One year after Saturday Night Live mocked Aimee Lou Wood with a sketch about her teeth, the British actress is set to host SNL UK, marking what many see as a masterful resetting of the narrative. The move comes after Wood publicly criticised the original sketch, calling it 'mean and unfunny'.
In April last year, Wood, who gained acclaim for her role in The White Lotus, hit back at the long-running comedy institution. She had previously spoken about being bullied for her 'big gap teeth' and expressed frustration that conversations about her appearance overshadowed her work. 'If it was a man, would we be talking about it this much?' she asked in an interview with GQ.
The SNL sketch, which featured Sarah Sherman portraying Wood's character Chelsea with exaggerated fake teeth and a Manchester accent, was widely condemned. Wood responded on Instagram, calling it 'misogynistic' and stating she was happy to be mocked 'when it's clever and in good spirits'. She later received apologies from SNL and flowers from Sherman.
Now, a year on, Wood is hosting the UK edition of the show. In a teaser for Saturday's episode, she turns the teeth mockery on its head, asking cast members why they are covering their mouths and joking that they have 'fake teeth'. The cast reveal they have grown 'big, glorious moustaches' and pull her into a group hug.
Wood has spoken about overcoming insecurities about her looks, saying she used to believe she was 'not conventional-looking enough' to star in The White Lotus. Hosting SNL UK, she said, could be 'the ultimate catharsis' after years of being bullied for her teeth.
