There are probably thousands of people around the world who dream about pursuing a career in acting, either out of pure artistic passion or the desire to achieve celebrity status and become acclaimed by audiences. Thus, every year the number of people who undertake acting courses in schools and other institutions increases. However, and in spite of any kind of training, only few aspiring actors succeed in making a name for themselves in such a talent-rich field as is the entertainment industry. Fortunately, once in a while, major productions allow promising young actors to showcase their talents, enabling audiences to discover new faces that, in no time at all, conquer their hearts.
Such was the case with Aimee Lou Wood, the promising actress who rose to fame in 2019 for her role in the Netflix series Sex Education and quickly positioned herself as an artist to watch out for. Wood developed an interest in acting at a very young age, and 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 a number of stage plays while she was 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. This was followed by further roles in stage plays until she made her television debut in 2019 in Sex Education and, later on, in film productions.
It has only been a few years since Wood launched her career in the industry, but judging by the talents exhibited in each of her roles, it is safe to assume that she has a very promising future ahead of her. Indeed, her 2022 nomination for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Rising Star Award is further proof that Sex Education was only the beginning for this amazing actress. Let's review all of Aimee Lou Wood's films and TV shows to date.
4 Uncle Vanya
Uncle Vanya is one of playwright Anton Chekhov's best known plays, published in 1898 and performed countless times in theaters around the world. 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.
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, daughter of the main character 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.
3 The Electrical Life of Louis Wain
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 that became increasingly anthropomorphic as the years went by. This production, directed by Will Sharpe, stars Benedict Cumberbatch, along with Claire Foy, Andrea Riseborough, and Toby Jones, among other actors.
It follows the journey of Louis as he becomes the main 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. In this highly acclaimed production, Wood plays Claire Wain, one of the main character's sisters.
2 Living
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.
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.
1 Sex Education
At the top of this ranking stands what has been, so far, the most successful and popular production featuring Wood, as well as the one that made her world-famous, Sex Education. 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 partner.
Sex Education premiered in 2019 and has currently been airing for three seasons with performances from Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Connor Swindells, Kedar Williams-Stirling, and Wood, among many other talented actors. While the show is due for a fourth season, it is reported that several actors will not be returning to reprise their roles, and the cast will feature some new additions, like Dan Levy. In Sex Education, Wood plays Aimee Gibbs, a student at Moordale Secondary School and Maeve's best friend. For this role, she won a British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance.