Key Moments
Charlie's Angels Actress Naomi Scott Interview at the Oxford Union
Oxford UnionKey Moments
Naomi Scott navigates Hollywood's pressures by prioritizing artistic vision over back-to-back blockbusters, focusing on directors who excite her to ensure authentic storytelling.
Key Insights
Scott felt confident in her execution of Princess Jasmine, focusing on 'humanizing her' and grounding the character rather than performing a one-dimensional princess.
For 'Smile 2', Scott had only three weeks to prepare, drawing on a demo singer's vibe and approaching the role like an athlete preparing for intense physical and emotional demands.
Scott's father, a pastor, watched 'Smile 2' and praised her performance, despite it not being his usual genre.
When filming 'Smile 2', director Parker had such a clear vision that 'everything we shot bar one scene' made it into the final movie.
Scott learned from past experiences, like a particular movie where she was 'too worried about all the things that were kind of going on set' and didn't protect her own performance, leading to a lesson in focus.
Scott and her husband started a production company to help address barriers to entry in the industry, including funding scholarships for students at LAMDA and RADA.
Humanizing iconic roles like Jasmine
Naomi Scott discusses her approach to playing Princess Jasmine in Disney's 'Aladdin,' emphasizing a desire to 'humanize her' and ground the character within the fantastical setting. While acknowledging the iconic nature of the role and the limitations of a 'big machine' like Disney, Scott felt confident in her vision for how to portray Jasmine. Her focus was on bringing a relatable human element to the character, moving beyond a potential perception of a 'one-dimensional quote unquote Disney princess.' This involved considering what she, as a fan of the original movie, would want to see, and identifying elements in the script she wished to challenge, all while understanding that ultimate control over such a large production is limited. Scott suggests that the transition for Disney actors isn't always about 'severing ties' but rather a natural progression of growing up and seeking more mature roles, moving out of an ecosystem primarily for younger audiences.
Embracing the intense demands of psychological horror
Scott details her rapid immersion into the role of Sky in 'Smile 2,' a psychological horror film. Cast after a Zoom reading, she had only about three weeks to prepare, finding herself in the studio recording songs the day after wrapping another project. Her approach was to trust her instincts and tap into the essence of the character, rather than overthinking. She found a blueprint in the demo vocals of songwriter Alexis Ida Rose, blending her own vibe with the existing framework. Scott likens the preparation to that of an athlete, focusing on the physical and mental stamina required for a shoot that involved her being 'on screen this close the whole time either screaming or crying.' She notes that detaching from such demanding roles is less about entering a dark headspace and more about profound exhaustion, leading her to seek comfort in reality TV like 'Bake Off' or 'Interior Design Masters,' supported by her husband.
Navigating audience and industry perceptions
Despite the significant tonal shift from Disney projects to psychological horror, Scott encountered no professional concerns from her team. Her father, a pastor, even attended the premiere of 'Smile 2' and expressed pride in her performance, demonstrating an ability to separate the art from personal preference. Scott doesn't see her identity as tied to a specific 'world' like Disney, distinguishing between the more integrated Disney Channel ecosystem and simply acting in a Disney movie. She highlights that while many teams might have shied away from a sequel in the horror genre, her team saw an opportunity, partly due to the confidence of the director, Parker, who knew exactly what he wanted, shooting almost entirely in-camera without extensive coverage options. This confidence in the filmmaker was a key factor in her decision to take on the role.
The unique intersection of music and film
Scott reflects on her frequent inclusion of singing in her projects, acknowledging it's a recurring element. She distinguishes between musicals and 'music in movies,' emphasizing the skill involved in integrating music within a film's narrative. For her, the key is ensuring the performance feels authentic to the character rather than a separate musical number. She finds that music can be a valuable tool for character discovery, offering insights into how a character might move or perform. Scott highlights 'Smile 2' as an example where specific camera language, like one-take sequences, demanded a blend of emotional presence and precise choreography, creating a unique challenge and artistic opportunity. She views this integration of music and performance as a way to deepen her understanding of a character, making the creative process more dynamic.
The whirlwind of 2019 and lessons in boundary setting
The year 2019, with the releases of 'Aladdin' and 'Charlie's Angels,' was a massive professional period for Scott, right before the COVID-19 pandemic. She describes it as a fun but overwhelming year, marked by a newfound public visibility that necessitated learning to set boundaries and avoid reading comments. This intense period was followed by the abrupt halt of the pandemic, creating a strange juxtaposition. Scott looks back on this time as a significant 'growing period' for her understanding of how to interact with public life and manage her professional presence, appreciating the opportunities for press tours and glamorous outfits, but also recognizing the personal evolution required.
Prioritizing passion projects and patience
Scott's current career phase involves a conscious effort to hone her focus on projects that align with her personal taste, a shift from simply taking opportunities as they arise. While proud of her work on films like 'Aladdin' and 'Smile,' she seeks projects where she can genuinely enjoy the viewing experience without excessive self-critique. This often means being patient and waiting for the right roles, potentially leading to larger gaps between projects, which she accepts as a reality of the industry. She emphasizes that decisions are not always about choosing big or small projects but rather about the filmmaker's vision, their 'north star,' and whether the project excites her, even if it requires waiting for others to 'catch up' to that vision. She is particularly interested in more British projects.
