All the stars with wonky teeth who are proving a hit with audiences tired of 'fake' veneers - from Aimee Lou Wood to Cynthia Erivo and Timothee Chalamet

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A perfect smile has, since Hollywood first began making superstars out of mere mortals, been seen as a prerequisite to stardom - with idols from Marilyn Monroe to James Dean and Marlon Brando all in possession of a knock 'em dead grin. 

Tom Cruise famously made just a few movies, the biggest being The Outsiders in 1983, before he headed to the orthodontist and signed up for a Hollywood smile - and then promptly watched his career soar. Even in his 40s, the actor, now 62, was so committed to a razzle dazzle smile, he wore a brace.

Such is our general devotion to gleaming, perfectly aligned teeth that everyone from Premier League footballers - see Declan Rice's before look - to influencers and pop stars seemingly have a private dentist on speed dial.  

Refreshingly though, there's been a shift in recent months, as a raft of stars who've eschewed polished veneers in favour of, well, what Mother Nature gave them have shot to mega stardom - from Timothee Chalamet to Cynthia Erivo.

Sometimes dubbed 'British teeth' - because those in the UK are apparently a little less obsessed with dental perfection than our counterparts across the Pond, a characterful smile is proving a hit with audiences keen on authenticity.  

This week, British star Aimee Lou Wood has been discussing how her smile has become a hot topic in the dentist community.   

The White Lotus actor, 31, told The Jonathan Ross Show last week that US audiences in particular are fascinated with them.

She said: 'I can't believe the impact my teeth are having. The Americans can't believe it. They're being lovely [and there's] videos of orthodontists coming up [online] analysing my teeth.

The White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood revealed this week that the internet has become fascinated with her 'British smile', saying that the orthodontist community frequently analyses her natural smile

Aimee Lou Wood joked the gap in her teeth is a sign of 'sexual heat' as she spoke about the impact they have had on her career on The Jonathan Ross Show last week 

The actress' teeth became a talking point this year due to her starring role on the latest season of The White Lotus

'They dissect my teeth and say, "What's wrong with them?" and at the end go, "But I don't think she should change a thing!" It's a real full circle moment after being bullied and now people are clapping.'

Speaking about whether people have asked her if they're false teeth, Aimee said: '100%. People are like, "They're real?!"'

Cynthia Erivo, one of the hottest stars of the moment thanks to her role as Elphaba in the Wicked franchise, also sports a natural gap-toothed grin. 

And Ayo Edebiri, better known to fans of The Bear as Chicago chef Sydney Adamu, continues to see her star in the ascendant - and hasn't changed her teeth as her roles have got bigger.  

The 29-year-old actress and television writer, who hails from Massachusetts, won the gong for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy - for her role in the intense chef drama last year. 

Ayo has resisted any pressure to fake it with a set of glossy veneers. 

And, far from having a negative effect on either her appearance or image, her imperfect smile actually gives her an edge that only adds to her attractiveness, says body language expert Judi James. 

Hot right now actors Jacob Elordi, who starred in Saltburn, and Timothee Chalamet both have natural smiles

Alongside her stellar voice, Wicked star Cythia Erivo's famous dazzling white smile has helped her shoot to fame on stage and most recently in Wicked  

Ayo Edebiri became a standout star on Disney+ series The Bear, and the 29-year-old's natural teeth are part of her charm

Edebiri's smile make her look fun and hugely appealing, says body language expert Judi James

'Ayo's teeth are quite small, with a display of gum and this makes her smile look fun and hugely appealing. 

'As we get older we tend to get "long in the tooth" as our gums recede, so Ayo’s very visual gums make her look pleasantly young and authentic.'

Who sparked the trend for dental authenticity? Sultry French songstress Vanessa Paradis, who shot to fame with Joe Le Taxi at the age of just 14 in 1987, let the gap in her teeth become her trademark. Madonna and model Lara Stone have also celebrated their imperfect alignment. 

And when Mick Jagger's model daughter Georgia May Jagger first posed with red lipstick in the noughties, showcasing her gap-tooth grin, the then teenager caused a storm in a good way. 

In 2008, she told the Daily Mail: 'I wouldn’t even have braces on my teeth. I like the fact that I have good old-fashioned British teeth with a big gap. Who wants those gleaming white cosmetically enhanced American teeth?'

Elsewhere, London-born rapper and actor Kano, 39, perhaps best known for playing Sully in Netflix TV series Top Boy, has achieved critical acclaim and huge success over a career spanning more than two decades. 

The actor, who was once approached by men's fashion designer Hugo Boss to model for the brand, has remained true to his roots in more ways than one. 

Not only does he continue to speak on behalf of Britain's youth, the MOBO award-winning performer has held on to his natural gnashers and continues to smile for the cameras, proudly displaying his natural smile.

Georgia May Jagger made a fashion career out of the gap in her front teeth, with agencies desperate to sign up the Rolling Stone singer's daughter for her original look 

French singer Vanessa Paradis was also a wonky smile trailblazer, first showing off her beautiful smile as a 14-year-old with her hit Joe Le Taxi 

Model Lara Stone, and Madonna, right, have also kept their smiles authentic 

Alison Oliver shot to fame as Frances in the BBC adaptation of Conversations with Friends, and also starred in Saltburn

His reluctance to 'fix' his smile has not so much detracted from his appearance as made him more magnetic as an actor - on-screen and off. 

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Aimee Lou Wood says the gap in her teeth is a sign of 'sexual heat' as she reveals how they have impacted her career

Irish actress Alison Oliver, 27, was already well known thanks to her lead part in the BBC miniseries Conversations with Friends when Saltburn was released. 

While her teeth are a natural colour rather than a bright white, what really separates her smile from the classic Hollywood version is the slight cross of her front teeth and their different lengths. 

But, rather than working against her, Alison's teeth 'project all the ideal messages of good health and good hygiene, and they also have character, making her face more memorable and her smile more unique,' according to Judi James. 

Character: Top Boy star Kano has a perfectly imperfect set of gnashers, says body language expert Judi James 

Myha'la Herrold, 27, is best known for her role as Harper Stern in BBC drama Industry

In turn, they 'pitch her as a high-level actress' and 'make her a natural' for stage plays and more arty or quirky films. 

US actress Myha'la Herrold, 28, played smart but underrated Harper Stern in BBC drama Industry. She also appeared in Netflix's Leave The World Behind with Hollywood royalty Julia Roberts and Ethan Hawke. 

But while Myha'la has all the makings of a Hollywood star - talent, charisma, good looks and impeccable dress sense - she has chosen to shun one Hollywood convention. 

Myha'la's smile isn't classically 'perfect'. The teeth on either side of her front teeth are much smaller than the ones that come next, which makes for a jagged look. 

Rather than bowing to pressure to undergo dental work to create a classic Hollywood smile, the actress has held on to her natural gnashers.