Aimee Lou Wood on Finding Healing Through Acting
Aimee Lou Wood, an English actress and writer, began her career on stage and gained recognition after receiving the BAFTA Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for her work in Sex Education. Over the years, she has appeared in productions such as Film Club, Toxic Town, Daddy Issues, The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, Uncle Vanya, and Living.
Overcoming Body Dysmorphia Through Her Craft
Wood shared that acting helped her face her struggle with body dysmorphia. She explained that, by concentrating on what her character Chelsea wanted instead of her own insecurities, she found relief and joy in her work.
“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.”
According to Wood, immersing herself in a role allows her to process personal emotions while gaining new insights each time she transitions from one character to another.
Speaking Openly About Mental Health
Beyond body dysmorphia, she revealed experiencing bulimia and social anxiety in her teenage years, and being diagnosed with ADHD earlier in 2025. In a September 2025 interview with Radio Times, she discussed how acting has positively influenced her outlook on life.
“I don’t need everyone to understand me. The people that get me, get me.”
Personal Growth Through Performance
Through her career, Aimee Lou Wood has transformed vulnerability into strength, using acting as both an expressive outlet and a pathway to self-acceptance.
Author’s summary: Aimee Lou Wood found emotional healing and self-acceptance through acting, using her roles to challenge insecurities and embrace authenticity despite ongoing struggles with mental health.