Aimee Lou Wood on Why She Kept Her Manchester Accent for ‘White Lotus’

The character Chelsea in “The White Lotus” Season 3 is portrayed by Aimee Lou Wood, who hails from Manchester, just like her character. During the audition process, creator Mike White preferred Wood to use her natural Manchester accent rather than an American one. Wood disclosed in an interview with The Sun that White specifically chose her Manchester accent over an American one. She humorously mentioned that her teeth are a dead giveaway that she is not American, as no Americans have teeth like hers.

Wood shared an amusing anecdote from a play she performed in Chicago, where a man in a bar complimented her American accent but ultimately guessed that she was not American based on her appearance. Despite her ability to do a convincing American accent, White felt it was unnecessary for her character to be American. According to Elle magazine, White believed that adding an extra layer of distance between Wood and her character was unnecessary, so they decided to keep Chelsea as a Manchester native.

Wood expressed her amusement at the misconception that she couldn’t do an American accent, clarifying that she is indeed capable of it. She jokingly mentioned the need to correct people who assume she can’t do an American accent. Overall, the decision to keep Chelsea’s character rooted in Manchester added an authentic touch to the role and allowed Wood to showcase her natural accent. The integration of Wood’s Manchester accent into the character of Chelsea added a unique and genuine element to her portrayal in “The White Lotus” Season 3.