Jackson White Photograph by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images [This story contains spoilers from the first three episodes of Tell Me Lies season three: "You F*cked It, Friend," We Can't Help It If We Are A Problem" and "Repent."] It may be hard to believe because Jackson White has sold his performance of a "psychological puppet master" so well in Tell Me Lies. But he's nothing like Stephen in real life. The 29-year-old actor, who has been playing everyone's favorite toxic boyfriend for three seasons (Tell Me Lies season three just premiered its first three episodes), has built his career on a mix of delusion - thanks to the support of his famous mom, Katey Sagal - and perseverance for his craft. Related Stories TV Inside the 'Tell Me Lies' Premiere Party With Grace Van Patten, Jackson White -- and Tattoos TV 'Tell Me Lies' Drops Surprise Episode With Season 3 Premiere (Exclusive) That drive led him to his breakout role in HBO's Mrs. Fletcher in 2019 and to Hulu's Tell Me Lies a few years later. As White continues to steer his own course, his performance as a master manipulator has caught audiences' attention, and he's excited to bring them on another rollercoaster this season. "I'm a pretty open book, raw nerve, heart-on-the-sleeve kind of guy," White tells The Hollywood Reporter. "It's very different than this character [in Tell Me Lies]. It's why it's been such a fun challenge to remain secretive and stoic. It's why I love this job." Below, White gets candid about season three chaos and playing such a complicated character, filming difficult scenes with real-life girlfriend Grace Van Patten and the personal challenges he's been able to overcome. He also teases the rest of the season: "Everything's going to explode." *** Having grown up seeing your mom's work and success in the industry, how did that play a role in your decision to pursue an acting career, and how has it informed the actor you've become today? Well, my mom was a musician first. She was a background singer touring the world. The acting thing sort of happened by accident for her. She loved performing, and she went into these meetings and auditions and kind of had an "I don't really care" attitude. She had a really cool approach that I like. She really cares and is meticulous and thought out, but then to make it look easy and effortless? That's what I'm learning about. This job is not a magic trick. It's not an illusion. It's a ton of hard work. It's hours and hours of memorization and working and figuring out your stuff so that when you get there, you can look easy and effortless. That's what I've tried to copy her on. And then the other side of it is that she was family first, and that's important. Your mom also plays your mom on Tell Me Lies. As you work to define yourself as an actor, how do you navigate differentiating yourself and has there been any added pressure? Look, it's wonderful to see that this is attainable and possible. If your parent was a doctor, you would probably grow up going, "I could probably be a doctor," even though it's a wildly difficult, crazy thing. Same with the arts. The only gift that I have from that is the delusion that it's possible, because it is. It's insane. And then after that, if you don't stick, you don't stick. You still have to make it through the door. So it was great to see it's possible, and then you got to get in the trenches with everyone else. Three seasons into playing Stephen, how do you approach getting into the insane headspace to portray him, and do you fully understand him as a character at this point? Yeah, I think I do. It starts out [with] a lot of ambiguity. Why does he do what he does? Who is he? Where does he come from? What's going on with this guy? I can't figure it out. And then by the end, three years in, we're seeing all the consequences and all the craziness from that. It's just pure chaos and you see how dark he can go. I just tried to stay consistent for three years. I've never played somebody three years in a row. It's difficult. I've just done my best to keep it fresh. Jackson White in Tell Me Lies season three. Disney/Ian Watson Also, the fact that Stephen's not physically intense, necessarily, but moreso manipulates mentally with mind games must bring its own challenges. They were very cautious to show that. That's never been his thing. And in fact, when I would have an impulse as an actor to not become physical, but to have that physical imposition and get in there, we usually pull it back because it's very important that he's a chess player. He's a psychological puppet master. In the first episode this season, Stephen confronts Lucy about sleeping with Evan (Branden Cook). Even if Lucy did directly admit it to him at first, do you actually think he could have ever gotten past it? Maybe. Maybe he's just trying to win, though. You never know with him. He's slippery. Why do you think Stephen seems so shocked and angry when Lucy says she chooses Bree (Kat MIssal) over him in epis