Natasha Rothwell, a native of Waldorf, Maryland, has received a 2025 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her acclaimed role as Belinda Lindsey in the third season of HBO’s “The White Lotus.”
Rothwell graduated from Westlake High School in 1999 and further developed her craft at the University of Maryland, College Park, where she earned a BA in Theatre Performance. During her college years, she immersed herself in the improv scene with groups like “Erasable Inc.” Her comedic talents flourished at the Washington Improv Theater (WIT), where she was a mainstage company member and served as Director of Education. These experiences in Maryland and D.C. were instrumental in her rise in the entertainment industry.
This nomination marks Rothwell’s third Emmy nod, following a 2022 nomination for the same role in the show’s first season and a 2020 nomination as a Supervising Producer for “Insecure.” In a fun Maryland connection, Issa Rae, the star of “Insecure,” also has ties to the area. She grew up in Potomac, MD, and attended the gifted and talented program at Cold Spring Elementary School. Rae shared in a
Washington Post
interview that her time in Potomac included experiences “not considered ‘Black,’” such as participating in the swim team, street hockey, and attending Passover dinners with Jewish friends.
Natasha Rothwell’s career highlights her versatility as an actress, writer, and producer. She began her career teaching English in Japan and performing improv before moving to New York City, where she taught high school theater and continued with improv groups like Upright Citizens Brigade. She gained early recognition as a writer for Saturday Night Live during the 2014-2015 season.
Rothwell has also appeared in films such such as Love, Simon, Wonder Woman 1984, Wonka, and the Sonic the Hedgehog films. She is also a prominent voice actress in animated series like The Simpsons and Bob’s Burgers. More recently, she created, wrote, and stars in the Hulu comedy series How to Die Alone, which premiered in September 2024. In 2020, she established her production company, Big Hattie Productions, to support marginalized voices in the industry.
