backstory for Aleksei and his life as a shady expat.

I was especially excited to work with Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb, and Carrie Coon. Then I read the script and thought, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” And they turned out to be even cooler than I imagined.

The White Lotus often blurs the line between humor and discomfort. Did you have any scenes that pushed you in unexpected ways as an actor? – Oh my God… you haven’t even seen some of the most shocking and cringe-worthy scenes yet. Honestly, those situations are so hard to write, but Mike just has this unique talent. For me, as a Slavic and Balkan actor, it’s A) incredibly rare to get well-rounded characters like this, and B) this is the first time I’ve played an Eastern European role that asked me to tap into my sexuality. That was both exciting and intimidating – it was my first time, so it felt vulnerable, but that’s what makes an actor tick: uncharted territory. Alongside the training regimen, I also took dance classes and Russian language lessons to prepare.

The show has a massive, obsessive fan base that dissects every detail. Are you prepared for the inevitable theories about your character? – I’ve already seen quite a few theories online. Some people are convinced I might be… you know who, doing you know what by the end! My sister, on the other hand, is convinced the monkeys are going to be the killers. Anything goes with The White Lotus, so fair play to all the theorists. I love engaging with fandoms on my projects, so it’s been really fun to follow. At this point, all my social media feeds are just White Lotus content.

This season’s cast is packed with talent, including Parker Posey, Jason Isaacs, and Carrie Coon. Was there anyone you were particularly excited to work with? – Yet another serendipitous moment – I was especially excited to work with Michelle Monaghan, Leslie Bibb, and Carrie Coon. Then I read the script and thought, “You’ve got to be kidding me!” And they turned out to be even cooler than I imagined. Just an absolute joy – such open, present artists and genuinely kind human beings.

Parker Posey and Jason Isaacs are both killing it this season too. But that’s the magic of The White Lotus – I could say the same about anyone in the cast. Every single actor, no matter how much screen time they get, delivers a standout performance. How is that even possible?!

Every set has its share of funny or unexpected moments. Can you share any behind-the-scenes stories from filming in Thailand? – We had so much fun – improv flying left and right, and Mike shouting wildly inappropriate new lines for us to try between takes. We could barely hold it together at times.

But one really special moment for me happened during the club scene, when three girls confront Aleksei and start yelling at him in Russian. We shot it at Café del Mar in Phuket, and there were probably over a hundred supporting artists on set, many of them native Russian speakers. Mike wanted the argument to escalate into something chaotic and borderline scary. So, I had to write and learn the lines in Russian with the help of a friend. I was nervous because I’m not a native speaker, but I really pride myself on putting in the work with languages and phonetics. Representing any nationality on screen comes with responsibility.

After the first take, where the actress playing Nadya (Aleksei’s maybe-girlfriend), and her two friends, one of whom is my real-life girlfriend Mirela Ilieva, completely went off on me, we got so loud and intense that we didn’t hear Mike yell “cut” five times. When we finally stopped, the whole club burst into cheers and applause. It felt like a live performance, and having the Russian speakers validate my delivery was incredible. Truly one of the best moments on set.

Did you form any close friendships with your castmates? Who would you say became your best friend on set? – Everybody was super cool! But because of the shooting schedule, there were always different groups filming while others were traveling or resting, so we didn’t always get to hang out as much as we wanted. That said, we still did a lot of fun stuff outside of work.

It’s true – the monkeys did it. You heard it here first.

There was a go-kart track right outside the hotel, so we had daily races with the boys – Yuri Kolokolnikov, Arnas Fedaravičius, and Nicholas Duvernay. We also went quad biking through the jungle together, which was epic. Tayme Thapthimthong, who plays Gaitok, and I initially bonded over Call of Duty, I play the big baddie, Vladimir Makarov.

I’ve stayed in touch with Michelle and Aimee Lou Wood. And I have to mention Shalini Peiris, who plays Amrita, we share the same agent in London and have become thick as thieves.

Can you reveal something about Season 3 that hasn’t been shared yet? – It’s true – the monkeys did it. You heard it here first.

If you could pick a dream setting for a future White Lotus season, where would it be, and what kind of character would you want to play next? – I think South Africa would be an amazing backdrop for the show. I’d love to play Aleksei’s long-lost twin brother – a safari guide from Miami who lives with lions and whose family owns the resort, but he hates them. That sounds about right.

Also… Brazil. Brazil sounds good too.

The show has a habit of leaving viewers with jaw-dropping season finales. Without giving too much away on a scale of 1 to total chaos, how wild can we expect this season’s ending to be? – You ain’t never seen anything like it! I just hope that when people binge it after release, they manage to shield their eyes from the tsunami (pun intended) of social media clips and memes.

Photographer Jemima Marriott
Stylist Alexandria Field
Grooming Brooke Simons
Talent Julian Kostov at Public Eye Communications
Photographer’s assistant Lee Furnival
Stylist’s Assistant Max Guibeleguiet
Interview by Katarina Doric