White Lotus Star Sam Nivola Criticizes Cosmetic Surgery for Limiting Young Actors’ Roles

Sam Nivola, 21, known for his role in HBO's 'The White Lotus,' criticized older Hollywood stars for using plastic surgery to maintain youthful appearances, which he argues limits opportunities for young actors to break into the industry. In a Variety interview, Nivola expressed concern that older actors playing young roles prevent new talent from emerging, though he praised Timothée Chalamet as a rare exception. He acknowledged admiring Tom Cruise but noted that the prevalence of cosmetic procedures makes it harder for young actors to reach similar levels of stardom. Nivola also shared feeling typecast as socially awkward young characters but is hopeful for more diverse adult roles in the future. His comments sparked debate on social media, with some accusing him of ageism and others highlighting his advantage due to his actor parents. Co-star Aimee Lou Wood echoed skepticism about cosmetic procedures, emphasizing the importance of facial expressiveness in acting.