The beginning of her life was filled with insecurity and bullying, not least because of her distinctive teeth. Despite struggling with her body image, she rose resiliently to become a well-known on-screen face. Her teeth, often discussed among fans for years, never defined her; instead, she chose to embrace her uniqueness and remain true to herself.
Early in her childhood, the actress struggled with body image and self-esteem. Born on February 3, 1994, in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, she had a difficult start in life, dealing with severe shyness. Her mother worked for ChildLine, and her father was a car dealer.
Growing up in an unstable home, she navigated a challenging reality early on, with her father’s addiction creating a turbulent environment. Meanwhile, she battled eating disorders.
“I was almost mute, very socially anxious. I couldn’t sit down and eat a meal. My mum had to leave food around the house and I’d have to snack around. Now I know it was neurodivergence,” she told The Sunday Times in 2025.
As she grew older, that sense of confusion only increased. She often questioned why simple tasks felt so overwhelming for her, while things others struggled with seemed easy. However, it later turned out to be a specific diagnosis that explained much of it.
“I got diagnosed a few years ago with ADHD with autistic traits,” she told The Times. “But then it’s been advised that I should go for an autism assessment. They think that maybe it’s autism that’s leading the charge, and the ADHD is almost a by-product of the masking.”
After her parents separated during her school years, her then-stepfather enrolled her at Cheadle Hulme School, a private school. During this time, her home life remained turbulent.
However, it was not a good match. The actress experienced constant bullying and was deeply unhappy. For a period, she would not even leave her house.
“If you’ve been bullied as a kid, like I was at school, the feeling of being noticed wherever you go… it was not healthy for me,” she told The Guardian. “When you’re in fight-or-flight mode, you can’t really differentiate. So I stayed at home for a long time. A long time.”
Moreover, she developed an eating disorder.
“They noticed I was tiny and didn’t eat. So they kept a watchful eye on me. I was weighed a few times. I knew deep down in my heart they were completely right, but it made me angry because it meant I had to change.”
However, even though bullying was part of her everyday life, she showed resilience and ultimately decided it would not define her.
“I can remember the day where I made the strategic choice, in year seven, to change,” she continued, explaining that in drama class, while playing freeze tag, a teacher nodded at her and said, “Do it.”
“And I remember thinking, I’m at a crossroads. I can either carry on how I am and be really miserable or I can get up and do a funny character that might make people laugh.” It worked. It worked very well, maybe too well.
Mocked for her teeth
Her drama classes became a turning point as she grew older. After finishing school, she was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Upon graduating, she landed her first major role in the hit Netflix series Sex Education, playing Aimee Gibbs.
Before getting the role, however, she had doubts. Her character was originally supposed to wear braces, but one thing made her uncomfortable. She had been bullied because of her teeth when she was younger.
“I went in three times to read for Lily and I thought she suited me because she was originally supposed to wear braces. I just thought, ‘It’s a Netflix show, I’m not going to get on there with my teeth.’ But they ended up calling me back for Aimee, and she just is me,” she told Stylist.
Hollywood and show business, in general, have always had an obsession with perfection. Actors and actresses undergo plastic surgery, Botox, and other procedures in order to “fit in,” and often it does not reflect reality.
Aimee Lou Wood – a superstar and role model
But Aimee Lou Wood never let these comments define her. Even though she faced bullying for her teeth as a young person, discussions about her looks have continued into her career. She has often felt reduced to her appearance, as many women in entertainment do.
The prominent gap between her front teeth has been in focus for a long time, even to the point of obsession. She told GQ Magazine it has made her feel that there is something “goofy” about her that hasn’t been “fixed.”
However, Aimee Lou Wood has never felt the need to “fix” it. Her resilience shines in embracing her uniqueness, becoming a role model for many. Just like Robin Williams’ character tells Will, played by Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting, about the things his late wife did that might not be considered “perfect” by some:
“People call these things imperfections, but they’re not. Aw, that’s the good stuff,” Williams’ character Sean told Matt Damon.
Aimee Lou Wood told GQ about her teeth, saying, “It makes me really happy that it’s symbolizing rebellion and freedom, but there’s a limit. The whole conversation is just about my teeth, and it makes me a bit sad because I’m not getting to talk about my work. They think it’s nice because they’re not criticizing… And I have to go there… I don’t know if it was a man, but would we be talking about it this much? It’s still going on about a woman’s appearance.”
Won’t let ‘imperfect teeth’ define her
After Aimee Lou Wood landed a major role in The White Lotus, reaching the top of show business, scrutiny about her teeth continued. The criticism escalated when, some time after her casting, Saturday Night Live aired a skit mocking her teeth. The skit, broadcast to millions, portrayed her with a heavy British accent and exaggerated teeth.
She later received an apology from the show’s team.
In 2020, she was asked by Stylist whether she felt her teeth had prevented her from getting certain roles. Aimee Lou Wood replied, “No, I don’t. It’s completely in my head. It’s a myth I’ve told myself. I had it in my brain that I’m not conventionally attractive enough and that’s a mental barrier I’ve had to overcome.”
Aimee Lou Wood has proven herself to be an outstanding actor. Perhaps most importantly, her resilience makes her a role model for many who see “Hollywood perfection” and think it prevents them from reaching their dreams.
Her journey shows that truly embracing what makes you unique takes real courage. Her success reminds us all: never let expectations define you. Celebrate the strength of being yourself and inspire others to do the same.
