Aimee Lou Wood developed an interest in acting at a very young age. After taking a course at the Oxford School of Drama, she was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 2017. Although she took part in several stage plays as a student, she made her professional debut in 2016 as a cast member of Mary Stuart, a production of the Almeida Theater in London, in which she was involved for a year. Further roles followed this in stage plays until Aimee Lou Wood had her breakout role in the 2019 Netflix series Sex Education and quickly positioned herself as a screen actor to watch out for.
Her 2022 nomination for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Rising Star Award further indicated that Sex Education was just the start, and she would begin to follow up with other notable roles. Her subsequent appearance in the BBC hit show Daddy Issues was the highest comedy series launch since 2022. This would be followed shortly by the recent fan-favorite appearance on The White Lotus. Let’s review all of Aimee Lou Wood’s films and TV shows.
8
Seize Them! (2024)
Seize Them!
Release Date
April 5, 2024
Runtime
91 minutes
Director
Curtis Vowell
Writers
Andy Riley
Producers
Damian Jones, Sophie Meyer, Matthew James Wilkinson, Paul Grindey, Jack Webb
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Aimee Lou Wood
Queen Dagan
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Nicola Coughlan
Humble Joan
Set during the Dark Ages, Seize Them! follows an arrogant monarch, Queen Dagan (Aimee Lou Wood), whose hubris sees her overthrown and forced to live as a peasant. Here, she teams up with a former servant turned “s*** shoveler” and one of her ever-loyal servants, Shulmay, who all try to get her back into power. Dagan must come to terms with her past while learning little in the process.
Swing and a Miss for the Talented Wood
The only movie/series on this list we would advise avoiding is Seize Them! Aimee Lou Wood has proven herself to be a diverse talent with a knack for comedy and drama, but one can only do so much with a poorly written mess of a film. Medieval movies and TV comedies seem to be a difficult genre to nail that appease a broader audience, and the approach here of immature humor does not work. The movie is also visually rough around the edges, feeling more like a made-for-TV movie; it is a shame it failed with how much talent was involved in the production.
7
Uncle Vanya (2020)
Uncle Vanya
Release Date
October 27, 2020
Runtime
155 minutes
Director
Ian Rickson
Writers
Anton Chekhov
Uncle Vanya is one of playwright Anton Chekhov’s best-known plays. Published in 1898, it has been performed countless times in theaters worldwide. The production follows the voyage of a retired college professor and his young wife to the small rural town that his late first wife bequeathed him, the place that supports his lifestyle.
An Insightful Look into Wood’s Theater Days
Besides its theatrical runs, Uncle Vanya has been made into a film several times, including in 2020, when Conor McPherson’s stage version at London’s Harold Pinter Theatre was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the current cast was called in, and the play was recorded and theatrically released. In this production, Aimee Lou Wood plays Sonya, the main character’s daughter and his first wife. For this role, she earned a nomination for Best Actress in a Play at the Stage Awards and was runner-up at the Ian Charleson Awards.
Related
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These movies were originally intended for the stage but made for iconic films.
6
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021)
The Electrical Life of Louis Wain
Release Date
October 22, 2021
Runtime
111 minutes
Director
Will Sharpe
2021 marked the release of The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, a biopic that portrays the life of the eccentric artist Louis Wain, who became best known for his cat drawings, which became increasingly anthropomorphic as the years passed. This production, directed by Will Sharpe, stars Benedict Cumberbatch, along with Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, and Toby Jones, among other actors.
Wood Gives a Memorable Supporting Role in This Popular Biopic
It follows Louis’s journey as he becomes the provider for his family following his father’s death, as well as his highly criticized love story with Emily, the love of his life, and the ups and downs of his career and sanity. Wood plays Claire Wain, one of the main character’s sisters. The film is a fascinating look into the mind of a troubled artist who lives in infamy for his genre-defying images brought on by personal struggles.
5
Living (2022)
Release Date
December 23, 2022
Runtime
102 minutes
Director
Oliver Hermanus
The role of Miss Margaret Harris in 2022 Living earned Wood a nomination for Best Supporting Performance at the British Independent Film Awards. This Oliver Hermanus film is inspired by the 1952 Japanese film Ikiru and Leo Tolstoy’s 1886 novel The Death of Ivan Ilyich, and features Bill Nighy in a leading role that landed him an Academy Award nomination.
