In our profile series, Tell Us In 10, we ask cast members and creatives of top London shows to tell us all about themselves in just 10 questions.
This week we have Aimee Lou Wood who is currently playing the role of Sonya in the new adaptation of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya by Conor McPherson (Girl From The North Country). You may also recognise Aimee from the small screen as Aimee Gibbs in the Netflix original comedy-drama series, Sex Education.
Uncle Vanya follows the story of Sonya and the titular character (Toby Jones) as they pass time on their falling-down estate with visits from the local Doctor Astrov (Richard Armitage). When Sonya’s father (Ciarán Hinds) returns unannounced with Yelena (Rosalind Eleazar), his beautiful young new wife, he declares his intention to sell the house. While Vanya and Astrov appear to fall under her charms, Sonya is less convinced. The niceties soon begin to drop and repressed feelings come to the surface.
1. My route into theatre was…
Drama School (RADA).
2. My West End idol is…
The entire cast of Uncle Vanya 😉
The cast of Uncle Vanya. Photo by Johan Persson.
3. My colleagues would describe me as…
Playful.
4. My favourite show present or past (that isn’t one I star in) is…
Yerma for Billie Piper’s performance.
5. The career moment I’m most proud of is…
My current West End debut.
Aimee Lou Wood and Anna Calder-Marshall in Uncle Vanya. Photo by Johan Persson.
6. The hardest part about my role is…
It makes me endlessly self-critical and self-analytical.
7. If I didn’t work in theatre I would be…
I’d love to be a therapist.
8. Something people don’t know about me is…
I used to be SUUUUPER shy.
9. The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is…
Face your front (Don’t compare your journey to others).
Aimee Lou Wood in Uncle Vanya. Photo by Johan Persson.
10. The one thing I wish I could tell my younger self is…
It’s good to cry.
You can catch Aimee Lou Wood in Uncle Vanya playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre until 2 May.