Aimee Lou Wood, who plays Chelsea in “The White Lotus” Season 3, is British and had initially auditioned with a more neutral accent. However, creator Mike White preferred her authentic Manchester accent for the role.
In an interview with The Sun, Wood revealed that White was satisfied with her natural accent, saying, “I can do an American accent… But Mike just wanted my Manchester one.” She attributes this preference to a specific physical characteristic – her teeth. Wood claims that Americans tend to have different tooth alignment compared to people of British descent.
Wood shared a story from her time playing an American character in Chicago, where she noticed people often commented on not quite fitting the American mold despite mastering their accent. This experience reinforces her assertion about the connection between appearance and nationality.
The decision to make Chelsea a Manchester native was deliberate, according to Wood. Creator Mike White believed that adding an extra layer of distance between her character and herself would be unnecessary for the storyline. The unconventional choice turned out to be successful, allowing the show to explore themes with greater nuance.
Source: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/white-lotus-aimee-lou-wood-american-accent-1236338888