Aimee Lou Wood on Overcoming Body Dysmorphia Through Acting
Aimee Lou Wood is an English actress and writer known for her stage and screen work. She earned the BAFTA Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for her role in Sex Education. Throughout her career, she has appeared in projects like Film Club, Toxic Town, Daddy Issues, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, Uncle Vanya, and Living.
How Acting Helped Her Heal
Aimee disclosed that portraying her character Chelsea in White Lotus helped her overcome body dysmorphia. She learned to shift focus from what she wanted personally to what her character needed, which she found empowering. She said:
“I shook myself out of it by thinking, ‘It’s not about whether Aimee wants to show her body or not – Chelsea does.’ Acting has always been a safe place for me to work out my feelings. I think for that reason a role will hit me in the heart, in the gut.”
She also mentioned needing time to detach from characters but values the emotional growth gained from the acting process.
Mental Health Challenges and Growth
- Aimee struggled with bulimia and social anxiety during her teenage years.
- In early 2025, she was diagnosed with ADHD.
- Speaking to Radio Times in September 2025, she said acting changed her mindset and helped her accept herself.
“I don’t need everyone to understand me. The people that get me, get me.”
Author’s Summary
Aimee Lou Wood credits acting, particularly her role as Chelsea, for helping her confront body dysmorphia and embrace her mental health journey with greater self-acceptance.