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Aimee Lou Wood voiced what everyone’s thought when she branded a recent Saturday Night Live parody of her appearance in The White Lotus as ‘mean and unfunny.’

In the sketch, the 31-year-old actor is played by performer Sarah Sherman, 32, who is wearing oversized prosthetic teeth while proclaiming she’s never heard of dental health mineral fluoride.

The US show later apologised to Aimee, but it should have known better as just days earlier, the rising British star told GQ hype the discourse around her teeth was upsetting.

‘It makes me a bit sad because I’m not getting to talk about my work,’ she explained.

And it’s not just that it’s overshadowing Aimee’s stellar career: we can all agree that discussing women’s bodies and appearances is tired, misogynistic and outdated.

So let’s bury the chatter around the actor’s teeth once and for all and grant her wishes: here are Aimee Lou Wood’s five best roles.

Sex Education

Sex Education, a comedy-drama about teenagers’ love lives, was Aimee’s first professional TV credit – and it made her a star.

In the groundbreaking Netflix series, she played student Aimee Gibbs, earning plaudits for her portrayal of her character’s experience of being sexually assaulted on a bus.

The role even won her the Bafta for best female comedy performance in 2021.

Sex Education is available to stream on Netflix.

Toxic Town

Much like ITV drama about the Post Office Mr Bates vs The Post Office, Netflix’s Toxic Town was praised for bringing to life the shocking injustice of one of the UK’s biggest environmental calamities.

The four-part drama, which also stars Doctor Who actor Jodie Whittaker and Trainspotting star Robert Carlyle, is based on the Corby toxic waste scandal, which was blamed for causing birth defects in the area between 1989 and 1999.

Aimee plays real-life mother Tracey Taylor, whose daughter Shelby died at just four days old after developing a heart defect caused by the toxic waste.

Toxic Town is available to stream on Netflix.

Daddy Issues

Aimee stars in a gem of a British comedy-drama Daddy Issues, which will be returning for a second season on the BBC.

She plays Gemma, a party girl who becomes pregnant after a one-night stand with a man she only knows as Ben on a plane back from holiday in Portugal.

Gemma winds up moving in with her hapless father (David Morrissey) in a one-bed flat as they navigate parenthood together in a heartwarming yet chaotic way.

Daddy Issues is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Living

You know you’ve hit the big league when you’re starring alongside Bill Nighy in an Oscar-nominated film.

Living was up for two Academy Awards, best actor for Bill and best adapted screenplay, and while no gongs were added to anyone’s downstairs toilet, it was a triumph.

Aimee plays a vibrant young woman, Margaret, who befriends her boss, Mr Williams (Nighy) and inspires him unknowingly to spread good in the world before his death from cancer.

Living is available to rent on Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.

The White Lotus

Even though it may be an obvious choice, it would be remiss to ignore HBO’s The White Lotus, the TV show that has arguably made Aimee an international star.

In a drama about death and the misgivings of the elite, she plays the only likeable character, Chelsea, who is desperately trying to revitalise her bitter boyfriend Rick (Walton Goggins).

While Chelsea may not have had the ending viewers hoped for, the role has cemented Aimee as one of the world’s most in-demand actors

The White Lotus is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

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The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey has opened up about what it’s like to play the lead of arguably the biggest TV series in the world at the mere age of 21 years old.

Today, season 2 of the TV phenomenon finally premiered, more than two years after viewers last watched Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella) on their perilous journey.

In The Last of Us, which is based on the video game franchise of the same name, viewers learn that Ellie is immune to the infection that’s spread across the globe and turns human beings into zombie-like creatures, with Joel tasked with smuggling her across the country in the hope that she could be the key to finding a cure.

At the London premiere of the second season, Bella revealed to Metro what it’s like being the number one name on the call sheet during filming – which one might assume would come with a whole lot of pressure for a show that cost tens of millions of dollars.

However, it appears the Game of Thrones star has taken the responsibility fully in their stride… and doesn’t seem too phased.

‘Actually being number one on the call sheet is something that I enjoy,’ they shared.

