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The Action-Packed ‘White Lotus’ Finale Proved Aimee Lou Wood Is Its Breakout Star
Aimee Lou Wood's performance as Chelsea broke hearts — and proved the 'White Lotus' tradition of minting a new star each season
Wood, previously a standout on Netflix’s “Sex Education,” couldn’t help but pop off the screen from her first appearance on “The White Lotus,” but her work in the season’s early episodes felt at times confounding. Wood has a face seemingly designed to catch the camera’s focus, or that of a fellow hotel guest down the bar; wide-eyed and with sweetly distinctive front teeth making her smile not merely an emotional expression but an event, she’s a discovery for the show and, one senses, for just about any potential partner but the one ignoring her. Chelsea had deep belief in Rick, even in moments when their path forward seemed occluded; she wanted to be a part of something bigger than just herself; she found pleasure not in examining why she felt this way but in pursuing the deepest connection she could.
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