Aimee Lou Wood, the acclaimed star of Sex Education and The White Lotus, has revealed her apprehension about portraying photographer Pattie Boyd in Sir Sam Mendes’ highly anticipated Beatles biopic, describing the role as "quite intimidating".
The actor is set to embody George Harrison’s former wife in the ambitious four-film cinematic event, which will explore the lives and careers of the Fab Four. While production has already commenced, Wood is still awaiting her first "proper day" on set.
Speaking to The Standard, the 32-year-old explained the unique pressure of playing such a well-known figure.
"With this one, everyone knows these people so it’s very different, and it’s quite intimidating," she said. Wood also shared details of her physical transformation for the part: "I’ve gone and done my fittings with my blonde hair and my blue eyes. I’m really stepping into a different person. We look like them… so it’s kind of trippy."
The actress admitted that preparing for the role demands a level of "discipline" unlike her usual approach to characters. "I can sometimes be like, ‘let’s just see how it goes, and throw paint at the wall and see’, which is great for certain things, but I actually can’t do that with Pattie," she explained.
"I am going to have to really prep, and I am going to have to really be detailed about that, because she is someone who is so recognisable, and obviously not do an impression. I have to be specific whilst also being free, so I think that’s a good muscle to flex, but it scares me."
Titled The Beatles – A Four-Film Cinematic Event, the series boasts a stellar cast, with Paul Mescal as Sir Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison.
The films are slated for release in April 2028. Wood will be joined by Saoirse Ronan, Mia McKenna-Bruce, and Anna Sawai, who will portray Linda McCartney, Maureen Starkey, and Yoko Ono, respectively.
Beyond the Beatles project, Wood is also set to star as Jane Eyre in a new television adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s novel, a role she anticipates will feel more like "home". Despite this, she remains committed to pushing herself beyond her comfort zone early in her career.
"I can understand why people do that, I can understand why because the more eyes that are on you, the more scared you are to fail," she noted. "So I can see why people go, ‘let me just do what I know I can do’, but that’s then the death of your own creativity."
Wood gained widespread recognition for her portrayal of Aimee Gibbs in the hit Netflix series Sex Education, a role that earned her a Bafta TV award in 2021 for best female performance in a comedy.
She recently secured two nominations for the upcoming 2026 Bafta TV awards, including in the supporting actress category for her role as Chelsea in Sky Atlantic’s The White Lotus, and for best lead actress in the BBC comedy series Film Club, which she also co-created.
