Jason Isaacs may be celebrating a major career milestone, but he admits he still struggles with feeling like he doesn’t quite belong.
The 62-year-old actor, who has been nominated for an Emmy for his performance as Timothy Ratliff in season 3 of The White Lotus, says that even after decades of work and recognition, he continues to battle imposter syndrome.
Speaking to PEOPLE at the Televerse Festival in Los Angeles, Isaacs confessed, “I get completely starstruck by everybody whose work I admire, and not just the other people in my category, in every category, and all the people who aren’t nominated. There’s a lot of extraordinary talent around. I always feel like an imposter.”
He added that the feeling won’t go away on Emmy night either, admitting, “I will feel like an imposter on Emmy night too, and I kind of look forward to it and I’m kind of scared of it.”
Isaacs is competing in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series category alongside his White Lotus co-stars Sam Rockwell and Walton Goggins, as well as Paradise actor James Marsden and Severance stars John Turturro, Tramell Tillman and Zach Cherry.
While the Emmy nod is his first, Isaacs is no stranger to recognition, having previously earned wins at the Satellite Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, Empire Awards and more for acclaimed roles in Case Histories, Mass and Star Trek: Discovery.
Still, he says this moment feels different.
“I try not to think about it honestly. I don’t mean that it’s not incredibly flattering and lovely. I just know that I’ve been doing this job for a very, very long time, and very rarely do you get this kind of attention,” Isaacs shared.
Reflecting on his nomination, he credited the role itself for making it possible.
“And it’s not a coincidence. I didn’t do anything better or different than I normally do. I just had a fantastic part,” he said.
“Mike White creates these three-dimensional surprising human beings that behave in the kind of jagged or particular ways they do, and asks of all the actors in it to go to places they don’t normally go. And so it’s such a privilege.”
With Emmy night approaching on September 14, Isaacs admits the mix of nerves and excitement will stay with him.
But even as he braces for the spotlight, his humility, and gratitude for the role, make clear why his performance has struck such a chord with audiences and critics alike.
