For decades, Hollywood imposed an iron standard: the “perfect” smile with perfectly white, straight, and perfectly aligned teeth, often the result of veneers and cosmetic dentistry. This smile seemed to symbolize success and had become a standard widely followed even by people who had nothing to do with fame.
Today, this trend is reversing. Screens are increasingly filled with faces showing natural teeth, with minor imperfections. This is actually a pretty good sign, as the public seems to prefer authenticity/naturalness: they find it more human and more charming than the perfect smile.
One of the figures leading this change is British actress Aimee Lou Wood. Known primarily for her role in Sex Education and more recently in The White Lotus, Wood has spoken openly about her relationship with her smile.
“I always felt weird about my teeth, but now I realize they are what make me stand out,” she said.
At a time when the pressure to fit in is great, Wood chooses to be himself.
"At one point I thought about directing them, but then I realized that would make me look like everyone else. And I don't want to look like everyone else," she added.
Her smile has become a symbol of a new aesthetic, one that emphasizes personality and originality, more than perfection.
"My smile shows who I am and imperfection is part of my identity," the actress explained.
This change is not limited to the screen. Even in everyday beauty culture, people are increasingly comfortable seeing public figures with real teeth, because it helps them feel more comfortable with themselves.
As Wood himself says:
"There's power in the first of something real. It makes you feel like you're finally coming to terms with what's called beauty."