‘I like being able to set the tone on set and set the vibe for anyone new coming in and make it a really kind and equal set, is my favourite part about being number one.’

One of the new cast members in question is Isabela Merced, who’s joined the series as Ellie’s best friend and love interest Dina.

Following the release of season two episode one, many fans lauded the 23-year-old’s performance, calling her portrayal of Dina ‘perfect’.

Speaking to Metro at the premiere, the Madame Web star shared how much it meant to her to be a part of Ellie and Dina’s beautiful romance.

‘It felt amazing. I can relate to a lot of Dina’s story, relate to her seeing no need to define her sexuality, she flows,’ the actress said.

‘Also I really appreciate that Bella is someone that I could work with and I felt really safe with. Bella is an amazing co-star for so many reasons, but also having someone you can trust, it feels better when you’re “falling in love” with them.’

Following Isabela’s introduction as Dina in the first episode of The Last of Us season two, fans have showered her and Bella with praise for their ‘insane’ chemistry.

Warning: spoilers ahead for the first episode of The Last of Us season two – if you haven’t watched it yet, look away now!

In the opening instalment, Dina and Ellie are attending a dance on New Year’s Eve in their community in Jackson when they kiss for the first time.

When a man hurls homophobic insults at them, he’s shoved to the ground by Joel, who then asks Ellie if she’s ok.

Ellie furiously shouts at him in response, insisting that she doesn’t need his help, leaving viewers upset over the fact that the father-daughter duo clearly have a lot of tension between them at this point in the story.

After watching Ellie and Dina’s romantic moment, one fan called Gianni wrote on X: ‘The chemistry between Bella Ramsey and Isabela Merced is insane. They hit this scene out of the park. Everything about it was beautiful.’

‘It was so perfect,’ Aubrey added, while AJ said that they were ‘giggling and kicking my feet rn’.

The Last of Us showrunner and executive producer Craig Mazin explained to Metro how there are going to be new moments in the second season that are different to the game, which are ‘really going to rock people’.

‘It’ll put you back on your heels,’ he promised.

The writer also shed some light on the dark direction the series is going to go in future, talking to us shortly after the third season was officially confirmed by HBO.

‘I think it’s important for fans to know that everything that’s happening now in season two is almost like… it’s like a little seed that’s going to blossom into this very scary fungal nightmare in season three,’ he said.

‘But all questions will be answered, all mysteries will be solved. Everyone is going to have to face their fate.’

The Last of Us is available to watch on Sky Atlantic and NOW, with new episodes released on Mondays.

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If you can’t wait until the new Harry Potter series for your next Paapa Essiedu fix, you can binge-watch his performance in a ‘groundbreaking’ BBC drama.

Today, the actor, 34, was confirmed as Severus Snape in the HBO TV adaptation of JK Rowling’s novel series, alongside the likes of Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid and Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall.

Paapa’s career has gone from strength to strength since starting at the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2012, including roles in TV shows Gangs of London, The Lazarus Project and Black Mirror.

He’s also made waves in Hollywood, starring in films such as Murder on the Orient Express, The Outrun and Men.

But arguably Paapa’s breakthrough performance was in 2020 black comedy-drama I May Destroy You, created by Michaela Coel, 37, which became a smash hit during lockdown and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

In it, he starred as the protagonist writer Arabella’s (Coel) best friend Kwame, supporting her as she rebuilds her life after being raped.

Regarded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, I May Destroy You won numerous awards, including Baftas, Emmys and a Peabody.

Viewers were equally in awe of the series, with Google reviewer Esther Hameola writing: ‘Before anything, I want to acknowledge the genius writing of Michaela Coel. To think that the storyline highlights topics that are at the centre of all the important conversations that need to be had in this day and age.

‘I enjoy a series that puts emphasis on the dialogue between the characters. I love the dynamic that the friends share in this series.The storyline is quite intriguing, watching yourself relive the most traumatic events in your life while being in control of the narrative, is quite empowering to say the least. The characters on the show are 100% suited to the roles they play.’

