Aimee Lou Wood Explained

Aimee Lou Wood
Birth Place:Stockport, England, UK
Occupation:Actress
Years Active:2016–present
Education:Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (BA)

Aimee Lou Wood (born 1995)[1] is an English actress. After early stage roles in Mary Stuart (2016–2017) and People, Places and Things (2017), Wood made her screen debut on the Netflix series Sex Education (2019–2023), which won her a British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance from two nominations. She subsequently had roles in the films The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021) and Living (2022), and in the stage productions of Uncle Vanya (2020) and Cabaret (2023).

Early life and education

Wood was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester and grew up in Bramhall.[2] Her mother works for Childline and her father is a car dealer.[3] [4] Her sister Emily Wood is a makeup artist.[5]

Following their parents' divorce, Wood attended Cheadle Hulme School.[6] She then took a foundation course at the Oxford School of Drama,[7] and went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 2017.[8]

She has mostly retained her regional accent.[9] [10]

Career

During her time at RADA, Wood was involved in many productions, such as playing Margaret in a production of Scuttlers directed by Hannah Eidinow, and as Goody in Vinegar Tom, directed by Cressida Brown. She began her professional acting career in 2016 by working on stage productions, making her debut as a handmaiden in the play Mary Stuart,[11] performed at the Almeida Theatre in London until 2017.[12] Following this, she starred as Laura in the production People, Places and Things, a role that was performed numerous times by Wood on a tour across the UK.[13]

In 2019, Wood made her screen debut as Aimee Gibbs, a main character in the Netflix comedy-drama series Sex Education, where she co-stars alongside Asa Butterfield, Emma Mackey, Ncuti Gatwa and Gillian Anderson.[14] [15] She had originally auditioned for the part of Lily, which was ultimately given to Tanya Reynolds, but accepted the role of Aimee when she was offered it. The series went on to receive critical acclaim,[16] [17] and Wood's performance earned praise.[18] At the 2021 British Academy Television Awards, she won the British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance,[19] which is both her first accolade and her first award received from a major association;[20] [21] she earned another nomination for the award at the 2022 British Academy Television Awards. Amidst her work on Sex Education, Wood has continued to take roles in theatre, reasoning that "I know a lot of screen actors who think they left it too long to go back on stage and now they have really bad stage fright."[22] In 2020, Wood played Jess in Hen, a short film directed by James Larkin.[23] That same year, she was cast in the pivotal role of Sonya in the production Uncle Vanya,[24] which was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic at the Harold Pinter Theatre and obtained both a cinematic release as well as a BBC national release in the same year.[25] [26] Uncle Vanya and Wood's performance was lauded by critics. On her portrayal of Sonya, WhatsOnStage wrote that "she is a glorious, kind, gentle girl ... Her attempts at cheerfulness in the face of so much crushing disappointment are almost unbearable. [Wood] positively shines."[27] Wood narrated Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, released 3 September 2020 by Penguin Audio.

In 2021, Wood joined the jury of the British Short Film Awards and announced the winner later that year.[28] She made her feature film debut as Claire Wain in the 2021 biographical film The Electrical Life of Louis Wain,[29] [30] which earned positive reviews from critics. She landed her first lead film role opposite Bill Nighy in the Oliver Hermanus drama feature Living, a British remake of the 1952 Japanese film Ikiru, which premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and earned acclaim.[31] [32]

Wood replaced Mia Goth for upcoming thriller film Sweet Dreams when she played Doorthy [33]

Personal life

Wood was in a relationship with her Sex Education co-star Connor Swindells, who in the series portrays Adam Groff, from January 2019[34] to sometime before March 2020.[35] She has struggled with her body image, revealing in a 2020 interview with Glamour magazine that "I have suffered with body dysmorphia my whole life. ... I remember before the first sex scene (in Sex Education), I thought, 'Right, okay. I'll start eating salads every day,' and I just didn't. That was such a turning point for me, making that decision to go, 'Actually, I'm not going to alter how my body looks before this scene because this is how my body looks.'"[36]

In light of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, Wood was one of over two thousand to sign an Artists for Palestine open letter addressed to Joe Biden, President of the United States, calling for a ceasefire and accusing western governments of "not only tolerating war crimes but aiding and abetting them."[37]

Filmography

Film

style="background:#FFFFCC;"
Denotes works that have not yet been released
YearTitleRoleNotes
2020Hen Jess Short film
2020Uncle Vanya SonyaCinematic release of the stage play recording
2021The Electrical Life of Louis Wain Claire Wain
2022Living Miss Margaret Harris
2024Seize Them!Queen Dagan[38]
2023Sweet Dreams Dorthy[39]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2019–2023Sex EducationAimee GibbsMain role, 32 episodes
2024Alice & Jack MayaMiniseries[40]
Daddy IssuesGemmaMain role; also executive producer[41] [42]
Toxic Town Miniseries[43]
Film Club EvieMain role; also co-creator[44]

