Warning - this article contains spoilers for The White Lotus

Viewers of The White Lotus were left gobsmacked this Sunday night (March 16) when a renowned Hollywood actor made an unexpected cameo in the latest episode of the third season.

This year's chapter of Mike White's hit HBO drama sees a fresh batch of affluent guests vacationing in Thailand, with tensions simmering just beneath the surface.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

While a girls trip featuring old pals Kate (played by Leslie Bibb), Laurie (Carrie Coon), and Jaclyn (Michelle Monaghan) escalates, the Ratliff family is bracing for a storm as patriarch Timothy (Jason Isaacs) uncovers some unsettling news upon his return.

Simultaneously, Rick Hatchett (Walton Goggins) is preoccupied with some business he needs to attend to in Bangkok, leaving his young girlfriend Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) in the company of Timothy's sons Saxon (Patrick Schwarzenegger) and Lochlan (Sam Nivola) and her newfound friend Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon), reports .

The fifth episode, titled Full-Moon Party, saw the surprise entrance of Oscar-winner Sam Rockwell in one of the series' most unforgettable scenes yet - but who does he portray?

Rockwell's character crosses paths with Rick at a hotel in Bangkok, and it's evident they share a past. He also hands over a bag containing something Rick requires.

As their meeting concludes, it's revealed that the bag holds a gun, leading viewers to infer that it's meant to assassinate the owner of the White Lotus in Thailand, who is responsible for Rick's father's death.

Before that, however, Rick and his friend catch up, and Rockwell's character shares that he's been sober for 10 months. Rick admits that he can't recall them ever spending time together without being under the influence, and his friend opens up about quitting drinking after his party lifestyle spiralled out of control.

When asked to elaborate, Rick's friend launches into a candid monologue about his struggles with sex addiction, which led him down some unexpected paths. He confesses that his attraction to Asian women prompted him to move to Thailand, where he found himself picking up multiple women every night, ultimately "losing it" after 1,000 such encounters.

This experience sparked a period of introspection, leading him to question his affinity for Asian women and ponder the root of his desires. He began to wonder if his actions were driven by a subconscious desire to identify as an Asian woman himself.

Rick's friend then recounts a pivotal incident involving a 'ladyboy' - a term referring to individuals born male who present as female, considered a third gender in Thai culture. This encounter was different from previous ones, as the 'ladyboy' took on the dominant role.

This experience led to a profound realisation: what he truly craved was the sensation of being an Asian woman intimate with himself. To explore this desire, he started inviting men over, sometimes paying them, while also hiring an Asian woman to observe.

Rick is visibly taken aback by the startling admission of his friend, admitting he's at a loss regarding what this means for his sense of self. Then, his friend discloses an epiphany – the realisation that his former lifestyle was detrimental, which led to him ditching booze and drugs in favour of adopting Buddhist practices.

Staying off the sauce, it seems, isn't much of a struggle for him; yet the path of celibacy proves to be somewhat more trying.

As the evening winds down, the duo exchange their farewells, with Rick hitting up his pal for yet another gesture of goodwill, asking him to keep the following night open for plans.

The identity of Rick's confidant isn't explicitly disclosed within the story, leaving viewers to speculate. Rockwell makes his mark in the episode merely as "guest starring Sam Rockwell" as the credits roll.

But given the plans hatched for another rendezvous the next day, there's good reason to bank on Rockwell cropping up again in episode six, when presumably we'll learn more about who exactly he portrays.

The White Lotus continues Sundays on HBO and the following Monday on Sky Go and NOW.