Retired NCAA gymnast Olivia Dunne revealed that her first in-person acting audition was for season four of the HBO series The White Lotus, though she ultimately did not land the role.
Speaking in April’s Boardroom cover story with Rich Kleiman, Dunne described the experience as both unfamiliar and exciting, comparing it to the nerves she once felt as an athlete. “I felt like I was an athlete again,” she said of the audition process for the HBO dark comedy series.
“I was obviously a bit nervous at first. I was like, ‘Oh man, what if I forget the lines.’ Pause. I’ve done things way harder than this in my life. Whoa. I flipped on a beam in front of 13,500 people,” Dunne told Kleiman.
She added, “It’s different. I think I would rather have done a backflip in front of the casting director, but I mean, I went there, I put it all out there. It was my first audition.”
Dunne added that she has continued to pursue acting opportunities and is gradually becoming more comfortable with the process.
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She concluded with, “I didn’t know what to expect, and it was honestly really fun. And I’ve done a few more auditions since. Not in person, but that one was pretty cool. I did enjoy doing it in person. It felt like I was an athlete again.”
Livvy Dunne Lands ‘Baywatch’ Reboot Role And Expands Into Acting
Livvy Dunne is now filming a recurring role as a lifeguard in a reboot of Baywatch, set to air during the 2026 to 2027 television season. Moreover, this project marks her acting debut. Talking about the role, she admitted to training consistently for the transition into entertainment.
She said, “Naturally, I gravitate towards things that are more creative. My family is quite creative. I come from a family of entrepreneurs. I would love to dive into acting. I’ve been doing lots of auditions and rehearsing scripts and getting used to that lifestyle, which has been amazing because it’s something I’ve been passionate about ever since I was in college.”
The former NCAA athlete added, “I couldn’t find the balance between being a student athlete and working with brands. So it’s something I took on after college, and it’s been so much fun. I have my mom standing there helping me memorize the scripts. I have an amazing acting coach.”
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The New Jersey native retired from gymnastics in April 2025 after helping LSU win a national championship in 2024 and finishing third in the NCAA semifinals in her final season. She has since expanded her career into modeling and brand partnerships.
Dunne debuted with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit in 2023 and will appear again in the 2026 issue, marking her fourth feature. She is also in a relationship with Paul Skenes and holds equity in NOBULL, a fitness and wellness company backed by Tom Brady and Mike Repole.