Stage roles

YearTitleRoleNotes
2016–2017Mary StuartHandmaidenAlmeida Theatre, London
2017People, Places and ThingsLauraUK tour[45]
2018–2019DownstateEffieSteppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, Chicago
Royal National Theatre, London		[46]
2020Uncle VanyaSonyaHarold Pinter Theatre, London
2023CabaretSally BowlesPlayhouse Theatre, London

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2020The Stage AwardsBest Actress in a PlayUncle Vanya[47]
Ian Charleson Awards[48]
2021British Academy Television AwardsBest Female Comedy PerformanceSex Education
2022[49] [50]
National Comedy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Role[51]
British Independent Film AwardsBest Supporting PerformanceLiving[52]
2023British Academy Film AwardsEE Rising Star AwardHerself[53]
2024WhatsOnStage AwardsBest Takeover PerformanceCabaret[54]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Aimee Lou Wood. London Theatre. 18 August 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240818134940/https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/stars-on-stage/aimee-lou-wood. 18 August 2024. live.
  2. Meet Sex Education break out star Aimee Lou Wood. Wonderland. Erin. Cobby. 16 April 2020. 19 October 2023.
  3. Web site: Dex. Robert. 2020-01-24. Aimee Lou Wood on a badly timed press night text message from her dad. 2021-06-09. www.standard.co.uk. en.
  4. News: Wiseman . Eva . 2023-02-12 . Aimee Lou Wood: 'I am a wrecking ball of emotion' . en-GB . The Observer . 2023-05-05 . 0029-7712.
  5. Aimee and Emily Wood. Notion. Cal. MacIntyre. 28 June 2019. 19 October 2023.
  6. Web site: Old Waconians on the stage, screen and in the director's chair. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128103442/https://www.cheadlehulmeschool.co.uk/chs-life/news/old-waconians-stage-screen-and-director%E2%80%99s-chair . 2021-01-28 . Cheadle Hulme School. 21 January 2021.
  7. Web site: Oxford School of Drama Prospectus. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200129202242/https://www.oxforddrama.ac.uk/downloads/FINAL-Prospectus-20-21.pdf. 29 January 2020.
  8. Web site: Bergado . Gabe . Sex Education Star Aimee Lou Wood on the Power of Female Pleasure, Her Love for RuPaul's Drag Race, and the Iconic "My Ham!" Line . yahoo.com . 25 January 2019 .
  9. News: I confronted my own school bully. The Guardian. Arifa. Akbar. 9 February 2020.
  10. Sex Education's Aimee Lou Wood: 'If you can take ownership of your sexuality, you can take ownership of other parts of your life'. INews. Sarah. Carson. 15 January 2020. 21 January 2021.
  11. News: Marlowe. Sam. Theatre: Mary Stuart at the Almeida Theatre, N1. . en. 2021-06-09. 0140-0460.
  12. Web site: What's On: Mary Stuart . Almeida. 21 January 2021.
  13. Web site: People, Places & Things UK Tour. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128120930/https://headlong.co.uk/productions/PPTuk/people/ . 2021-01-28 . Headlong.co.uk. 21 January 2021.
  14. Web site: Bergado . Gabe . Sex Education Star Aimee Lou Wood on the Power of Female Pleasure . teenvogue.com . 25 January 2019 . 29 January 2019.
  15. Web site: netflix sets premier date for coming of age drama Sex Education! . eclipsemagazine.com . 4 December 2018 . 9 February 2019.
  16. Web site: Knight. Lewis. 2019-01-10. Sex Education on Netflix review - "Hilariously honest and refreshingly diverse". 2021-06-08. mirror. en.
  17. Web site: 2019-01-25. 'Take care of your actors': the intimacy director keeping Netflix's sex scenes safe. 2021-06-08. The Guardian. en.
  18. Web site: BAFTA Winner Aimée Lou Wood On Her Important Sex Education Storyline. 2021-06-08. Grazia. 6 June 2021 .
  19. Web site: BAFTA TV 2021: The Winners and Nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards. 28 April 2021. bafta.org. 28 April 2021.
  20. Web site: Aimee Lou Wood wins first BAFTA for her performance in Sex Education. 2021-06-08. PopBuzz. en.
  21. Web site: Barr. Sabrina. 2021-06-06. Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood screams in shock as she wins Bafta TV Award. 2021-06-08. Metro. en.
  22. Web site: Dex. Robert. 2020-01-24. Aimee Lou Wood on a badly timed press night text message from her dad. 2021-06-09. www.standard.co.uk. en.
  23. Web site: Student & graduate profiles – Aimee Lou Wood. rada.ac.uk. 29 January 2019.
  24. Web site: Clement. Olivia. 18 October 2019. Sex Education's Aimee Lou Wood, Ciarán Hinds, and More Join West End Uncle Vanya. 2021-06-09. Playbill. en.
  25. Web site: Filmed recording of West End Uncle Vanya with Richard Armitage and Toby Jones . 2021-06-08. www.whatsonstage.com. 4 September 2020.
