Aimee Lou Wood, who is currently making headlines with her role in the third season of The White Lotus, has condemned a recent Saturday Night Live (SNL) sketch that parodied her with over-the-top, exaggerated looks using prosthetic teeth. The actor called them out and said that it was ‘mean and unfunny’.

The British actor, 31, expressed her dismay over the US comedy show’s portrayal, accusing it of “punching down” and suggesting the skit carried misogynistic undertones.

“I love being made fun of when it’s clever and in good spirits,” she wrote. “But there must be a cleverer, more nuanced, less cheap way.”

Wood confirmed that SNL had since offered apologies in response to her public comments. The BBC has reached out to the show’s broadcaster, NBC, for further comment.

The sketch in question aired earlier this week and imagined former US President Donald Trump and his close aides staying at the fictional luxury hotel featured in The White Lotus.

Wood’s character, Chelsea, was played by cast member Sarah Sherman, who donned a pronounced accent and prominent fake teeth – an apparent reference to the actor’s widely discussed “big gap teeth”.

The BAFTA-winning actor’s appearance in the forthcoming third series of the HBO drama has garnered significant media attention, but she now questions the tone of that focus when used for comedic effect.

“I don’t feel it came from a kind place,” Wood added, emphasising that humour can be impactful without resorting to mockery based on someone’s appearance.