Naomi Scott, born on May 6, 1993, in Hounslow, London, is a British actress and singer who’s currently smashing it on the big screens after her Oscar-worthy performance as Skye Riley in the horror sequel ‘Smile 2’ (2024). This critically acclaimed film with an absolutely mind-bending story has left us with as many questions as answers!
Scott’s career began with a leading role as Megan in the Disney Channel series ‘Life Bites’ in 2008. Three years later, she made waves in the entertainment world as Mohini “Mo” Banjaree with the musical ‘Lemonade Mouth’ (2011). Her popularity rose after she lent her voice to the film’s catchy soundtrack, which peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard 200.
After her breakthrough performance in the musical, Naomi landed some exciting projects, starring as Maddy Shannon in the Steven Spielberg-produced Fox sci-fi drama ‘Terra Nova’ (2011). Her other notable role came in the form of Kimberly Hart aka Pink Ranger in ‘Power Rangers’ (2017).
In 2019, Naomi Scott starred as Elena Houghlin in the reboot of the action-comedy ‘Charlie’s Angels,’ alongside Kristen Stewart. The same year, she made her way into the live-action version of Aladdin, bringing Princess Jasmine to life. This role cemented her as a global star, and her latest performance in ‘Smile 2’ has further elevated her growing status in Hollywood.
What Is Naomi Scott’s Ethnicity? Is She White or Mixed Race?
Naomi Scott’s ethnicity is a blend of British and Indian heritage. Her mother, Usha Scott, formerly Usha Joshi, is of Indian descent, while her father, Christopher Scott, is white British. Following her magnificent performance as Skye Rile on ‘Smile 2,’ some fans have mistaken the actress as a white woman, but we can confirm she carries a mixed background.
Naomi’s mom, Usha Scott, comes from a Gujarati background. She was born in Uganda and lived through the chaotic times under dictator Idi Amin. When things got violent, Naomi’s grandmother made the difficult decision to escape Uganda with her 10 kids, including Usha, and head to England—leaving her husband behind.
Naomi always talks about how much she admires her maternal grandmother, especially for her bravery in getting the family to safety during such a tough time. She’s genuinely amazed by how her grandma, this petite Indian woman, not only survived but thrived through all those challenges.
The grandmother’s family spoke both Gujarati and Swahili, showing the cool mix of cultures they balanced as immigrants. Thanks to her, Usha’s family settled into life in the UK, where Gujarati and Swahili blended together at home, making for a pretty unique experience for Naomi Scott as she grew up. She talks about how funny and special it was that this mashup of languages almost turned into their own family dialect.
Naomi’s father, Christopher Scott, is a British pastor, and he’s white, which is a significant part of her mixed-race identity. Her biracial experience has been a major factor for her both in the UK and in Hollywood. Growing up, she was raised with Christian values thanks to her dad’s role as a pastor, and that influence still plays a big role in both her personal and professional life.
Naomi has talked about the racial complexities she’s faced in Hollywood, where she’s been seen as “too white” for some roles and “not white enough” for others. As a biracial woman with British and Gujarati roots, she’s felt how her race affected casting decisions, and she has admitted that sometimes she was probably picked as the “exotic” choice because of her mixed background.
Naomi grew up in Hounslow, a pretty diverse part of London, before moving to Woodford in Essex as a teenager. She looks back on how growing up with her British-Indian background in such a mixed environment massively shaped how she sees the world and influenced the way she approaches her acting career.
Naomi Scott’s Parents: Her Indian Mother, Usha, and British Father, Chris, Are Both Pastors in the UK
As we mentioned earlier, Naomi Scott comes from a mixed background thanks to her distinct parents. She was born to an English father, Christopher Scott, and an Indian mother, Usha Scott, formerly Usha Joshi. Her mom immigrated from Uganda and has Gujarati roots. The actress is proud of her Indian heritage, often showing it off on her official social media pages, notably Instagram.
Scott spent her teenage years in Woodford, Essex, after moving there, where her parents served as pastors at the Bridge Church. As for her siblings, she has an older brother named Joshua.
Speaking with W Magazine in 2019, Naomi talked about her life growing up as a pastor kid. The actress revealed that her parents weren’t anything like the stereotypical pastors and she enjoyed the complete freedom to discover her faith by herself. The actress added, “Yes, I have a belief system, but I don’t know everything, and we’re all just as messed up as each other.”
With a family background immersed in gospel and R&B music, it’s no wonder Naomi Scott found her passion for singing early on. Her career initially began as a musician, performing with the Bridge Church Youth Band. Influenced by artists like Kim Burrell and Mary Mary, Naomi sang in church and soaked up all those musical vibes, before being discovered by British pop singer Kelle Bryan. In a March 2017 interview with Huffingham Post, Scott said:
I grew up singing in church actually. That’s kind of where I just the usual, I grew up on gospel music. I was singing from a young age. I remember that I chose ‘Don’t Speak’ by No Doubt so that was my first kind of performance. I think from there, I felt like it was something I actually really enjoyed and wanted to do.
This multitalented star dropped her debut EP, ‘Invisible Division,’ in 2014, followed by her second EP, ‘Promises,’ in 2017. Also a skilled pianist, she began writing her own songs at the age of 15.
Naomi Scott on Leaving School, Battling Eczema, and Finding Love
Naomi Scott attended Davenant Foundation School but left midway through her A-Levels to pursue her dreams, jumping straight into the project ‘Terra Nova.’ She’s also been open about her struggles with eczema, a condition she spent years covering up with makeup, showing that even stars face their own challenges.
On the romance front, Naomi tied the knot with English footballer Jordan Spence in June 2014 after dating for four years. They first crossed paths at church when she was just 16, and their love story blossomed from there.
Naomi Scott, who holds both faith and compassion at the core of her life, is not just a talented actress; she’s also got a big heart and is a genuine inspiration outside our screens. A proud Christian, she serves as a UK ambassador for Compassion International, a charity that helps children and families living in poverty.
In a 2017 interview with The New Potato, Scott talked about the work she and her husband do with Compassion UK. They focus on helping kids gain the tools they need to make a difference in their families and change their situations, rather than just giving them something they can’t use. She mentioned that they sponsor a few kids and are also involved in other projects with the organization.