Integrating heritage and identity into roles
Scott discusses her heritage as an intrinsic part of her identity, acknowledging that it naturally informs her work. She notes that for fantasy roles like Jasmine, which draw on diverse cultures, her heritage is implicitly present. However, she also reflects on how, in 2025, casting decisions might differ, suggesting that the integration of identity is not always overt or consciously planned by the actor. Conversations with directors can explore how heritage might subtly influence a character's backstory, even if not explicitly shown. For roles closer to her own background, these elements would likely be more integrated, but Scott generally believes her identity 'comes through whether you like it or not,' rather than being a force she actively 'puts into' roles.
Learning from past choices and the nature of acting
Looking back, Scott doesn't regret specific roles but acknowledges a period of overthinking and imposter syndrome, particularly in 2019 and during the pandemic. She learned the importance of not waiting for a 'perfect moment' and instead going with the flow and adjusting. A key lesson came from a movie where she was distracted by on-set dynamics, failing to protect her performance due to being overly concerned with group harmony. This taught her the value of focus and creating her own space. She also recounts her experience on 'Anatomy of a Scandal,' where the serious subject matter and pressure to deliver a dramatically different performance led to unnecessary stress and self-consciousness. She now understands that preparation, creating a supportive atmosphere, and allowing for vulnerability are more crucial than forcing specific emotional states or adopting external behaviors that don't align with her natural process. She advocates for an open, childlike approach to acting, creating a safe space to try things and accept that not every take will be perfect, emphasizing that directors should not instruct actors to 'cry on this line.'
Addressing industry gatekeeping and fostering change
Scott addresses the concept of gatekeeping in the entertainment industry, acknowledging its existence and evolving nature. She and her husband founded a production company to actively contribute to change by addressing barriers to entry, such as financial limitations for drama school and the need for job security. They established a scholarship program to support students at LAMDA and RADA. Scott admits she's not adept at macro-level industry analysis but prefers focusing on tangible actions. She points out that while the industry wasn't initially built with minorities in mind, diverse storytelling has proven profitable. She emphasizes that progress requires approaching the industry from a business perspective, highlighting evidence of financial returns from authentic, diverse narratives. Scott also stresses the importance of personal support networks for actors from underrepresented backgrounds, providing a safe space to navigate disillusionment and encouraging mutual support, citing Riz Ahmed as an example of someone who has made incredible, well-considered choices in his career.
Favorite scenes and the thrill of complex choreography
Scott identifies playing Jasmine in 'Aladdin' as a particularly enjoyable experience due to its fun and less stressful atmosphere with a lovely crew. However, her 'favorite scene to shoot,' which was also one of the hardest, was a complex one-take sequence in 'Smile 2.' This scene involved a hospital setting where her character scrambles out of bed, runs to a door, receives a shard of blood-covered glass, and realizes she has just stabbed her mother. The scene required precise choreography involving herself, the camera operator, and focus puller, with limited takes due to the logistics of blood effects. Scott finds multitasking in such scenes—balancing emotional presence with physical choreography—freeing, as it prevents her from over-focusing on a single element. The achievement of executing this intense sequence successfully on the first take was deeply satisfying, making it her favorite despite its difficulty. She humorously notes the necessity of slapping herself in the scene and the subsequent hyperventilation, a testament to the scene's visceral impact.
The director as the guiding vision
When considering future projects, Scott's primary focus is on working with directors who possess a strong and exciting vision, rather than aspiring to play specific character types or genres. She values directors with distinct styles, whether they are highly specific and choreographed like Wes Anderson or more hands-off with actors, like Drake Doremus, whose scripts famously lack dialogue. Scott believes that the director's unique perspective is paramount, especially in a medium heavily influenced by filmmaking and editing. Trusting a filmmaker's taste and vision provides a sense of security amidst the many uncontrollable aspects of acting. She is eager to be part of worlds created by filmmakers she admires, prioritizing the collaborative experience and the director's aesthetic over the desire to embody a particular historical figure or role, emphasizing that a compelling director's vision can lead to consistently interesting outcomes.
Mentioned in This Episode
●Organizations
●People Referenced
Common Questions
Naomi Scott felt confident in her vision for the character, aiming to humanize Jasmine and ground her in reality, rather than portraying her as a one-dimensional princess. She focused on what she, as a fan of the original movie, would want to see.
Topics
Mentioned in this video
A Disney live-action film in which Naomi Scott played Jasmine.
A psychological horror film in which Naomi Scott plays a leading role.
A British baking competition television show that Naomi Scott watches to relax.
A film Naomi Scott appeared in that was released in 2019.
A British reality competition television show about interior design that Naomi Scott enjoys.
A film Naomi Scott watched that inspired her, making her feel represented by the character Jasmine.
An early project of Naomi Scott's that many viewers remember her from.
A writer and producer who worked on songs for the character Sky in Smile 2.
An actor whose career choices and navigation of the industry Naomi Scott finds inspiring.
A director known for a highly specific and choreographed filmmaking style.
A director known for a more hands-off approach, whose scripts may not contain dialogue.
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