WOMAN OF FAITH

British actress, singer and humanitarian NAOMI SCOTT is back in the spotlight as the face of Chloé’s new Nomade Eau de Parfum Naturelle. She talks to ZANETA CHENG and STEPHENIE GEE about her breakout role as Jasmine, female empowerment and serving communi

"AREAL LEARNING CURVE,” Naomi Scott says when asked about her journey over the past year. “Learning things about myself, learning to let go, learning what’s important, learning that I have so much more to learn!” It’s a surprisingly grounded response, given the 28-year- old’s status as one of Hollywood’s most promising young stars after her breakthrough role as Princess Jasmine in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Aladdin.

The three years since the film’s release have certainly been a whirlwind for the British-Indian actress and singer, but there’s no stopping there. From magic carpets to red carpets to gracing the covers of fashion’s elite magazines, the

West Londoner’s latest project sees her as the new face of French fashion house Chloé’s Nomade Eau de Parfum Naturelle.

“Chloé is such an iconic brand, especially the fragrance,” says Scott. “And it’s a beautiful thing when you can work with a brand that you love aesthetically, but also entirely support in their ethos.

“I also really want to represent a perfume that I can actually wear. I have very sensitive skin and Nomade Eau de Parfum Naturelle contains no artificial colouring. It’s a vegan fragrance, formulated with a 100% natural- origin fragrance, naturally derived alcohol and water. Nothing else, so it’s something that I can wear knowing I’m not putting anything toxic into my skin.”

Scott’s battle with eczema is no secret, having spoken openly about her struggles and sharing advice with those who share the same condition. Never one to hide her imperfections, it’s perhaps this sense of relatability that has shaped

Scott into the role model and inspiration she is today. “The concept of a ‘role model’ is interesting to me,” Scott says. “Sometimes there’s a pressure to hide the ‘bad stuff’ because we are so fearful of being a bad role model, when I think the younger generation are so smart, they can process and understand an honest existence.

“So I guess I’m aware of what I say and do, however people don’t live my day-today existence, and nor should they be privy to it, so rather than try to curate something inauthentic, I’d rather just be myself in the moments where my voice is amplified.”

Even though Scott had roles in the 2015 biographical drama film The 33, the 2017 superhero film Power Rangers, the 2019 rendition of the cult classic Charlie’s Angels and the 2015-2016 British detective series Inspector Lewis, it was Aladdin that propelled her into stardom. “Honestly it was such a wonderful experience, one that I will never forget,” she says. “It’s such a fun and magical project that really spilled over into the experience of making it.”

While Scott and Jasmine are alike in many ways, the actress took preparation seriously, hoping her portrayal of the character would be as exciting for her contemporary audience as it would for her younger self. “I felt really clear about how I wanted to portray Jasmine, but I also discovered her through the process,” she says. “I kept asking myself, what would a seven-year- old Naomi want to see and kind of used that as a marker.

“I wanted her to display leadership qualities and feel mature. Hopefully I was able to do that,” Scott says, and indeed she was, cementing Jasmine in the minds of most as a strong, determined and exotically beautiful princess who is unafraid of letting her political voice be heard, contrary to the long-held portrayal of Disney princesses as damsels in distress.

An actress who throws her heart and soul into each project, Scott is as compelling to watch as she is to listen to. Born in Hounslow to two pastors, she grew up listening to gospel music and singing in church, which she says informed her relationship with music. “I started out imitating, practicing runs, trying to belt like Whitney!” she says. “Of course, no one can belt like Whitney, but it’s an interesting process to really find your voice and, actually, I’ve found doing less can be more effective. Understanding what message you want to convey and focusing on that – sometimes the singers who make you feel the most aren’t always the best ‘technical’ vocalists.”

With two EPs under her belt and Jasmine’s long-awaited solo track, Speechless, which delivered empowerment like no other, Scott proves herself to be both ultraexpressive and a vocal powerhouse. “There are moments in your life where you truly feel like you’re in the right place at the right time,” she says, citing filming the song as one of the most memorable moments in her career thus far. “I love Speechless so deeply and the message behind it. I think everyone has felt

There are moments in your life where you truly feel like you’re in the right place at the right time

powerless and a lot of the time it’s out of our control. It’s a universal feeling.

“This song is about putting value back into your voice, even if you ‘lose’ the battle, believing that what you have to say is of value – and that you intrinsically have value is the most important thing.”

To feel worthy and believe that you have worth are things Scott holds to be of paramount importance. And her unwavering Christian faith, a bedrock throughout her life and a major contribution to her humility, is what gives

Scott the peace of knowing she is loved and valued.

“Perspective,” she says, when asked how her faith has shaped her career. “Understanding that I have value and am loved even if I never set foot on a movie set again. Trying to implement integrity in the way I interact with people.”

Between empowering women and being a silver-screen A-lister, Scott is also devoted to the world of philanthropy. A long-term supporter and ambassador for Compassion, a Christian charity organisation, Scott is “instilling value and hope” to vulnerable communities and individuals.

“The programme is about understanding the socio- economic situation in each country and culture – the programme runs in many countries – and figuring out how we can help expecting mothers and existing mothers, in situations where their child mortality rates are high,” she says about Compassion’s Child Survival programme, which she took part in back in 2019.

“Mothers are so important; we need to protect them. I learned a lot from the women I met. These women are the most resourceful people I have ever come across – what they do for their children, the sacrifices they make while still remaining generous, is nothing short of incredible.”

So what is Scott’s ultimate goal? To be able to continue empowering women around the world, she says, “by learning from people who I physically meet and interact with. By having a value system that I stick by. By trying to be an encouragement to people I meet and that are in my immediate world rather than being rendered inactive because I feel overwhelmed by the idea that I have to change the world at large.”

On what she aims to achieve in 2022, Scott’s response is characteristically humble: “Experience new things, challenge myself, learn from others.”