Jessica Capshaw, best known to fans as Dr. Arizona Robbins from Grey’s Anatomy, recently shared a behind-the-scenes story about her audition for The White Lotus. Though she didn’t land the part she was hoping for, the actress says she’s still eager to be part of the hit HBO series and plans to keep auditioning for future roles.
In a recent episode of the Call It What It Is podcast, Jessica revealed that she tried out for the role of Kate Bohr, a character that ultimately went to Leslie Bibb in The White Lotus Season 3. “I auditioned for Leslie Bibb’s part,” Jessica explained, adding that she was overjoyed just to be considered. “I’m such a huge fan of the show, so I was giddy with excitement when I got to the audition.”
The conversation, which took place with her Grey’s Anatomy co-star Camilla Luddington, took a gracious turn when Jessica praised Bibb’s performance. “Watching Leslie, I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ I was totally hooked, and I thought she was fantastic,” she said, showing just how supportive she is of fellow actors—even when they land roles she wanted.
Jessica also opened up about her attitude toward auditioning in general. Surprisingly, she finds it enjoyable. “I actually like auditioning,” she said. “It’s fun. I love seeing how things unfold and whether they work out.” She added that one of the most fascinating parts of the process is seeing how different actors bring completely unique interpretations to the same role.
This kind of optimism comes from experience. Jessica landed her iconic role on Grey’s Anatomy back in 2009 after multiple auditions. That persistence paid off in a big way, and now she’s applying that same determination to join the creative world of The White Lotus, which is known for its layered characters and dark humor, all crafted by creator Mike White.
The character she auditioned for—Kate—appears in Season 3 as part of a vacationing “girl gang” that includes other characters played by Carrie Coon and Michelle Monaghan.
Jessica may not have made it into the cast this time, but her passion and positive outlook suggest it’s only a matter of time before we see her in another exciting role—possibly even in a future season of The White Lotus.
