Aimee Lou Wood on Battling Body Dysmorphia During Filming
Aimee Lou Wood, 31, opened up about her struggle with body dysmorphia while filming bikini scenes for Chelsea in the third season of the Emmy-nominated HBO series The White Lotus. She shared her experience with Harper's Bazaar, explaining how she managed to overcome negative thoughts by separating herself from her character’s confidence.
“I shook myself out of it by thinking, ‘It’s not about whether Aimee wants to show her body or not – Chelsea does.’”
Embodying Chelsea’s Confidence
The actress described Chelsea as optimistic and spiritual, traits that helped Aimee feel empowered. She noted that the boundary between herself and the character began to blur, allowing her to channel Chelsea’s self-assurance during the scenes.
The Impact of Fame and Los Angeles
Aimee also discussed how the show's massive success thrust her into a new level of fame, leading to frequent trips to Los Angeles for work and press. However, despite LA’s glamorous reputation, she found the environment challenging.
“I find LA emotionally bulimic, and I say that as an ex-bulimic. It is this super-sized adventure where everyone’s talking about you all the time and you have to talk about yourself all the time.”
Summary
Aimee Lou Wood’s journey highlights the complex reality behind on-screen confidence, addressing both her personal mental health struggles and the pressures of sudden celebrity.