Patrick Schwarzenegger is ‘frustrated’ that people think he got White Lotus role because of his father

Patrick Schwarzenegger is setting the record straight about his acting career. 

The actor, who is currently appearing in season 3 of The White Lotus, recently addressed claims that he landed the role because of his famous last name.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, Schwarzenegger admitted that people often assume his success comes from his parents, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and journalist Maria Shriver.

But he insists he’s worked hard to earn his place in Hollywood.

He said, “I know there are people who’ll say I only got this role because of who my dad is.”

“But what they don’t see is the decade I’ve spent honing my craft, the hours of dedication I’ve put into developing my characters, and the countless auditions I’ve faced rejection from.”

He continued, “Of course, it’s frustrating, and you can get boxed in, and you think at that moment, ‘I wish I didn’t have my last name.’ But that’s a small moment.”

Despite the criticism, the 30-year-old remains grateful for his surname.

He acknowledged that coming from a well-known family has opened doors but shared that talent and hard work are what sustain a career in Hollywood.

He added, “I would never trade my life with anyone. I’m very fortunate to have the life and family that I have, the parents I have, and the lessons and values they’ve instilled in me.”

In the recently premiered, award-winning anthology series, Patrick plays Saxon Ratliff, whose family is vacationing at the resort.

Saxon is the son of Timothy (Jason Isaacs) and Victoria (Parker Posey) and works for his father outside of Thailand.

This isn’t Schwarzenegger’s first high-profile project. Early in his career, he appeared in David Spade’s comedy The Benchwarmers, Adam Sandler’s Grown Ups 2, and an episode of Scream Queens, co-created by Ryan Murphy.

Last year, he played former NFL star Tim Tebow in American Sports Story, a series about Aaron Hernandez’s life and controversies.