Aimee Lou Wood: Finding Empowerment in Acting Amid Body Dysmorphia and Hollywood Pressures

Aimee Lou Wood, known for her roles in The White Lotus season 3 and Sex Education, reveals how acting has helped her confront personal struggles with body dysmorphia, social anxiety, and bulimia. Her journey toward self-acceptance unfolds both on and off screen.

Body Dysmorphia and On-Screen Vulnerability

When preparing for scenes in a bikini on The White Lotus, Wood confronted resurfacing memories of teenage body dysmorphia—a condition characterized by an obsessive focus on perceived physical flaws, as defined by the Mayo Clinic. The vulnerability required by the role challenged her deeply.

“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 to separate her personal anxieties from her character’s needs, turning a source of stress into artistic strength and shifting focus from self-criticism to expression.

Mental Health and Industry Challenges

Wood has also shared openly about her battles with social anxiety and bulimia. Through interviews with Harper’s Bazaar and Radio Times, she emphasizes the rare vulnerability of revealing such challenges publicly in the entertainment industry.

Her willingness to discuss mental health provides a powerful message of support and resilience.

Support and Self-Acceptance

She credits figures like Angelina Jolie for inspiring her journey, enabling Wood to embrace her authentic self within the demanding Hollywood environment.

Acting, for Wood, serves as a transformative space where personal hardship and professional demands intertwine, fostering growth and empowerment.

Author's summary: Aimee Lou Wood transforms her personal struggles with body image and anxiety into a source of artistic empowerment, offering a rare glimpse into navigating mental health in Hollywood.

Azat TV — 2025-11-06