An Award-Winning Performance from Wood
Living follows senior London County Council bureaucrat Rodney Williams, who leads a very dull and humdrum life until he is confronted face-to-face with a fatal medical diagnosis. After years of failing to enjoy his own existence, a run-in with a very young and energetic former co-worker prompts him to find a new meaning for the future that lies ahead. Nighy and Wood are joined in this acclaimed production by Alex Sharp, Tom Burke, Adrian Rawlins, Hubert Burton and Oliver Chris.
4
Daddy Issues (2024 – Present)
Daddy Issues
Release Date
August 15, 2024
Network
BBC Three
After discovering she is pregnant after a one-night stand, Gemma (Aimee Lou Wood) is struggling to find support. This incident causes her to move in with her recently divorced father, Malcolm (David Morrissey), for help. The two move in together, but the odd pairing of lifestyle, age difference, and unresolved issues makes their rooming situation far from ideal.
Wood Shines in This BBC Comedy Series
Comedy with heart that manages to strike that balance is always a joy for fans of the genre. For her part, Wood is utterly charming in Daddy Issues, carrying an offbeat charm that will be highly relatable to many. The stand-out British comedy consists of six episodes, 20 minutes each, so while there is not as much content here as other shows Wood has starred in, she gives one of her best comedic performances to date; the series is slated for a second season in 2025.
3
The White Lotus (2024 – Present)
The White Lotus has become something of a cultural phenomenon, bringing in a wide cast of talent in an anthology format. The show explores the lives of the bourgeoisie and those around them, each season taking place at a different resort location. The series uses satire and a diverse cast of talent to deliver highly engaging TV that perfectly balances humor and drama.
Wood Manages to Stand Out Among an Ensemble Cast
If we were ranking on the quality of a project alone, The White Lotus would be top of our list. Aimee Lee Wood stands out as part of the cast of Season 3 of White Lotus, bringing optimism and a warmth that has made her character Chelsea a fan favorite. Her chemistry with boyfriend Rick (Walton Goggins) has also been the highlight of Season 3, as the two brilliantly play off each other. Still, as phenomenal as Wood has been in The White Lotus, the ensemble cast makes for a slightly less career-defining performance.
Related
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‘The White Lotus’ is currently dropping new episodes weekly; here are similar shows that roast the rich in a darkly humorous way.
2
Sex Education (2019-2023)
Release Date
2019 – 2022
Showrunner
Laurie Nunn
Directors
Ben Taylor, Kate Herron, Runyararo Mapfumo, Sophie Goodhart, Alice Seabright
This Netflix production, created by Laurie Nunn, follows Otis, a slightly shy and withdrawn Moordale Secondary School teenager, whose mother is a sex therapist. Capitalizing on his knowledge of the subject and the limited information available to the school’s students, Otis sets up a sex therapy clinic with his classmate Maeve that quickly turns into a sensation. However, things start to go wrong when he develops a crush on his business partner.
Wood’s Breakthrough Performance Still Stands Tall
Sex Education premiered in 2019 to critical and fan acclaim. It features performances from Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Connor Swindells, Kedar Williams-Stirling, and Wood, among many other talented actors. In Sex Education, Wood plays Aimee Gibbs, a student at Moordale Secondary School and Maeve’s best friend. Wood won a British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for her role in Sex Education.
1
Toxic Town (2025)
Release Date
February 27, 2025
Network
Netflix
Writers
Amy Trigg
Inspired by real-life events, Toxic Town chronicles the struggles of three mothers in the UK’s East Midlands whose town of Corby suffered from genetic defects after the improper decommissioning of a steel mill led to environmental containment. The movie chronicles the incidents that happened and the long-running court case that was not settled until 2009, decades after the incident first came to light during the ’80s and ’90s.
Wood’s Best Dramatic Role to Date
Wood’s gut-wrenching delivery on the stand in the limited series climax is reason enough to place Toxic Town so high on our list. Yet, her performance as Tracey, one of the mothers affected by a string of birth defects in their child, is consistent throughout, bringing the dramatic flair and charisma that has made her an in-demand actor. Jodi Whitaker gives an equally engaging performance, making the emotional journey of Toxic Town a worthy endeavor for fans of either to check out.
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