Patricia Altschul, the silver-tongued matriarch of Bravo’s “Southern Charm,” has dropped a bombshell that bridges the gap between Charleston’s elite and HBO’s “The White Lotus.” During a recent interview, the 83-year-old reality veteran confirmed she’s rubbed elbows with season 3 standout Walton Goggins, revealing a real-life crossover that’s got fans of both shows buzzing. Here’s the scoop on how these two TV worlds collide.
‘Southern Charm’ Star Patricia Altschul Confirms Walton Goggins’ Charleston Visits
The link between Altschul and “The White Lotus” surfaced when actor Sam Nivola let slip that series creator Mike White instructed the season 3 Ratliff family cast, including Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey, to binge “Southern Charm” for character prep. Fans instantly clocked Isaacs’ take on Thomas Ravenel and Posey’s Victoria Ratliff as a riff on Altschul, a comparison she’s not dodging.
I can relate to her,” Altschul told Glamour, nodding to Victoria’s biting one-liners like “All actresses are prostitutes.” But the real headline? Her off-screen ties to Goggins, who plays the twitchy, snake-bitten Mark Ratliff.
“He’s been over at the house quite a few times,” she dished, referencing visits to her Isaac Jenkins Mikell House with the “The Righteous Gemstones” cast, who film locally. Goggins, a friend of her son and “Southern Charm” creator Whitney Sudler-Smith, has joined castmates for dinners at the grand Roman Revival estate.
From Baby Billy to ‘The White Lotus’ Heartthrob: Altschul Weighs In
While Goggins has viewers swooning as “White Lotus’” disheveled Rick Hatchett — especially after that episode 3 snake scare — Altschul knows him best as the scruffy Baby Billy from Gemstones.
“It’s kind of hard for me to see him as a heartthrob, especially since he looks so unkempt,” she quipped. However, she conceded, “He’s fantastic” amid his season 3 hype.
A self-professed “The White Lotus” addict, Altschul raved about the show’s suspense, calling it “the best” of its three seasons. She’s less sold on Victoria’s style, however, sniping at the character’s Louis Vuitton purse.
“I can’t imagine any upper-class person buying Louis Vuitton,” she explained.
That’s her only style criticism, though. She says the Ratliffs’ understated prints and logo-free polo shirts are spot-on. She’s also got theories about Victoria’s Thai-speaking scene in episode 2.
“I’m just wondering if it wasn’t just being snobby and rude but if she didn’t want to be recognized,” she mused, hinting at a villain twist.
Fans can catch “Southern Charm’s” grande dame sipping martinis and serving shade during season 10, which is currently airing Thursdays on Bravo and streaming the next day on Peacock. “The White Lotus” season 3 unfolds Sundays on HBO and Max.