Echoing their sentiment, Jack T shared: ‘Wow. It was raw, thought-provoking, funny shocking and dazzling. So glad I decided to watch it after being hooked after the first episode. It was a difficult watch at times ,but only because it showed us real life in a way that we had to look into our own lives and see how we behave towards others and how real life can at times be very ugly, very difficult but also amazing.’

B Kelly also added: ‘An incredible series, Michaela Coel’s creative storytelling & direction is beyond. The story is sharp & visceral, yet always feels so filled with some form of beauty & grace It is an extremely real series – real humans living their interpersonal dreams & nightmares. It’s funny, it’s moving, beautiful and raw. I walked away feeling like I’d dipped my head in ice water then jumped in a long hot shower. I am so impressed.’

In I May Destroy You, Kwame’s storyline helped to examine and question the issues of consent and assault in the gay dating world, especially with the invention and presence of hookup apps like Grindr.

Speaking to the Obsessed With… I May Destroy You podcast in 2020, Paapa stated that he realises the impact the themes and discussions involved in the series will help change public perception.

‘It was a historical moment in British TV,’ he told host Sophie Duker.

‘I just felt it was so rich because of the story it told, not only with what happened to him but the depth of connection that those three central characters have together.

‘He can’t communicate that to Arabella because he knows she can’t deal with it at the time and he ends up taking the hit for it.’

HBO has yet to announce who will play Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter TV adaptation, but 32,000 children have auditioned for the roles, according to the BBC.

A number of fans have also said they plan to boycott the TV series due to Rowling’s comments about the trans community. Rowling, 59, has been criticised by some fans for expressing views that have been described as transphobic by the LGBTQ+ community and civil rights groups. Rowling has denied being transphobic.

I May Destroy You is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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Warning: spoilers ahead for The Last of Us season 1. This review doesn’t contain spoilers for season 2.

Going into The Last Of Us season 2, I had my fears.

Not that I didn’t trust the creators of the TV show, which was quickly hailed ‘one of the greatest of all time’ when it premiered in 2023. But living up to its own legacy was always going to be an enormous feat.

Over two years later, The Last of Us season 2 is finally back, reuniting fans around the world with smuggler Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a teenage girl who is the only known person immune to the Cordyceps infection that’s ravaged the world.

I can safely say that after watching all seven of the new episodes, I needn’t have worried.

At the end of season one, Joel discovers that the rebel group called the Fireflies are going to perform a procedure on Ellie to try and create a cure to the infection, which would kill her in the process.

Having come to see Ellie like a daughter, Joel refuses to stand by and let her die. So he sets off on a warpath through the hospital, killing all of the Fireflies who get in his way and shooting the doctor who was going to perform the operation in the head.

Ellie, who is unconscious throughout the bloodbath, is later informed by Joel that the Fireflies were actually killed by raiders who attacked the hospital. When she asks him to swear that he’s telling her the truth, he does, even though viewers know that he’s lying.

The love and deception that’s weaved into the unbreakable bond between Joel and Ellie forms the foundation of The Last of Us season two.

While a lot of fans are complete newcomers to the story, others played the video games on which they’re based, and so know major plot points that are just around the corner.

Whether or not you’re aware of spoilers for the story, it should come as no surprise that there’s going to be heartbreak and devastation aplenty. So strap yourselves in.

Five years after the events of the first season, Joel and Ellie – who’s now 19 – are living in Jackson, Wyoming with Joel’s brother, Tommy (Gabriel Luna), his wife Maria (Rutina Wesley), their son, and hundreds of other members in their rural community.

While the community is thriving, there are still dangers lurking outside of their borders. And not just from the infected, with one shown breathing out ‘spores’ in the trailer for season two, which in the video game can contaminate non-infected people through particles in the air.

Other dangers come in the form of militant forces and cult-like sects living in the wilderness, who have spent years developing their own unique walks of life that they’ll fiercely defend using lethal means.

