You’ll Never Guess Which “Grey’s Anatomy” Star Almost Played Kate on The White Lotus Season 3
Jessica Capshaw, best known for her longtime role as Dr. Arizona Robbins on “Grey’s Anatomy”, is ready to pack her bags for “The White Lotus“. The actress recently shared on her podcast “Call It What It Is”, which she co-hosts with fellow Grey’s alum Camilla Luddington, that she auditioned for the HBO hit’s third season.
Kate on “The White Lotus”
Capshaw had her eye on the role of Kate Bohr, a wealthy Austin-based country club wife. Although the part ultimately went to actress Leslie Bibb, Capshaw said the audition process itself was thrilling. “I remember getting the audition and being like, ‘I mean, I’m just such a huge fan of the show.’ So I was giddy with excitement. And it’s always so fun to put together an audition and see where it goes, and then see it come to fruition because what’s unbelievably remarkable and wild about the casting process is we’re all very different,” said Jessica.
Watching Bibb’s take on the character, Capshaw admitted, “I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I thought she was fantastic.”
Season 3 of “The White Lotus”, set at the fictional resort’s new Thailand location, followed a group of tourists—including Bibb’s Kate Bohr—on a lavish and emotionally tense girls’ trip. Her character was joined by old friends Laurie Duffy (Carrie Coon), a Manhattan lawyer, and Jaclyn Lemon (Michelle Monaghan), a television actress. Their storyline explored how wealth impacts long-term female friendships.
Jessica Capshaw’s Journey To “Grey’s Anatomy”
Although she didn’t land the part she auditioned for in “The White Lotus”, Jessica Capshaw isn’t letting that stop her from pursuing a future on the acclaimed HBO series. The actress, who became a fan favorite during her decade-long run as Dr. Arizona Robbins on “Grey’s Anatomy”, shared that persistence has always played a key role in her career.
Capshaw originally joined “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2008, portraying Dr. Arizona Robbins, a talented pediatric surgeon with a big heart—and one of the show’s first prominent LGBTQ+ characters. What began as a recurring guest role quickly evolved into a series regular position due to her standout performance and strong connection with fans. But landing that iconic role wasn’t an overnight success.
Before being cast as Arizona, Capshaw had auditioned twice for other characters on the show. She first went out for Nurse Rose, then for Dr. Sadie Harris—both parts ultimately went to other actresses. It was her third attempt that finally earned her a permanent place in the world of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.
Reflecting on her journey, Capshaw shared, “I’ll audition. I’ll just keep auditioning. That’s what I did for Grey’s. I just kept auditioning, it took me three times. I’m hoping it’ll just take two for Mike White and The White Lotus.”
Her determination to join “The White Lotus” echoes the same drive that helped her carve out her place in television history—proof that resilience and passion can go a long way in Hollywood. This wouldn’t be Capshaw’s first time playing the long game. She previously auditioned for two different “Grey’s Anatomy” roles—Nurse Rose and Dr. Sadie Harris—before finally being cast as Arizona Robbins in her third try.
Fans can hear more from Capshaw and Luddington on “Call It What It Is”, their weekly iHeart Radio podcast, where they dive into “Grey’s Anatomy” recaps and pop culture commentary.
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