Alert – White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood admits filming the show in Thailand was ‘quite extreme’ and compares it to a ‘social experiment’ after seven months living and shooting in a hotel

White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood has described filming the series in Thailand as ‘quite extreme’, comparing the experience to a ‘social experiment’.

The actress, 30, portrays Chelsea, the young girlfriend of Rick (Walton Goggins) who takes her to Thailand for a couple’s retreat but has other motivations behind the trip. 

Filmed at the Four Seasons in Koh Samui, the cast stayed at the hotel for seven months, both living and filming in the accommodation while regular guests were evacuated.

And in a new interview, Aimee – who barely got any time off due to her large role – opened up on the ‘extreme circumstances’ surrounding the filming, admitting that she wouldn’t describe it as ‘fun’.

Speaking to the Guardian about the intensity of shooting the third season, Amy said: ‘In the true sense, I was amazed by what was happening. How am I in Thailand? Living in a hotel, that we also film in? It was like a social experiment.

‘In a way I will never, ever forget. I will never have an experience like that again. It was so extreme. So the fun bits were unbelievable, so special. The ocean, the landscape, it was majestic. Mike [White, the director] is a genius. Everyone involved is amazing, it’s just the circumstances are quite extreme.’

White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood has described filming the series in Thailand as ‘quite extreme’, comparing the experience to a ‘social experiment’

The actress, 30, portrays Chelsea, the young girlfriend of Rick (Walton Goggins) who takes her to Thailand for a couple’s retreat but has other motivations behind the trip

Indeed, the situation was very extreme as the crew, cast and staff were the only people Aimee saw for the the entire period, and while others got the opportunity to head home when their schedules allowed, Aimee wasn’t so lucky.

The Sex Education star told how due to her central role as the chatty Mancunian, she ‘never had a big chunk of time’ to fly home to England and enjoy some away time from the intensity of living and working in the hotel.

In fact, Aimee recalled people close to her became concerned for her wellbeing, with her pal and season two star Leo Woodall often calling to check up on her as ‘he knew what it was like’.

While her make-up artist Miia Kovero insisted that she had to go home as Aimee had become so wrapped up in her role that it was hard to tell who was the actress and who was the character.

She explained: ‘She was like, “You need to go home. I don’t know who I’m talking to any more, Aimee or Chelsea.” I’d completely abstracted. Everyone becomes their character to an extent, but I didn’t even know who I was.’

It comes as White Lotus viewers reacted to a jaw-dropping sex scene between Chelsea and Rick as episode two of season three got steamy on Sunday night.

Aimee’s character Chelsea went nude in the racy scene with her on screen older boyfriend played by Walton Goggins.

Near the end of the episode Chelsea and Rick enjoy their alone time, with the pair stripping off for a romp. 

Filmed at the Four Seasons in Koh Samui [pictured], the cast stayed at the hotel for seven months, both living and filming in the accommodation while regular guests were evacuated 

In a new interview, Aimee – who barely got any time off due to her large role – opened up on the ‘extreme circumstances’ surrounding filming, admitting that she wouldn’t describe it as ‘fun’

‘I will never have an experience like that again. It was so extreme. So the fun bits were unbelievable, so special… it’s just the circumstances are quite extreme’

Aimee how due to her central role as Chelsea, she ‘never had a big chunk of time’ to fly home to England and enjoy some away time from the intensity of living and working in the hotel [pictured with co-star Walton Goggins]

The unlikely pair’s relationship has caught viewers attention as fans have noticed their great chemistry.

Rick is an illusive American who is dating much younger Chelsea – a chatty Mancunian.

Fans reacted to the steamy sex scene as they penned on X after watching: ‘I AM ON THE FLOORRRRR.’,

‘I love Chelsea and Rick idc #TheWhiteLotus.’,

‘This ep I was like, ‘okay I see why they’re together.’ I get the dynamic, & it’s genuine with them.’

Aimee recently spoke about how she and Walton worked with an intimacy coordinator to get the scene right.

It comes as White Lotus viewers reacted to a jaw-dropping sex scene between Chelsea and Rick as episode two of season three got steamy on Sunday night 

Aimee’s character Chelsea went nude in the steamy scene with her on screen older boyfriend played by Walton Goggins

She told Elle: ‘We were like, ‘This is what we think should happen. This is why we think it’s important.’ Because we don’t see a lot of tenderness from Rick to Chelsea the rest of the time.

‘So we have to make sure that when they’re physical and intimate in that way, that you see the love. 

We don’t want it to be like a f***ing gratuitous [sex scene]. We wanted it to be very tender.’

The White Lotus Season 3 is released on HBO streaming service Max at 9pm ET / 6pm PT on Sunday.