She hated her body and felt ‘ugly’ – at 32, she’s a super star, but still gets mocked for her teeth

As she stepped into the global spotlight through roles in Sex Education and later The White Lotus, the industry’s response was a jarring echo of her childhood bullies. Despite her immense talent and the acclaim she garnered for her performances, public discourse frequently sought to reduce her to a punchline, specifically regarding her teeth. In a particularly egregious instance, a major comedy show utilized her smile as the centerpiece of a joke, effectively turning her insecurity into a broadcasted humiliation.

While she eventually accepted the show’s formal apology, she fundamentally refused to accept the narrative that accompanied it. She chose not to pursue the industry-standard cosmetic “corrections” that have long been considered a rite of passage for Hollywood leading ladies. By refusing to conform her appearance to an arbitrary standard of perfection, she effectively reclaimed her agency. She transformed her history of pain into a potent form of power, demonstrating that authentic success is not found in the airbrushed erasure of one’s perceived flaws. Instead, it is found in the radical, unyielding choice to refuse to disappear.

In an industry that often demands uniformity, how do you think her refusal to conform to traditional beauty standards changes the way the next generation of performers approaches their own “imperfections”?