  26. Clement. Olivia. 18 October 2019. Sex Education's Aimee Lou Wood, Ciarán Hinds, and More Join West End Uncle Vanya. Playbill. 20 January 2021.
  27. Web site: Review: Uncle Vanya (Harold Pinter Theatre) WhatsOnStage. 2021-06-09. www.whatsonstage.com. 24 January 2020 . en-GB.
  28. Web site: November 5, 2021 . British short Film Awards Jury . registration . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CV6EVcIrNI2 . 24 December 2021 . Instagram.
  29. Web site: Ritman. Alex. 2019-08-27. Stacy Martin, Hayley Squires Join Benedict Cumberbatch in 'Louis Wain' for Amazon, StudioCanal. 2021-06-08. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US.
  30. Web site: Trapunski. Charles. 2020-07-14. Interview: Sex Education's Aimee Lou Wood . 2021-06-08. Brief Take. en-CA.
  31. Web site: Edwards. Chris. 15 October 2020. Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood lands first lead movie role alongside Bill Nighy. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201214034117/https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a34386559/sex-education-aimee-lou-wood-movie-bill-nighy/. 14 December 2020. Digital Spy.
  32. Web site: Ritman. Alex. 2020-10-15. Bill Nighy, 'Sex Education' Star Aimee Lou Wood Team for Kurosawa Adaptation 'Living'. 2021-06-08. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US.
  33. Web site: 'Sex Education' Star Aimee Lou Wood Joins Nick Frost, Paapa Essiedu, Billy Howle & Niamh Algar In Crime-Thriller 'Sweet Dreams' — EFM. 7 February 2024 . Deadline.
  34. Web site: Lee. Jess. 1 March 2019. Sex Education's Connor Swindells confirms real-life romance with co-star Aimee Lou Wood. Digital Spy.
  35. Web site: Conner. Megan. 17 March 2020. Aimee Lou Wood addresses new roles, insecurities and high street fashion choices. Stylist.
  36. Web site: Smith. Josh. 'I used to write "fat" on my mirror': Sex Education's Aimee Lou Wood opens up about her body dysmorphia. 2021-06-09. Glamour UK. 16 January 2020 . en-GB.
  37. Web site: Tilda Swinton among 2000+ artists calling for Gaza ceasefire. Artists for Palestine. 17 October 2023. 17 October 2023.
  38. Web site: Grater . Tom . 2022-03-21 . UK Comedy 'Seize Them!' Unveils Cast; Matteo Garrone's 'Io Capitano' Underway; Rasika Dugal Wraps UK Shoot – Global Briefs . 2023-08-18 . Deadline . en-US.
  39. Web site: Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood lands next movie role. 7 February 2024 . digital spy..
  40. Web site: 10 August 2023. Andrea Riseborough, Domhnall Gleeson Lead Offbeat Channel 4 Romance 'Alice & Jack,' Directed by 'Compartment Number 6' Helmer (Excluxive). Variety. August 9, 2023 . Manori . Ravindra.
  41. Web site: Yossman . K. J. . 2023-12-11 . Aimee Lou Wood, David Morrissey to Star in Father-Daughter Comedy ‘Daddy Issues’ (EXCLUSIVE) . 2024-08-04 . Variety . en-US.
  42. Web site: BBC Comedy orders Daddy Issues for BBC Three with Aimee Lou Wood and David Morrissey to star. bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. 11 December 2023.
  43. Web site: Goldbart . Max . 2023-08-10 . 'Toxic Town': Netflix Greenlights Jack Thorne-Penned Corby Poisonings Series Starring Aimee Lou Wood, Jodie Whittaker, Robert Carlyle . 2023-08-18 . Deadline . en-US.
  44. Web site: BBC Three gets the popcorn in for Film Club, a new romantic comedy-drama from Aimee Lou Wood and Ralph Davis. bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. 23 December 2023.
  45. Chatterton. David. People, Places & Things. British Theatre Guide. 22 September 2017 . 21 January 2021.
  46. Thompson. Jessie. 18 March 2019. Aimee Lou Wood interview: 'I read Downstate and I was like: Bruce, what are you doing mate?'. Evening Standard. 20 January 2021.
  47. Web site: The Stage Nominees and winners 2017. thestage.co.uk. September 22, 2022.
  48. Web site: Ian Charleson Awards 2022 winner announced | West End Theatre . 22 May 2022 .
  49. Web site: TV . Guardian . 2022-03-30 . Bafta TV awards 2022: full list of nominations . 2022-04-17 . the Guardian . en.
  50. Web site: 2022 . BAFTA Television 2022: The Winners and nominations . 2022-05-09 . bafta.org.
  51. Web site: Shortlist opens for the National Comedy Awards 2021 Channel 4 . 2022-04-17 . www.channel4.com.
  52. Web site: BIFA winners and Nominations 2022. bifa.film . 3 November 2022 . 2022-12-21.
  53. Web site: 2023-01-17 . Nominees announced for the 2023 EE Rising Star Award ahead of the EE BAFTA Film Awards . 2023-01-24 . www.bafta.org . en.
  54. Web site: Nominations in full: the 24th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards. WhatsOnStage. Tom. Millward. 7 December 2023. 13 December 2023.

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