Just like in the first season, Joel and Ellie’s relationship forms the backbone of season two. Following Joel’s demolition of the Fireflies, many viewers suspected that Ellie guessed that her father figure might have lied to her about her rescue and how the rebel group were killed.

Even though five years have passed, his lies have not disappeared into the ether. They torment his mind, adding to the friction that’s inevitably built between him and Ellie as she yearns for more independence as a young adult.

Yet again, The Last Of Us makes its viewers take a good hard look at themselves to ask some of the hardest questions imaginable – if someone you loved was going to be killed to save millions of others, would you let them die or save them?

Could you accept their death knowing that other people’s lives were saved as a result, or could you not bear to let them perish, regardless of the consequences?

That question brings a level of humanity to The Last Of Us that’s extraordinarily difficult to achieve on TV, especially in a story that’s set in a post-apocalyptic landscape, with zombie-like creatures whose sole purpose is to spread their infection as far as possible.

While we can’t delve into specific spoilers in this review (nor would we want to), just know that the events of season one are not forgotten. Every action has a consequence.

Pedro, 50, and Bella, 21, have become extremely close in real life, and their connection is just as palpable on screen. While they’re both magnificently talented actors, the chemistry that they have as Joel and Ellie is lightning in a bottle – something that couldn’t simply be achieved from reading the words of a script.

It’s a joy to watch them again in The Last Of Us, even when we’re watching through our fingers, holding our breath as the drama unfolds.

The second season of the show introduces several new characters that viewers are undoubtedly going to grow attached to right away – a risky move considering how devastating and unpredictable the twists in The Last Of Us can be.

First we have Dina (Isabela Merced), Ellie’s best friend and romantic interest who brings a refreshingly spirited outlook to the bleak world that they live in, despite the horrors that she’s faced in her life. Jesse (Young Mazino), a valued member of the Jackson community, is Dina’s on-and-off again ex, as well as a friend of Ellie’s.

One of the most highly-anticipated additions to the cast is Abby (Kaitlyn Dever), a soldier on a mission for revenge that’ll change the course of the series. Kaitlyn was originally considered for the role of Ellie before the TV series was made, when there were talks for a film adaptation instead.

The Booksmart actress experienced some hugely unfair slack from video game fans when she was cast as Abby. When asked about fan responses to her casting, she said in an interview with ScreenRant: ‘I want to do this character justice and make the fans proud by bringing her to life in this kind of way.’

Trust us – Kaitlyn does Abby justice and then some. Anyone who fired backlash her way before giving her a chance will be eating their words.

Militia leader Isaac is another new character in the second season, with Westworld actor Jeffrey Wright reprising his role from the video game.

Jeffrey is a scene-stealer in every role he plays, and Isaac is no exception, a character he first portrayed in The Last Of Us Part II video game in 2020.

While The Last Of Us received critical acclaim when it first launched two years ago, video game fans did have some gripes about various things that weren’t included in the TV adaptation. (Note how we’re being purposely vague here to avoid spoilers).

Certain changes have been made for season two. Whether these alterations have happened in direct response to fans’ criticisms, or simply as a way to evolve the show in a natural way remains to be seen.

The Last Of Us had a mighty task on its hands to live up to its first season. Fans of the drama will not be disappointed, although they might be picking up the pieces of their hearts afterwards.

This review was originally published on April 7.

The Last of Us season 2 premieres in the UK on Monday April 14 on Sky Atlantic and NOW.

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‘Some lesbian you are!’ A guttural groan of frustration escaped me as online discourse regarding JoJo Siwa’s Celebrity Big Brother friendship with Chris Hughes raged.

Because that’s simply what it is — a friendship. Alas, it seems many people are incapable of realising this, creating an utterly miserable viewing experience for lesbians like me as a result.

Here’s the thing: one of the most wholesome aspects of Big Brother is how it brings people together who would never have met on the outside and strikes up unlikely connections.

JoJo and Chris are yet another beautiful example of that. In what world would the 21-year-old self-proclaimed CEO of gay pop ever have a chance to chat with the 32-year-old ‘Do you want me to rap, anyone, to lift the mood?’ Love Islander, other than within the walls of the CBB abode?

