Aimee Lou Wood: Finding Empowerment in Acting Amid Body Dysmorphia and Hollywood Pressures
Aimee Lou Wood has shared her journey of overcoming body dysmorphia and mental health struggles through her performances in The White Lotus and Anxious People. The actress, also known for Sex Education, views acting not just as a career but as a space for self-discovery and acceptance in a demanding industry.
Learning to Confront Self-Image
In conversations with Harper’s Bazaar and Radio Times, Wood revealed how her roles have mirrored her own personal battles with body dysmorphia, social anxiety, and bulimia. When she discovered she would need to film scenes in a bikini for The White Lotus, old feelings of insecurity resurfaced from her teenage years.
“I shook myself out of it by thinking, ‘It’s not about whether Aimee wants to show her body or not – Chelsea does,’” Wood told Harper’s Bazaar.
This mindset helped her separate her real-life identity from that of her character, transforming vulnerability into strength. The shift enabled her to express creativity instead of self-criticism.
Support and Self-Acceptance
Wood has credited fellow actor Angelina Jolie and her professional experiences with inspiring greater self-compassion and confidence. By openly discussing her mental health, she continues to challenge Hollywood’s beauty standards and foster broader awareness about self-acceptance.
Author’s Summary
Aimee Lou Wood finds empowerment in acting by turning vulnerability into creative strength, using her experiences to confront body dysmorphia and promote self-acceptance in Hollywood.