‘White Lotus’ actor Sam Nivola speaks out against cosmetic surgery in Hollywood: “It’s not giving any space for the young’uns”
Nivola, who played Lochlan Ratliff in the most recent season of ‘The White Lotus’, made a bold claim in an interview with Variety.
White Lotus actor Sam Nivola says there’s less room for new performers to rise to Hollywood stardom today, because established screen favorites are “staying young” thanks to cosmetic surgery.
Nivola, 21, made the bold assertion this week in an interview with the entertainment outlet Variety, as he prepares for the September premiere of his latest project.
“They will have to create new stars”
“The old movie stars are getting plastic surgery, and they’re looking younger and they’re staying young‚” Nivola told Variety’s Ethan Shanfeld.
“You have these really old people playing young roles. And it’s not giving any space for the young’uns to move in and make a name for themselves.
“With all due respect to those people, one day they won’t be here anymore, literally, and they will have to create new stars.”
Nivola went on: “I think Timothée Chalamet is one of the best actors alive, and he’s a total star. He’s one of a very few examples [of new Hollywood stars] I could come up with.”
Sam Nivola on "ageless box office magnets":
— Variety (@Variety) August 7, 2025
“The old movie stars are getting plastic surgery, and they’re looking younger and they’re staying young. You have these really old people playing young roles. And it’s not giving any space for the young’uns to move in and make a name… pic.twitter.com/mnnvTxTglW
Nivola’s comments came as an apparent caveat to praise for the 62-year-old Tom Cruise, who recently starred as the hero of the Mission: Impossible action franchise for the eighth time in three decades.
“Whole latter half of career of being action star”
“He’s excelled in every kind of movie,” Nivola said of Cruise. “He gives one of the greatest comedic performances of all time in ‘Tropic Thunder,’ and he’s not at all a comedian. ‘Jerry Maguire,’ ‘Risky Business,’ ‘Magnolia’ - he’s an incredible dramatic actor.
“And then he has this whole latter half of his career of being an action star.”
An actor who has attracted attention for his ongoing youthful appearance, Cruise has never publicly acknowledged undergoing cosmetic surgery, although experts claim his face shows signs of anti-aging procedures.
What’s next for Sam Nivola?
Nivola, who featured as Lochlan Ratliff in season three of the hit HBO series The White Lotus, is now due to appear in Driver’s Ed, a comedy slated to have its premiere at next month’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Directed by Bobby Farrelly, the movie also stars Kumail Nanjiani and Molly Shannon.
Nivola is also set to feature alongside Connie Britton in Phony, a coming-of-age series that has reportedly been picked up by Hulu.
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.
Complete your personal details to comment