Aimee Lou Wood, star of The White Lotus, has shared her unique experience of filming the show in a luxurious Thai resort, describing it as a “social experiment.”
The British actress, who is known for her role as Aimee Gibbs in Sex Education, spoke to The Guardian about the intense and often surreal experience of spending seven months at The Four Seasons hotel without a break.
Wood explained that living and filming in the same hotel for such an extended period was an unusual and extreme experience. “Living in a hotel that we also film in? It was like a social experiment,” she said.
Despite the challenges, she found the experience unforgettable. The stunning ocean views and majestic landscape stood out as highlights, and she praised the show’s creator, Mike White, for his genius direction.
However, the extreme circumstances of filming sometimes made it hard to maintain a sense of self. Wood recalled a moment when she was having her hair done, and the hair and makeup artist, Miia Kovero, told her, “You need to go home. I don’t know who I’m talking to any more, Aimee or Chelsea.” Wood had become so immersed in her character, Chelsea, that she lost track of her own identity.
Wood’s role as Chelsea, a sunny yoga teacher involved in a complicated relationship with her older boyfriend, played by Walton Goggins, added depth to the show’s tense atmosphere. She noted that the writing by Mike White often kept everyone “on the edge,” making the show even more intriguing.
Reflecting on her breakout role in Sex Education, Wood noted that the show’s success was unexpected. “We had no idea how big it was going to be,” she said, referencing her BAFTA-winning performance as the troubled teenager, Aimee Gibbs.