Since launch night, it’s been clear JoJo and Chris would get on, and it took mere days for them to form a very tactile, loving friendship. 

From cuddling in bed and JoJo allowing Chris to stroke her back to sharing inside jokes, I’ve loved watching them grow close.

But social media has run wild with theories about JoJo not being a ‘real’ lesbian and that she’s ‘so flirty’. 

The suggestion is that she and Chris will become romantic soon enough, and the Karma hitmaker will ditch her partner, Kath Ebbs, upon realising she actually likes men.

As a lesbian myself, this is an exhausting conversation to continue having.

For as long as I can remember, my lesbianism has been scrutinised, debated, and invalidated, as if it’s a conspiracy theory to poke holes in and debunk. As if people are always waiting for that ‘gotcha!’ moment when they can finally declare me straight.

Of course, sexuality is a spectrum, and, for many, it’s fluid. Women can – and do – come out as lesbians before later realising they might be bisexual.

But when someone tells us how they identify, we must believe them. We can’t go digging for all the reasons why they might be something else.

While JoJo initially declined to label herself, she’s now a proud lesbian (stating in 2021, ‘That’s what I am’ and later saying men were ‘not’ her ‘thing’). Today, she serves as a pillar of strength for LGBTQ+ youth with her unashamedly queer music and online content.

In contrast, Chris is a straight man and is equally as comfortable in his sexuality to the point where he didn’t hesitate to provide a masterclass in allyship by defending JoJo against Mickey Rourke’s homophobic jibes.

Combine them in the CBB house, and not only do you have golden television, but an organic connection that’s been a breath of fresh air amidst the airtime of now-ejected Hollywood star.

Men and women can be platonic without wanting to rip one another’s clothes off. They can hug and sleep beside one another without considering there might be more to it, and I highly doubt either JoJo or Chris has given it a second thought.

But when I scroll through the CBBUK hashtag, I’m served a painful reminder of just how far we have to go until women-loving-women are free to be themselves without the shadow of heteronormativity hanging over them.

Danny Beard, a gay drag queen, has plenty of female connections in the house. He’s especially close with Donna Preston and Angellica Bell, yet not once have I read a tweet suggesting he might come out as straight when the show ends.

It’s only ever lesbians whose sexuality is treated like a puzzle to crack or a game to play until that desirable end goal of male attraction is reached.

From an early age, it’s drilled into us that we simply must be attracted to men. 

Chris is well aware that JoJo is a lesbian, and how touchy-feely they are with one another is everything I wish to see on my screen. It’s evidence of JoJo being so confident in her sexuality that she’s open to accepting love in all its forms. Before coming out, this is something I struggled with.

I’m tired of viewers tarnishing the show by making me uncomfortable, pushing the insidious narrative that JoJo is only one male relationship away from being ‘turned’, and creating an echo chamber for Mickey’s vile comments about being able to change her. 

And I wish I could say that at least by keeping the discussion online, we’re protecting JoJo from it in the house. Unfortunately, it seems to be seeping through the walls, as the TikToker has picked up on Ella Rae Wise’s apparent jealousy over her bond with Chris.

In the second round of nominations due to air tonight, JoJo mentioned Towie star Ella was trying to cause ‘drama’ by passing comment on her whispering with Chris at night.

‘And so that got me thinking; (she is) trying to spread drama in a way, and, I don’t know, I feel like it’s an interesting dynamic. I don’t like gossip,’ JoJo remarked.

Viewers seem to be gagging for some kind of love triangle with the three, as if it’ll boil down to Chris choosing either JoJo or Ella. But if that’s the kind of storyline you’re after, you are going to be very disappointed. 

And I’m sure JoJo and Chris would be horrified if they could read what’s been insinuated. They can’t, of course, because they’re off the grid for three weeks. But the lesbians in your life can.

JoJo won’t see your posts tearing her sexuality apart or your innuendos about her and Chris being anything more than friends. 

But people like me will, and you should know how much it hurts.

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk. 

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