Aimee Lou Wood Opens Up About Casting Struggles and Appearance Pressure in 'The White Lotus' Season 3

'The White Lotus' Audition Came with a Dose of Doubt

Aimee Lou Wood didn’t expect her big break on one of TV’s sharpest shows to trigger a wave of self-doubt. When the word got out that Mike White, creator of The White Lotus, had to convince HBO executives to cast her as Chelsea—the down-to-earth yoga teacher in Season 3—her excitement mixed with unease. Instead of feeling flattered by White’s faith in her, she wondered why it was seen as a struggle. Had the network only seen her as an 'ugly girl' Mike White insisted on? That sting made her question her value beyond the script.

Wood’s anxiety wasn’t about her acting. She’s no stranger to tackling vulnerable roles, but this moment brought up familiar worries about how women are judged in film and television. 'It makes you go: Why? What do they see?' she said, recalling the thoughts that spun in her mind after hearing that White had to argue on her behalf. The feeling wasn’t new to her, but it never gets easier hearing her appearance is up for debate. She often finds the conversation circling back to her teeth—never her skill, her choices, her presence. 'Why does it always come down to that?' she asked, frustrated. She was quick to point out a double standard, raising a prickly question: When was the last time you heard male actors grilled about their looks this way?

Finding Solidarity and Facing Old Wounds

Filming 'The White Lotus' turned out to be more supportive than she anticipated. During a low-key dinner, Wood turned to Michelle Monaghan and Carrie Coon for advice on handling nudity in scripts. She felt safe sharing her nerves, something that hasn’t always been a given on set. Their responses made her feel seen—no judgment, just guidance from women familiar with the same pressures.

Wood compared this support to her time filming 'Sex Education,' where expectations around nudity and explicit content often left her feeling uncomfortably exposed. She noticed that she faced scenes other main cast never had to do, making her wonder if her boundaries were respected in the same way. For Wood, it’s not just about what happens on camera—it’s about the choices she’s given and the respect she receives for them.

What really gets under her skin is how society can’t seem to move past the surface, especially for actresses. Every professional achievement seems to come with a conversation about beauty, as if success only matters if you fit a certain mold. For Wood, this isn’t just a personal frustration—it’s a reflection of the stories the industry keeps telling about women and the boxes it wants to keep them in.

Wood’s story opens up a much-needed conversation around who gets championed in Hollywood and why. Her willingness to speak out, not only about her doubts but also about the real gender disparities she’s faced, throws light on a part of acting that never makes the script. By sharing these moments, especially the awkward and vulnerable ones, she’s hoping the next round of casting decisions—and the chatter around them—might be a little fairer, and a lot more focused on talent.