Aimee Lou Wood opens up on body image fears, neurodivergence, and reclaiming her confidence.
Aimee Lou Wood, best known for her roles in Sex Education and The White Lotus, has opened up in a strikingly honest interview, offering a rare glimpse into her struggles with body image, neurodivergence, and the often lonely reality behind the glamour of acting.
Speaking to The Sunday Times, the 31-year-old British actress shared how her early experiences of being sexualised on screen left her feeling exposed and deeply uncomfortable. Referring to her breakout role as Aimee Gibbs in Sex Education, Wood recalled the impact of a topless scene that haunted her more than she expected.
Embed from Getty Images“I remember feeling quite vulnerable after Sex Education,” she admitted. “It felt like I was the one that had done the freakiest stuff.” Wood explained that her unease stemmed not just from the nudity, but from being singled out. “I would have felt better if it had been all of the actors doing it.”
The discomfort took her back to an even earlier time in her life, when she grappled with disordered eating and low self-esteem. “When I was younger and I was dealing with my eating stuff, it was my worst nightmare to get my body out,” she said. Although she had thought she had worked through these issues, the reality of being on a high-profile set reawakened insecurities. “I look back and there was so much in the way that I started to desexualise myself,” she reflected. “Sometimes you just want to put on a sexy dress and be a siren, but I denied myself that.”
Now starring in The White Lotus, Wood says things feel different. She describes feeling more empowered and supported, particularly around intimate scenes. “We were having these really helpful chats, so I felt less alone,” she said. “To the point where when I knew the episode was coming out that had my sex scene in, I didn’t even think about it.”
But Wood’s candid revelations didn’t stop at body image. She also shared for the first time that she has been diagnosed with ADHD and shows autistic traits—insights that have helped her understand her own past behaviour.
“I was almost mute, very socially anxious. I couldn’t sit down and eat a meal,” she said, recalling how her mum used to leave food scattered around the house just so she could nibble on it. “Now I know it was neurodivergence.”
Wood received a formal diagnosis of ADHD a few years ago but says professionals now believe autism may be at the root of her challenges. “They think that maybe it’s autism that’s leading the charge, and the ADHD is almost a by-product of the masking,” she explained.
This sense of alienation extends beyond the film set. Despite her rising fame, she finds herself longing for a more grounded existence. “I just wanted to burst into tears,” she confessed, describing a moment when she saw a group of women enjoying brunch after a Pilates class. “I want to sit with my friends and have a chat and do a Pilates class. Oh my God, that must feel like the best thing in the world, to have the choice.”
In peeling back the curtain on the silent struggles behind her rising career, Aimee Lou Wood is not only reclaiming her own story—she’s also helping others feel seen. Her openness about body image, neurodivergence, and the price of public life is sparking a conversation far bigger than any role she’s ever played.
