Aimee Lou Wood Shares Support from Angelina Jolie on 'Anxious People' Set
Aimee Lou Wood has opened up about finding her voice after confronting a “mean and unfunny” impression of her on Saturday Night Live. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the star of The White Lotus and Sex Education recounted an experience on the set of Anxious People, directed by Marc Forster and co-starring Angelina Jolie.
On-Set Experience and Speaking Up
Wood described becoming overwhelmed during an emotional scene due to multiple crew members shouting directions simultaneously. She requested for just one person to give clear instructions without hand movements distracting her.
“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 explained.
She recalled how Angelina Jolie showed her encouragement with a thumbs up, highlighting Jolie’s down-to-earth nature despite her fame.
“When I spoke up, all I could see was Angelina giving me a thumbs up. She’s possibly the most famous woman ever, but she’s so normal.”
Reflections on the 'Saturday Night Live' Parody
Wood also reflected on the SNL parody where Sarah Sherman exaggerated her teeth while mocking her character Chelsea from White Lotus Season 3, a sketch that followed Wood expressing her fatigue over discussions about her teeth.
She described standing up during the sketch as a breakthrough, likening it to overcoming long-standing fears of confronting childhood bullies.
“I felt a similar sense of catharsis after my SNL intervention, which was like breaking a pattern of not standing up to childhood bullies.”
Summary
Aimee Lou Wood’s story highlights her growth in self-confidence and the importance of supportive allies, like Angelina Jolie, in empowering her to assert her needs both on and off screen.
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