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The White Lotus’ Aimee Lou Wood Discusses Shocking Finale and Fate of Character Chelsea: ‘So Weird’
The White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood reflected on the shocking season 3 finale and revealed she was just as sad as viewers when it came to the tragic fate of her character, Chelsea.
“For about two weeks before we shot it, I felt super weird. It was like this odd, ominous thing that was just hanging over us,” Aimee Lou, 31, said about the finale episode during a panel moderated by Tan France, according to People.
During the season 3 finale on Sunday, April 6, fans watched Chelsea and boyfriend Rick (Walton Goggins) die during a shootout after he killed hotel owner Jim Hollinger (Scott Glenn). While Rick initially killed Jim because he believed he was responsible for his father’s death, Rick learned soon after that Jim was actually his father. Chelsea was killed during the shootout, while Rick eventually died when Gaitok (Tayme Thapthimthong) shot him while protecting Jim’s wife, Sritala (Lek Patravadi).
“It was so weird. But I didn’t expect it to feel like that for such a long time before,” Aimee said about filming the death scene, noting that she knew about her character’s fate well before they actually filmed. “And also, Chelsea doesn’t know what’s going to happen to her, but I know. So it’s this odd thing.”
Aimee Lou recalled that she and Walton, 53, filmed the death scene on “the hottest day ever,” adding that he “had to carry me so many times and it was so hard.” Due to the heat, Aimee Lou said that filming the scene played out “exactly how it felt” for the actor and she said it “was really strange.”
“I think it’s not sunk in. There’s a lot in that episode that made me f–king sob. A lot,” she continued.
The Sex Education alum also admitted she still felt uneasy about how Chelsea’s story ended. “I think, it’s a lot. And he’s so clever because at the end you want to hold the joy of the triumph and the sunglasses on and all that, but you’re still there like, ‘Eh…’ And so [creator] Mike [White] just makes you sit in that really achy place,” she said.
Walton penned a tribute to their characters in a lengthy Instagram post shortly after the finale aired, revealing he was just as emotional as Aimee Lou.
“Rick + Chelsea. With the heaviest of hearts … To me, ours was a love story. It was only ever a love story, hindered by unresolved, childhood trauma. We all have them … but can we move past them,” he wrote alongside photos of them on the show. “In the depths of our despair there is always beauty around us. If we can sit with our pain, just sit with it … not react … not be defined by it … It’s there … the love the world is constantly giving in any given moment is there. Always waiting for us to see it … Trust me I know.”
After he thanked Mike, 54, for his “imagination” and “tender heart,” he also praised the creator for giving him and Aimee Lou “the privilege of giving us the opportunity to tell it.”
“Thank you Aimee Lou for being my partner … a journey I will never forget,” Walton added.
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