Steve Zahn reveals the truth about his surprising full frontal shot in The White Lotus premiere episode

By Brian Gallagher For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

Fans got to see much more of Steve Zahn than they ever expected in the premiere episode of HBO's The White Lotus last week, with the actor opening up about the scene.

The show follows a number of guests and employees at a tropical resort, with the memorable shot in the premiere featuring his character Mark telling his wife Nicole (Connie Nielsen) that he's worried about testicular cancer, as the audience gets a full-frontal eyeful.

While discussing the new series from writer-director Mike White (Enlightened) in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the 53-year-old actor revealed that wasn't him... and it wasn't a real penis either. 

Steve reveals: Fans got to see much more of Steve Zahn than they ever expected in the premiere episode of HBO's The White Lotus last week, with the actor opening up about the scene

Steve reveals: Fans got to see much more of Steve Zahn than they ever expected in the premiere episode of HBO's The White Lotus last week, with the actor opening up about the scene

Worried: The show follows a number of guests and employees at a tropical resort, with the memorable shot in the premiere featuring his character Mark telling his wife Nicole (Connie Nielsen) that he's worried about testicular cancer, as the audience gets a full-frontal eyeful

Worried: The show follows a number of guests and employees at a tropical resort, with the memorable shot in the premiere featuring his character Mark telling his wife Nicole (Connie Nielsen) that he's worried about testicular cancer, as the audience gets a full-frontal eyeful

'I didn’t even have to do that part. It’s somebody else wearing a prosthetic. That’s about as absurd as it gets, right?' Zahn admitted.

The actor has spent the past 20 years living on a homestead in rural Kentucky, though 2020 was the longest time he's stayed at home, and he was itching to work.

'I was sitting on this farm for eight months, living in 1850, and worrying about not working. I would’ve done anything, really,' Zahn said.

Not him: 'I didn¿t even have to do that part. It¿s somebody else wearing a prosthetic. That¿s about as absurd as it gets, right?' Zahn admitted

Not him: 'I didn’t even have to do that part. It’s somebody else wearing a prosthetic. That’s about as absurd as it gets, right?' Zahn admitted

'To have this brilliant script fall into my lap and have it be in Hawaii? It was green lights all the way. We were at the Maui Four Seasons. It was closed, so we were truly in a bubble. It felt like film camp,' Zahn continued.

When asked if he got a chance to enjoy the scenery Hawaii offered, he said it was 'limited' though he did get scuba certified.

'Fred (Hechinger) and I both got our PADI (scuba) license. Neither of us were really into it,' Zahn said with a laugh. 

Hawaii: 'To have this brilliant script fall into my lap and have it be in Hawaii? It was green lights all the way. We were at the Maui Four Seasons. It was closed, so we were truly in a bubble. It felt like film camp,' Zahn continued

Hawaii: 'To have this brilliant script fall into my lap and have it be in Hawaii? It was green lights all the way. We were at the Maui Four Seasons. It was closed, so we were truly in a bubble. It felt like film camp,' Zahn continued

'Our instructor was a little bewildered. Ninety-nine percent of the time, people are excited, but I was like, "How many ways can I die underwater?"' Zahn said.

The actor admitted he had a 'bad experience' filming the 1995 movie Crimson Tide, which has lead to his issues with filming in water.  

'There’s a scene where we’re all drowning in the sub. They told us we’d be underwater for 30 seconds. Thirty seconds doesn’t seem long. But when you’re acting that you’re dying, it gets difficult,' Zahn said.

Limited: When asked if he got a chance to enjoy the scenery Hawaii offered, he said it was 'limited' though he did get scuba certified

Limited: When asked if he got a chance to enjoy the scenery Hawaii offered, he said it was 'limited' though he did get scuba certified

'They said, "If you feel like you need help, just cross your arms and we’ll come get you." First take, everybody crossed their arms,' he said.

Zahn will next be seen in Gringa with Judy Greer and Roselyn Sanchez, that is currently in post-production though no release date has been set.

He also has 8-Bit Christmas with Neil Patrick Harris, June Diane Raphael, which doesn't have a release date. 

Coming soon: Zahn will next be seen in Gringa with Judy Greer and Roselyn Sanchez, that is currently in post-production though no release date has been set

Coming soon: Zahn will next be seen in Gringa with Judy Greer and Roselyn Sanchez, that is currently in post-production though no release date has been set

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