After skyrocketing to fame as Annabeth in the “Percy Jackson” series, Alexandra Daddario continued her rise in Hollywood with roles in critically acclaimed shows like “True Detective” and big-screen hits like “Baywatch.”
Her transformation from a commercial actor to a household name reached its peak when she starred in “The White Lotus.”
In the first season of Mike White’s HBO series, Daddario played an unhappy newlywed on her honeymoon. Her performance garnered rave reviews and an Emmy nomination, although the award ultimately went to her co-star Jennifer Coolidge.
Reflecting on her success in a July 2024 interview with Man of Many, Daddario said, “It was awesome. … I feel like if you get lucky enough as an actress to be on something that invades the pop culture in that way, you always feel blessed by success.”
Despite her achievements, Daddario’s journey has not been without challenges. She has faced personal struggles, problematic behavior behind the scenes, a frightening encounter with a stalker, and more.
#1 Alexandra Daddario’s Emotional Struggles in Childhood
As the daughter of two lawyers who emphasized academics, Alexandra Daddario was initially on a path very different from acting. However, everything changed when she attended an acting class with a friend at age 11.
“I was not an emotional kid, but I really sort of felt things. … They wanted you to cry, they wanted you to get angry, and they wanted you to express yourself [in class]. You were taught to flex those muscles. And I felt like it was this very true way of being,”
Daddario told Flaunt magazine in 2024. One exercise involved digging into personal moments to bring oneself to tears, which was particularly challenging for her.
“I didn’t want to cry in front of all these people. How embarrassing!” she recalled. Over time, she learned to channel her emotions into her roles, but it was a difficult process.
#2 Inappropriate Experiences as a Teenager
Unfortunately, Hollywood’s inappropriate behavior often extends to child actors. Although Daddario didn’t book her first TV gig until she was 16, she began auditioning at a young age and encountered unsettling situations.
In a June 2014 interview with Interview magazine, Daddario recounted a disturbing audition for a Got Milk? ad when she was around 13 or 14.
“The audition was me and one other guy. I would have chocolate syrup in my mouth, and the boy would put milk in his mouth, and we’d make out. And then, we’d come up from the big make-out, and we’d have chocolate milk mustaches,” she said. At the time, she didn’t fully grasp how inappropriate this setup was.
“I’m absolutely positive my parents didn’t know that was what the audition was. It was a little weird. Acting is a really strange thing. You have to know when you’re put in a bad situation, but you also have to be willing to do something very strange,” she continued.
#3 Early Career Challenges and Self-Doubt
Many may not know that Alexandra Daddario started her career on a soap opera. She landed her first role on “All My Children” at 16, playing Laurie Lewis from 2002 to 2003.
While this role taught her valuable skills, she was fired after a year and didn’t book another credited role until 2005.
Reflecting on this period with Women’s Health in September 2022, Daddario said, “I wasn’t a very good actress. I could memorize my lines, but finding my camera, finding my light, even learning how to walk naturally — it took a lot of practice.”
Despite this setback, she remained determined. “I knew something was wrong, but I knew I could fix it. I knew that I loved what I did and that I could be better,” she said.
#4 Emotional Toll of Texas Chainsaw
After “All My Children,” Daddario explored other genres, including horror. She starred in 2007’s “The Attic,” 2010’s “Bereavement,” and 2013’s “Texas Chainsaw 3D.” While the latter film received poor reviews, making it was emotionally taxing for Daddario.
In her interview with Interview magazine, Daddario described the intense emotions required for the role. “It was the most intense level of emotion to get into, being chased by a guy with a chainsaw,” she recalled.
“You get home at the end of the day, and you feel really depressed and strange and anxious.”
Additionally, she hinted at behind-the-scenes issues in a July 2021 chat with Collider, saying, “There were a lot of challenges on that project. … These were more severe.”
#5 Apprehension Over True Detective Nude Scene
Despite booking roles for over a decade, Daddario’s big break came with “True Detective” in 2014. Playing the mistress of Woody Harrelson‘s character, her performance generated significant buzz, partly due to a nude scene.
“It was the first time I was nude for anything, so I was definitely unnerved by that,” she told Interview magazine.
While the scene’s reception was mixed, it ultimately benefited her career. “All of a sudden, everyone in town wanted to meet with me, and then I booked ‘San Andreas,'” she told Collider in July 2021.
#6 Breakup with Logan Lerman
Though happily married to Andrew Form since June 2022, Alexandra Daddario’s love life was once a mystery. She was linked to her “Percy Jackson” co-star Logan Lerman, with reports suggesting they were engaged by 2014. However, they quietly split in 2016.
After the breakup, Daddario joked with People in April 2017 about her dating inexperience. “It feels really surreal — as a teenager I could never really get guys and I was pretty nerdy. Now I feel like I’m getting my revenge by being a Baywatch babe,” she said.
#7 Disappointment Over Baywatch Reception
In 2017, Daddario starred in “The Layover” and “Baywatch,” both of which were critically panned. Despite “Baywatch” performing well at the box office, its negative reviews were tough on Daddario.
“‘Baywatch’ was very sad for me because there was so much hinging on it. It was so big, and you have your face on every billboard, and then it just didn’t work, and that was painful,” she said in her July 2024 interview with Man of Many.
She also discussed the challenges of being typecast as the “hot girl” after the film’s release.
#8 Speaking Up for #MeToo
During the #MeToo movement in 2017, Daddario joined many celebrities in sharing their experiences. In October 2017, she tweeted, “I want other women to know it’s okay to speak up. I know how it feels to be too scared to. Let’s change the stigma. #MeToo.”
Though she hasn’t detailed her experiences, she mentioned in a 2018 interview with Be (via Yahoo! Lifestyle) that she’s faced misconduct but wasn’t ready to speak publicly about it.
#9 Connection to White Lotus Role
In 2021, Daddario starred in “The White Lotus,” playing Rachel Patton, an unhappy newlywed. She connected deeply with the character, as she revealed to Time in August 2021, “I had experienced in my life, on more than one occasion, a huge pressure to be happy.”
She further explained to Forbes in January 2022 that Rachel’s feelings of confusion and self-blame were familiar to her.
#10 Terrifying Stalker Incident
In February 2022, Alexandra Daddario faced a terrifying stalker incident when David Cako showed up at her home unannounced. Cako, suffering from delusions, drove from Colorado to confront her.
In a statement obtained by Radar, Daddario described the frightening encounter. “I did not recognize him. He did not say anything. He just stood there as I observed that he was physically shaking and trembling in a highly intense and nervous manner.”
Cako was arrested but posted bond shortly after, prompting Daddario to leave her house out of fear for her safety.
#11 Battling Insecurities
Despite her stunning looks and success, Daddario has struggled with insecurities. In her 2014 Interview magazine chat, she revealed, “I’m a combination between extreme insecurity and extreme confidence.”
In British Vogue in April 2023, she discussed the pressure on women to be perfect. “There’s a lot of pressure — especially for women — to be perfect all the time. But it’s about embracing all the different parts of yourself,” she said.
Alexandra Daddario’s journey through personal and professional challenges highlights her resilience and determination. Despite the struggles, she continues to inspire with her authenticity and strength, proving that even in the face of adversity, one can rise above.
