Aimee Lou Wood, the Bafta-winning star of Netflix's Sex Education, has called for more realistic portrayals of intimacy on screen. The 26-year-old actress, who plays the character Aimee in the hit show, said that while the series has been praised for its honest depiction of teenage sexuality, there is still work to be done in normalising conversations around intimacy and consent.
Wood, who won a Bafta for best female performance in a comedy programme in June, said that she was proud of Sex Education for being the first show to hire an intimacy coordinator. However, she admitted that filming sex scenes can still be nerve-racking, particularly a masturbation scene she found challenging because she had no other actor to joke with.
The actress also spoke about her character's sexual assault storyline in the second series, which continues into the third. Wood said she was glad that the show did not resolve the issue quickly, as real-life survivors often struggle for a long time. 'It can't just be resolved – all the girls get on the bus with her and she's over it,' she said. 'She needed to hear someone say: it's OK that you're forever changed.'
Wood, who trained at Rada and has a background in theatre, said she loves working across TV, film and theatre but particularly enjoys live performance. She admitted to experiencing stage fright when she performed at the National Theatre, feeling the weight of her celebrity after Sex Education made her a household name.
The third series of Sex Education, filmed under strict Covid guidelines, sees Wood's character seeking help from the school's sex therapist, played by Gillian Anderson. Wood said she was thrilled to be reunited with the cast and hopes the show continues to push boundaries in its portrayal of intimacy and relationships.
