Aimee Lou Wood reveals Angelina Jolie gave her the 'thumbs up' after speaking up on set
- - Aimee Lou Wood reveals Angelina Jolie gave her the 'thumbs up' after speaking up on set
Edward Segarra, USA TODAY November 7, 2025 at 1:23 AM
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Aimee Lou Wood is finding her way in Hollywood, and she already has one leading lady in her corner.
"The White Lotus" actress, who's set to star opposite Angelina Jolie in the upcoming comedy "Anxious People," opened up about how the Oscar-winning actress encouraged her to speak up for herself while filming, during an interview with Harper's Bazaar U.K. published Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Wood, who was named one of the magazine's Women of the Year, described an on-set incident during which she became overwhelmed after several crew members shouted at her while she filmed an emotional scene. In response, the outspoken actress said she "stood up for herself and told them what she needed to focus: one direction, one voice, no hand movements in her line of sight."
"I've spent years feeling unable to say anything like that for fear of seeming argumentative, but now I feel like I can take ownership of what I need to thrive and tell people what won't work for me," Wood, 31, reflected. "When I spoke up, all I could see was Angelina giving me a thumbs up."
Aimee Lou Wood, left, and Angelina Jolie are set to star together in the upcoming comedy "Anxious People."
Wood added that the vote of confidence from Jolie meant the world to her: "She's possibly the most famous woman ever, but she's so normal. I'm fairly certain she drives herself to set each day."
"Anxious People" serves as an adaptation of the 2019 novel by Swedish author Fredrik Backman, which centers the wacky tale of a bank robber who inadvertently takes a group of strangers hostage in an apartment after a failed heist.
In addition to Wood and Jolie, the Marc Forster-directed dark comedy will also star Joanna Scanlan, Carol Kane and Jason Segel. The film currently does not have a release date.
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How Aimee Lou Wood's 'White Lotus' character helped her overcome body dysmorphia
A stay at The White Lotus hotel turned out to be more cathartic than Wood could have imagined.
During her Harper's Bazaar U.K. interview, the British actress, who plays the free-spirited Chelsea on the HBO dramedy, said the character's skimpy attire of a bikini triggered old feelings of body dysmorphia, a condition she struggled with as a teenager.
According to the Mayo Clinic, body dysmorphic disorder is a mental health condition in which a person fixates on "one or more perceived defects or flaws" in their appearance, which can prompt repetitive behaviors such as "checking the mirror, grooming or seeking reassurance" from others.
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However, Wood explained that Chelsea's confident demeanor helped her get through the experience: "I shook myself out of it by thinking, 'It's not about whether Aimee wants to show her body or not, Chelsea does.'"
"The line between me and her started to blur," Wood added. "Acting has always been a safe place for me to work out my feelings. I think for that reason a role will hit me in the heart, in the gut."
Aside from her roles in "The White Lotus" and "Anxious People," Wood is also set to portray model and George Harrison's ex-wife Pattie Boyd in the upcoming "Beatles" biopics.
Contributing: Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Aimee Lou Wood on Angelina Jolie support during tense set moment
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