Murray Bartlett discusses The White Lotus and the experience of losing his front teeth — PIFF 2025.

      When Murray Bartlett relocated to the Provincetown, Massachusetts area a few years back, he worried it might hinder his acting career. After all, he had moved from his native Australia to New York City to maximize his chances for work.

      However, he was attracted to the Provincetown area—a picturesque LGBTQ+ and arts hub at the tip of Cape Cod—due to the opportunity to connect with nature, enjoying the woods and beaches away from the chaos of city life. It felt like the right decision for him at that point in his life, even if it meant sacrificing some professional prospects.

      Soon after, he landed his most significant role yet, portraying a resort employee facing extreme challenges in the first season of Mike White’s The White Lotus. His career took off just after turning 50, and The White Lotus opened doors to roles in shows like The Last of Us and Nine Perfect Strangers, as well as films such as Opus, released earlier this year, and Ponyboi, set to debut later this month. He has received two Emmy nominations and has become extremely sought after.

      “I knew I wanted to live here,” he shared with producer Christine Vachon during a Q&A at the Provincetown International Film Festival, where he received the festival's award for Excellence in Acting. “I was anxious to leave the city, but it felt important for my life. ... I feel like I followed what felt right for me.”

      This decision contributed to him feeling “happy and grounded,” he said, when the chance to star in The White Lotus emerged soon after he moved from New York. He also began to focus on the question, “What stories do I truly want to tell? That has since become my guiding principle.”

      Vachon, renowned for her work on films like Far from Heaven, Boys Don’t Cry, One Hour Photo, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Carol, May December, and the recently released The Materialists, remarked on how versatile Murray Bartlett is—stating that she didn’t recognize him when they first met for a meeting.

      During the event in Provincetown on Saturday evening, he shared how his acting journey began when his brother accidentally knocked out his two front teeth with a hammer while attempting to kill a spider back in Australia. Following the injury, Bartlett underwent speech therapy to learn proper enunciation, which involved performing numerous monologues, leading him to discover his passion for acting.

      He gained significant roles on Australian shows like headLand and Neighbours before moving to New York City in 2000, where his first major role was in Sex and the City, which made him realize he could succeed as an actor in the U.S.

      Relocating to Provincetown wasn’t the first time he left New York City, worried it might hinder his career—only to experience the opposite. He recounted a time when he moved to Egypt during the Arab Spring to pursue a relationship and grew a mustache to blend in with the locals.

      “A lot of people had facial hair, so I grew a mustache to try to fit in,” he told Vachon. “Then I got a call to audition for Looking, and I think the mustache played a big part in me getting the role.”

      His performance in The White Lotus featured a famously explicit sex scene that resonated with many in the predominantly gay audience. Bartlett recalled that before filming, his discussions with White were brief, mostly regarding the extent of explicit content he was comfortable with.

      “When I met with Mike, we only had a 45-minute meeting before we began shooting, and it was mainly about—rimming, really,” he said.

      The audience erupted in laughter and applause.

      “This is a man who understands his audience,” Vachon observed.

      Main image: Murray Bartlett at the Provincetown International Film Festival. MovieMaker.