Why Aimee Lou Wood Is “a Bit Sad” About the Conversation Around Her Teeth

From the moment that Aimee Lou Wood’s Chelsea stepped off the boat at the White Lotus hotel, her distinct smile—a refreshing departure from Hollywood’s veneers—had viewers talking. As searches for her “gnashers” skyrocketed, Wood confirmed that yes, her teeth are real, and that they were previously a source of bullying and career woes for her. Despite the positive discourse, the actress revealed why she’s a “bit sad” her teeth have become such a topic of conversation at all.

In a new interview with GQ published on April 8, the Sex Education actress revealed that her newfound status as a gap-toothed icon is starting to get old as it overshadows other aspects of her career. “It makes me really happy that it’s symbolizing rebellion and freedom, but there’s a limit,” she told the publication. “The whole conversation is just about my teeth, and it makes me a bit sad because I’m not getting to talk about my work. They think it’s nice because they’re not criticizing.”

Wood revealed that the exhaustive teeth chatter makes her feel like her smile is something “goofy” that she’s decided not to get “fixed,” when having natural teeth should be something that’s the norm. “I don’t know if it was a man would we be talking about it this much? It’s still going on about a woman’s appearance,” she said.

Despite proudly embracing her “buck teeth” now, the star has previously shared how not looking “conventional enough” has impacted her ability to get certain roles. Even when filming the White Lotus, Wood admitted she felt out of place among her mostly American cast-mates, including Walton Goggins, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Parker Posey.

In contrast to her “front-footed and confident” Hollywood co-stars, Wood revealed that she holds herself differently, explaining, “All I ever do is take the piss out of myself. Even the way [White Lotus fans] are talking about me and my teeth—that I don’t have veneers or Botox—it feels a bit rebellious.”

Despite her initial impression, Wood emerged as one of the breakout stars of the season, with fans rooting for her and her unlikely “amour fati” Rick. While viewers were devastated by their fate during the finale, the actress revealed she wasn’t quite so sure that Chelsea and Rick were soulmates after all. 

“I think it’s really confronting for some because there’s a lot of people that have been Chelsea and it’s painful when you love someone and they’re not giving you anything back. It f**king hurts,” she told GQ. “It’s only after you leave that relationship that you go ‘what the f**k was I doing for so long, how did I do that?’’

In another world, she doesn’t think the choice should have been between Saxon and Rick. “Why does the choice have to be between two men?” she continued. “She could have chosen herself but she is a delulu romantic. That’s her thing to bear in this lifetime.”