Angelina Jolie champions Aimee Lou Wood's mental well-being on set

Aimee Lou Wood found an unlikely supporter when she asserted her needs for mental well-being during the production of Anxious People.

The 31-year-old Wood recounted how Angelina Jolie lent her backing when Wood asserted her boundaries during a stressful incident while shooting their forthcoming comedic film, as detailed in a Harper’s Bazaar interview released on Wednesday, November 5. The scene involved intense emotions, and Wood found it difficult to cope with several crew members giving her instructions simultaneously. She eventually communicated that she required a single speaker, clear guidance, and an absence of gestures to maintain her concentration.

“For years, I felt incapable of expressing such needs, fearing I’d appear confrontational — but currently, I feel empowered to claim what helps me flourish and articulate what hinders me,” Wood clarified.

The actress from The White Lotus further stated that upon her “speaking out,” Jolie, aged 50, promptly demonstrated her solidarity.

Aimee Lou Wood Advises Against Fans Altering Their Teeth to Mimic Her Gaps

“My sole visual was Angelina offering me a reassuring thumbs up,” Wood remarked. “Despite being arguably the most renowned woman globally, she’s incredibly down-to-earth. I’m quite sure she commutes to the set herself daily.”

In Anxious People, Jolie portrays Zara, an investment banker who, as per the movie's summary, “unwillingly becomes involved with an assortment of unfamiliar individuals at an open house” on the eve of Christmas. “When Grace (Wood), a hesitant bank robber, accidentally holds the group captive, disorder and excessive candidness erupt, truths come to light, and absolutely nothing proceeds as intended.”

Wood had previously shared details about her experiences with body dysmorphia, bulimia, and social anxiety in an interview with Radio Times on September 29.

“There are still times when I feel intensely overwhelmed and pressured, and the old urge surfaces, thinking, ‘I could just regain control by abstaining from food …’ But then I tell myself, ‘No, I must [eat],’ and I intercept that thought, striving to avoid exhaustion,” she explained. “As a child, I harbored a strong desire to be ‘average,’ yet I later understood that all the individuals I most appreciated and looked up to were eccentric — even beloved literary figures such as Jane Eyre.”

Addressing the topic of beauty norms in the entertainment industry, Wood continued, “My career in acting has transformed my self-perception. I once disliked how demonstrative my face was, but as I approach my 30s, I refuse to let concerns about others’ opinions prevent me from experiencing life. True beauty emanates from within, and I am uniquely myself, which is perfectly acceptable. I have no obligation to conform to predefined categories.”

The White Lotus’ Aimee Lou Wood Expresses a Desire to ‘Cease Discussion’ Regarding Her Dentition

In April, Wood challenged humor directed at her looks after the Saturday Night Live ensemble satirized the third season of The White Lotus. Sarah Sherman wore prosthetic buck teeth to impersonate Wood’s character, Chelsea, an act Wood eventually labeled “cruel and humorless.” Following the skit, Sherman, 32, dispatched flowers to Wood, and Wood confirmed she received “regrets from SNL.”

In an April conversation with GQ, Wood addressed the ongoing discussion about her teeth, stating her weariness of the subject.

“While I’m pleased it represents defiance and liberation, there’s a boundary,” she stated. “The entire dialogue revolves solely around my teeth, which causes me some sadness as it overshadows discussions about my professional endeavors.”

Wood further commented, “I wonder if this would be as extensively discussed if the subject were a man? The focus remains consistently on a woman’s physical attributes.”