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Natasha Rothwell of ‘The White Lotus’ on fame, failure, and falling in love — with herself

Music helped Rothwell go from “performing versions of myself” to embracing who she is.

A woman, smiling brightly, wears a one-shoulder blue satin dress, with bold earrings and rings. The background features abstract blue and pink swirls.
Natasha Rothwell, who stars as Belinda on “The White Lotus” and Kelli on “Insecure,” has learned to fall deeply in love with herself. | Source: Getty Images

In each episode of our podcast Life in Seven Songs, we ask some of the world’s most fascinating people: What songs tell the story of your life?

Our guest this week? The actress and creator Natasha Rothwell.

Long before Rothwell started stealing scenes as Belinda on “The White Lotus” or Kelli on “Insecure,” she was a self-described “people-pleaser” and peacemaker.

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Rothwell’s seven songs reveal how creating some of the most iconic characters on TV today has been a form of self-discovery — one that has transformed her from a military kid trying to fit in into a creative force who has fallen deeply in love with herself.

“ I am deeply disinterested in convincing anyone of my worth. I know who I am, and that’s something I didn’t know then.”

Here are her seven songs.

  1. Kirk Franklin & The Family – Riverside
  2. Frank Sinatra, Count Basie – Fly Me To The Moon
  3. Jay-Z – Oh My God
  4. Whitney Houston – I Have Nothing
  5. Alanis Morissette – You Oughta Know
  6. Sara Bareilles – She Used to Be Mine (from Waitress)
  7. Coldplay – Fix You

Sophie Bearman can be reached at sophie@sfstandard.com