AceShowbiz - "The White Lotus" star Aimee Lou Wood isn't just coping with the criticism about her distinctive teeth; she's embracing it. In doing so, she's redefining beauty standards in Hollywood and proving that authenticity is the new rebellion.

Wood has quickly become one of the most talked-about characters in the show's third season. Playing Chelsea, an astrology-loving woman who embarks on a Thailand vacation with her older boyfriend Rick (portrayed by Walton Goggins), Wood earned praise for her memorable performance - not least because of her distinctive teeth.

Despite initial nerves about starring alongside some of Hollywood's biggest names, the 31-year-old actress is proud of how her differences - from her lifestyle to her appearance - set her apart.

She told The Hollywood Reporter, "These people live in Hollywood. I live in my little flat in South East London, and I'm so British in my sensibility that I wasn't sure how to handle being around so many people who are so front-footed and confident."

The attention to her teeth has been both a source of insecurity and a badge of honor. "Even the way (The White Lotus fans) are talking about me and my teeth - that I don't have veneers or Botox - it feels a bit rebellious," Wood said, embracing her natural look in an industry filled with cosmetic enhancements.

Before her stint on "The White Lotus", Wood captured audiences' hearts on another Netflix show that won her a British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance. However, the path to stardom wasn't always smooth.

Wood has admitted while her teeth made her feel unconventionally unique, she sometimes wondered whether they were barriers to her career. During an interview with Stylist in 2020, she shared, "I had it in my brain that I'm not conventional-looking enough and that's a mental barrier I've had to overcome."

"I'm getting hundreds of messages from people going, 'Oh my god, you've got teeth like mine. Now I go to school and people think I'm cool because I look like Aimee,' " she noted.

Wood's confidence took an unexpected boost from Georgia May Jagger, who popularized the gap-tooth look in the beauty industry. Inspired by Jagger, Wood shared in a March Instagram video, "[My mouth] was the thing that everyone pointed out and it was the thing that made me different."

"And I've never seen an actress on TV with teeth like mine. When Georgia Jagger did the 'Get the London Look' and she had the gap teeth, that was a huge moment. I then thought, 'I am going to put red lipstick on and I am going to draw attention to it.' "

Ultimately, her journey underscores the power of embracing one's authenticity. Wood's narrative is a powerful reminder that in a world obsessed with perfection, being uniquely yourself can be the most rebellious act of all.