So she left the set for a completely inconvenient five-day trip back to London.
I was piecing my life back together.
People will be like, Chelseas the best.
Chelseas amazing, she says.
And Im like, I think she is, but shes also a fucking nightmare.
At points when I was playing her, I was like, Shes pissing me off now.
Aimee Lou Wood as Chelsea and Walton Goggins as Rick Hatchett inThe White Lotus
And I had to be like, Whyis she pissing me off so much?
So shes constantly running away from her feelings and making it all about Ricks feelings.
Discussing the intricacies of Chelseas character is where Wood comes alive.
And while Wood is appreciative of all the kind words, shes also a little over it.
Its really weird because…it was the thing that I was bullied for, she says.
I did seven months of really hard work.
How do you feel ahead of the big conclusion?
So much happens in [episode] eight.
Obviously, a lot has happened up until this point, but it really kicks off in eight.
Are there any fan reactions to your character or storyline that have surprised you so far?
I love reading the theories that are so wrong, but theyre so well written.
My favorite subject at school was English lit.
So I love analyzing.
I love taking one thing and then analyzing the hell out of it and saying what it could mean.
I love that the work is so detailed.
From what Im gauging, people are quite off the scent.
The theory was she was a former yoga influencer who now bankrolled him.
But no, shes not.
Whereas, there used to be a lot of…her relationship to Ricks money in the original script.
Okay, so why is Chelsea so in love with Rick?
He kind of sucks!
I also love people saying this.
I think because I had Chelsea goggles on when I was filming, because you cant judge a character.
We are cosmically linked.
The universe brought us together.
I am going to heal him.
I mean, she’s got a major rescue fantasy.
I mean, Chelseas fucked up.
However, they have had fun together.
Chelsea said, When are we going to have fun again?
Unfortunately, its coming out sideways at her, which is sad and, I think, very identifiable.
Weve all had a friend with a grumpy boyfriend.
I do think Chelsea is deeply codependent.
I mean, she has such a rescue fantasy.
The fact that, Were in a yin and yang battle.
Hes pain and Im hope, and one of us will win.
Shes in this battle with him.
She wants to be.
Ive watched this therapist, shes amazing actually.
Shes done a therapy session essentially on all the characters.
And I said to Mike, What I love about Chelsea is that shes constantly going to Rick.
Its like one finger pointing through, pointing back, always going, You are mysterious.
We really know nothing about her.
Nothing about her, and she doesnt reveal.
She speaks in horoscope, she speaks in Enneagrams, but she doesnt get that vulnerable.
I think theres a lot of deflecting that Chelsea does.
How can you relate?
I have definitely been a deflector in my life.
What do you think is her backstory?
I am dying to know so many details, like how did Chelsea and Rick get together?
Where did they meet?
How long have they been together?
In the original scripts, there was more information.
So they met in Cancun.
They met there; they took loads of drugs together.
And Rick says, We were doing meth, or something like that.
And Chelsea goes, Yeah, but you were so cute that night.
It got taken out.
Walton has a story that Rick was probably at a bar.
He wouldnt have made the approach.
Chelsea made the approach, and then its just spiraled out of control.
Shes just traveled around with him from that moment forward.
And theyve had great times together, but theyve also had shit times.
So does Chelsea just want to fix him?
Ive kind of always felt like life is happening to me, and Im not making choices.
you’ve got the option to believe that there is also some higher power and something at play.
I can be the driver and not just the passenger.
Its disempowering, and shes also avoiding responsibility for herself….
I could feel it in my body after a day of playing Chelsea; I would be so tired.
And Im like, Hows she recharging herself?
Do you think thats why in episode seven she pushed Saxon away?
Because he was trying to actually connect with her?
Saxons soul and Chelseas soul, I feel like theyre very similar.
The internet is shipping them now.
Theyre both definitely fire signs.
Saxon is an Aries or a Leo; he has to be a fire sign.
Theyve both got grim determination.
Saxons constantly giving his life mottoes.
Theyre full of these aphorisms and sayings.
And theyre both these quite similar people in a soul way.
Hes like, Give me more.
I think its going to be controversial.
Have I taken all the characters in the right direction, or is everyone going to hate me?
I think its going to really divide people.
It seems like you all got very close on set, living there for months together.
You find home out there, like Patrick andLeslie[Bibb, who plays Kate].
Leslie and I went to Tokyo together.
We did loads of fun stuff.
Then whats really lovely is thereve been people that Ive gotten closer to since the end.
I just adore her so much.
Youre unquestionably one of the biggest breakout stars from the show.
Everyones talking about Chelsea, but also, the American audience cant stop talking about your teeth.
How has that whole experience been like for you?
Its really weird because…it was the thing that I was bullied for.
But then it does get to the point where youre like, Can we stop fucking talking about it?
It actually ends up feeling a bit similar.
Now Im walking into a room and all people see is that.
It shouldnt be that big a deal.
And I was like, Fuck yeah, that is actually very true.
So I love that, and I love the feeling of it being a bit like a rebellion.
I did seven months of really hard work.
I can totally understand how youd feel that way.
And I hope it doesnt overshadow my work.
I felt bad because yesterday on the street, it was intense.
Every single person that walked past said Chelsea!
And I was on the verge of a panic attack, right?
Of coursethat sounds overwhelming.
I do just find it weird that Im talking about my own teeth the whole time.
Its not just been the teeth.
People have said, Shes clearly not had Botox or filler or anything.
So its like, I love your face, and I love how much it moves.
However, if you did ever want Botox, you know where to find us.
I get a bit of whiplash.
That is…wild.
But then, I also have seen it with Walton and his hairline.
Why is it such a big deal?
The real level of acceptance would be not making a big deal out of any of it.
Like, Amys hot, even her teeth; Waltons hot, even his hair!
And its like, you could just say we are hot.
You dont need to add these things.
We spoke about that a lot, me and him are not generic Hollywood-looking people.
I mean, I think you both are, but that shouldnt matter anyway.
This role has been such a breakout for you, and everyones excited about what you do next.
What are your big goals right now?
LikeBroadcast News, How Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle.
When we were out there [in Thailand], I kept saying things like, Wheres Meg Ryan?
And Walton was like, You could be like Meg Ryan.
Its the comedic timing; weve missed that.
So I feel like I would love to write next.
I would love to write a classic rom-com.
