When Nicholas Duvernay hops onto our Zoom call, he’s sitting outside, positioned against a bright-blue sky and framed by palm trees. His cloudless Los Angeles setting is a stark contrast to the snowy, windy day I’m experiencing in New York, heater cranked all the way up in my apartment—but then, Duvernay has been used to the sunshine, as of late.
After all, the 25-year-old actor spent half of last year in Thailand, shooting season 3 of HBO’s hit drama The White Lotus, which premieres February 16. There isn’t much he can share with me about the upcoming season, admittedly, other than that “it’s the biggest season, it’s the baddest season, and it’s the messiest season.” If you’re familiar with the first two seasons of the show, both which have started off with a murder, you know that’s saying a lot. “Just expect to see The White Lotus on steroids this season.”
Really we’re witnessing Duvernay’s breakout era. Before next month’s season premiere, he’s debuting something else—his first ever fashion campaign, for Banana Republic’s Spring Classics 2025 collection. Between the rich hues, transitional pieces, and modern icons like the suede trucker jacket, this is exactly the kind of thing you’d wear to a smart dinner or that you might pack before heading on a luxurious vacation—a vacation to, say, Thailand, ready to check in at a five-star hotel that’s perhaps had one too many murders on the property recently.
Below, Duvernay talks through the campaign, his own sense of style, the importance of listening to one’s mother, and, of course, The White Lotus.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
ESQUIRE: Congrats on your first ever fashion campaign—what was your experience shooting it?
NICHOLAS DUVERNAY: It was definitely different. I mean, I’ve always had little photo shoots here and there, but this was a full-on production, similar to a film set. You have gaffers, stylists; you have photographers. It’s a full unit, and it was nice. So part of that felt comforting for me, just because I kind of felt at home. I’m used to film sets and TV sets, but it was a little different in terms of being photographed. You have to move, but your movement isn’t real movement. It’s a weird thing to wrap your head around, but it was a beautiful experience. I couldn’t imagine a better brand to make a fashion debut with, especially with the product that they’re putting out with this new line and the quality of it. It’s something I could really get behind.
Speaking of the new collection, it’s called the Spring Classics. For you, what’s an absolute style classic?
Classic blue jeans. You can’t go wrong. You could dress them up, you could dress them down. I’m just big on fit. I’m big on proportions. I like a wider leg, something that accentuates the waist to make it look a little more elevated. But you can’t go wrong with blue jeans.
Are you more of a light wash or dark wash kind of guy?
Light wash for sure. I am getting into dark washes, though. I just got a new pair and they’re nice. It just takes a little getting used to.
I feel like light wash is very West Coast, and dark wash is a lot more East Coast vibes.
I’m from the East Coast! I’m trying to get back to my roots.
You’re a New York native, right?
New York native, yeah.
Okay, so as New York native who now lives in L.A., which city has the better style?
New York. Hands down. It’s not a question.
On the day to day, what are you most likely to reach for in your own wardrobe?
Hmm. I definitely go towards the comfy side. I love a good sweatsuit. Sweatsuits all day. But again, I’m very big on proportions. Like a nice, medium-crop hoodie with a flare sweat. That way it doesn’t look like you’re wearing a sweatsuit. I mean, again, you could dress it up, you could dress it down. You can kind of add these little elements that don’t make it feel like a sweatsuit, but you’re also as comfortable [as you would be] in a sweatsuit, if that makes sense.
What is one fashion rule that you swear by?
Cool pants, simple shirt. Party on the bottom, simplistic on the top. Let the pants speak.
Is there a moment you recall that made you interested in fashion?
Just growing up, watching a lot of music videos. A$AP Rocky, obviously, New York. The way he goes about fashion was interesting to me, and it made it a lot more fun. It kind of makes you wonder what you could put together and how you could put your own twist on it. I think what he does is amazing. And he’s always been like a light tower for me. I want to keep going in that direction. I want to try that. Maybe move that way. Just watching at Rocky growing up.
He’s always doing the coolest stuff, and his Bottega fits lately have been insane.
Yeah. Oh, crazy. So dope.
Okay, I gotta ask you about The White Lotus. Everyone at Esquire is so excited for it to come back next month. Tell me about your experience, what can you tease for us about season three?
There’s not much I can say, but what I will say, it’s the biggest season, it’s the baddest season, and it’s the messiest season. It’s like all the seasons kind of culminated into one, in the best but worst way, if that makes sense. Just expect to see The White Lotus on steroids this season.
I feel like it’s already been turned to the max in the past two seasons, so I can’t wait to see what’s in store. Is there anything that you can share about your character?
Mmm…No, there’s nothing I could share about my character.
We’re just gonna have to wait until February to see. You shared on Instagram that filming The White Lotus was one of the most transformational experiences of your life. How did it impact you?
It’s really an actor’s dream. I started acting when I was a kid, so it’s everything that I could have expected and more, down to working in Thailand and being overseas for six months. Being embedded in a culture that I’ve never been in before was unbelievable. I mean, I love Thai food. I got all the Thai food I could have ever wanted. The cast is…It’s like the ‘90s Bulls. I mean, it’s unbelievable. So even just having breakfast and lunch and dinner with those caliber of actors, you learn so much about what it is to be an artist, how to navigate even the business side sometimes.
And then working with Mike [White], who’s such an unbelievable director and writer, it was the Super Bowl of everything I’ve done so far, for sure. Everything dialed up to the max. And anytime you’re put in a position of anything to the max or anything that’s heightened, it just forces you to grow and expand and stretch.
How did your casting come about?
I auditioned in December 2023. It was the first tape I really sent in, like, super early. I got the script. It just felt like me. It felt seamless. And sometimes as an actor, you get scripts and you’re just like, “I got this. I can do it.” You don’t need a whole lot of prep. So I just sent it in. I think I got it in within a day or two. And then over the holiday, they told me they were interested. And I was supposed to have a callback in L.A. on Zoom, to talk to Mike. And then they switched the meeting to just a general [meeting], and Mike called me. He was like, “Yo, you want to come party with us in Thailand?” I was like, “What?!”
Because my mom—moms have a hunch. She was like, “Just set your phone up during the call and record, it could be one of those big calls where you get the job and I want to see your reaction.” And I was like, “Mom, it’s not going to be one of those calls, but whatever, I’ll give you your video.” And it was the call where he told me I got the job. And it’s great that I have the video now, because it was a moment, I think, that’ll mark when I got a chance to really show what I was capable of, and got my big break. I mean, we’ll see when it comes out, but that’s what I’m hoping for.
What did your mom say when you sent her the video?
“I told you so.” And I told Mike the story. He was like, “Moms are always right. Your mom was right.”
You gotta listen to your moms, people. They’re always right.
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