In a dramatic turn of events while filming for the highly anticipated third season of HBO's The White Lotus, actress Aimee Lou Wood, known for her role in the hit series Sex Education, revealed that she suffered an unfortunate accident on set involving a snake. During a scene that required her character, Chelsea, to be bitten by a serpent, Wood fell, injuring one side of her body.
While discussing her experience on The Jonathan Ross Show, the 31-year-old actress explained that for this particular scene, a fake leg was designed specifically for her to portray a snake bite. She stated, “This amazing thing happened; a man came over to my house before I went to Thailand, he had this laser, he scanned my leg, then he created my leg.” This meticulous preparation ensured that the prosthetic was made to match her skin tone, successfully integrating into the scene where the snake actually bit the fake leg.
Wood elaborated on the symbolism of the snake in her character’s storyline. “The snake bites my character, it’s all very symbolic… there’s a lot of snake symbolism and it’s the Year of the Snake now,” she said. Although the experience sounds perilous, she assured fans that her character comes through the ordeal relatively unscathed. “She gets bitten and it’s not great but she’s alright because she’s weirdly robust in that way. But yes, the snake bit the fake leg.”
However, it wasn’t just Wood who had a challenging day on set. Her co-star, American actor Walton Goggins, who notoriously has a fear of snakes, reportedly experienced panic attacks between takes while filming the scene. Wood described Goggins's struggle with the daunting task: “He was honestly having panic attacks in between takes, he was having to really gear himself up.” In an unexpected turn, Goggins was even bitten by the snake during filming, requiring him to visit the hospital due to the incident.
Wood shared the harrowing moments of the shoot, saying, “I’m putting my full oomph into running away, I fell, cut all of this side of my body open… I had this mark on my shoulder. Snake day was quite chaotic!” Despite the chaos, she maintained a sense of humor and indicated that filming had its lively challenges, particularly given the unique circumstances of the day.
When asked if the false limb used in the scene was preserved post-filming, Wood cheekily remarked, “I think they had to throw it away because it had venom in it. The snake properly went for the leg. I was not near the fake leg. I pretended to see the snake and screamed which I found weirdly embarrassing.”
Reflecting on her growing fame due to The White Lotus, Wood noted that she is being recognized much more now, particularly in the United States. “It was worse after Sex Education with the recognizing,” she explained. “It had a cult following in America but didn’t quite take America. White Lotus feels very American. I’m being noticed there where I wasn’t before. It feels more intense.”
According to Wood, filming in the U.S. is a different dynamic, saying, “When I was out there filming, Jason (Isaacs) and I were the only non-Americans pretty much. You really have to match them. You have to really get in there with like, ‘Yeah, come on!’ You can’t be blase.” This adjustment to life on set in a different culture appears to be a growing theme for the actress, who has neared center stage in a much larger international spotlight.
The segment on The Jonathan Ross Show aired on Saturday, March 22, 2025, featuring various guests including Sir Stephen Fry, Irish comedian Joanne McNally, and artist Yungblud, who performed during the episode. Viewers tuning in could expect insight into the trendy discussions, alongside the thrilling stories that unfold behind the scenes of popular television shows.
The new season of The White Lotus, featuring Wood as Chelsea, promises to blend dark humor with timely cultural critiques, as is customary of Mike White’s acclaimed series. Fans will certainly be eager to see how the chaotic filming day turns into captivating television.
