Aimee Lou Wood opens up about trauma, Bulimia & mental health before 'The White Lotus' breakthrough

The star reveals how overcoming childhood trauma and bulimia shaped her path to success.

Aimee Lou Wood is set to become Hollywood’s next big star with her role in The White Lotus, but her journey has been far from easy. The 30-year-old actress has spoken openly about overcoming childhood trauma, bulimia, and mental health struggles while building her career.

Born in Stockport, Wood endured a turbulent upbringing. Her father struggled with addiction, often disappearing for days. “He would go out for a pint and not come back for days. He once went out and didn’t come back for 10 weeks because he'd been to the World Cup in Korea,” she told The Guardian. Her parents eventually divorced, and she lived with her mother and stepfather, who supported her passion for acting.

At drama school, Wood battled body dysmorphia and bulimia. “I hated my body and didn’t want to be in it – that’s not the case anymore, thank God,” she shared with Harper’s Bazaar. Staff at RADA intervened in what she called a “harsh but necessary” wake-up call. Therapy helped her work through her struggles.

Her big break came in Sex Education, where she won a BAFTA TV Award in 2021. She now stars in The White Lotus, playing Chelsea, the girlfriend of Walton Goggins’ character.

Filming in Thailand was intense, with Wood describing the experience as “claustrophobic” and adding, “I am someone who has so many f**ing mental illnesses, and there’s nothing wrong with being mentally ill.”*

She is also set to star in Toxic Town and Sweet Dreams. “Getting real is 2025,” she declared.

The White Lotus Season 3 is now available to stream on Max.