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Aimee Lou Wood recently opened up about her experience filming The White Lotus Season 3, sharing candid reflections on the insecurities she initially felt about her appearance and how the support of her co-stars helped her overcome these doubts. In an interview with GQ Hype, Wood revealed that when she first learned that creator Mike White had fought hard to cast her, it triggered some negative thoughts about her appearance. Despite knowing the comment came from a supportive place, she couldn’t help but feel insecure, wondering if her casting was due to her being “ugly,” and that HBO hadn’t wanted her for the role. She recalled thinking, “Mike had to say ‘Please let me have the ugly girl!’”
Wood, who portrayed Chelsea in The White Lotus, also reflected on her experiences filming intimate scenes and how her approach to them had changed since her previous work, such as Sex Education. She shared that talking openly with co-stars Michelle Monaghan and Carrie Coon about the necessity of the explicit scenes for her character helped her feel more at ease. Wood discussed how, in contrast to her earlier experiences, it wasn’t the scenes themselves that troubled her, but the feeling of being singled out for such intimate moments during Sex Education’s first season. She felt exposed because she had been the only one asked to go to such extremes, which made her uncomfortable.
In addition to discussing her personal experiences on set, Wood also addressed the ongoing public scrutiny about her appearance. Throughout the season, much of the conversation around her performance focused on her teeth, which led her to question whether male actors would face the same level of judgment for their looks. While some viewers may have intended to compliment her by focusing on her smile rather than offering negative critiques, Wood admitted that it saddened her that her acting was overshadowed by comments on her physical appearance. She pointed out that this focus on a woman’s looks remains a persistent issue, one that continues to dominate the conversation in the entertainment industry today.
Wood’s openness about her struggles with self-image and the gendered expectations placed on women in Hollywood highlights a deeper conversation about how appearances can often take precedence over talent. However, with the support of her co-stars and a growing sense of confidence, she is steadily carving out a more empowered and authentic space for herself in the industry. Her reflections serve as an important reminder of the need for a shift in focus from looks to the craft, and how actors, especially women, can find strength in embracing their imperfections while still achieving success in their careers.