Smile 2 star Naomi Scott has added her title to the rising checklist of latest style performances that deserve(d) awards consideration. From James McAvoy (Break up) and Toni Collette (Hereditary) to Lupita Nyong’o (Us) and Mia Goth (Pearl), Scott is the newest instance of an actor whose dedicated work in a extremely troublesome position shouldn’t be neglected simply due to the style through which it resides. It’s nicely previous time to have greater than a half-dozen exceptions who managed to take residence Oscar statuettes by way of the horror style, reminiscent of Ruth Gordon (Rosemary’s Child), Kathy Bates (Distress) and Jodie Foster (Silence of the Lambs).

In Parker Finn’s sequel to his 2022 smash hit, Scott performs Skye Riley, a troubled pop star who’s making an attempt to mount a comeback after surviving a automotive accident that took the lifetime of her equally well-known boyfriend, Paul Hudson (Ray Nicholson). Skye’s return to prominence is made all of the tougher when a late-night encounter with an outdated highschool pal leads to her being on the receiving finish of a fateful creepy smile.

Regardless of his vested curiosity, Finn genuinely believes that Scott deserves awards recognition.

“Naomi is an absolute powerhouse. She offers a tour-de-force efficiency in [Smile 2], and if I used to be on an awards committee, even unbiased, I’d say she completely deserves consideration. So I hope that the business begins recognizing that,” Finn tells The Hollywood Reporter. 

Just like her celebrated work as Princess Jasmine in Man Ritchie’s live-action Aladdin (2019), Scott additionally contributed her vocal chops to Smile 2. She even took issues a pair steps additional by co-writing two tracks because the character of Skye Riley for the film’s six-song soundtrack EP. Scott then performs most of these songs in numerous types all through the movie. 

The West London native’s dedication prolonged to the horror of the piece, as there’s a harrowing scene the place Skye slaps herself to be able to wake herself up from what she hopes is only a dream or fantasy. However as an alternative of counting on film magic, Scott insisted on truly putting herself given the load of the scene. 

“Parker requested me, ‘Nay, how do you are feeling about it?’ That, after all, is the right factor to do, however I used to be like, ‘After all I’m going to slap myself,’” Scott shares. “It needed to occur. And fairly actually, every thing was so warranted by way of the second and Skye and the story. It was fully justified.”

Primarily based on Finn’s scripted imaginative and prescient of a pop star with brief bleached blonde hair, Scott willingly chopped off her lengthy darkish hair for the position. From there, Scott, Finn and hair division head Angie Johnson took inspiration from a wide range of appears to be like, together with ones served by Tilda Swinton and a former Charlie’s Angels (2019) co-star of Scott’s.

“Despite the fact that she’s a pal, she’s nonetheless Kristen Stewart, and so she’s nonetheless somebody that you simply reference,” Scott says. “I despatched her an image of me and her subsequent to [each other], and it was Skye’s slicked-back have a look at the gala. [Kristen] had a selected look on a pink carpet that I liked, so we rolled with that [for Skye’s gala look], and I believe it labored rather well.”

A part of what helped Smile (2022) make almost 13 occasions its $17 million funds was its viral advertising marketing campaign that positioned creepy smilers at nationally televised playoff baseball video games. Smile 2 has adopted go well with after which some, however now that the film is launched, Scott respectfully asks followers of the franchise to suppose twice about treating her like she’s Skye Riley.

“I’d simply say, please don’t [creepy smile at me]. I’ll sit and speak to you in regards to the climate, music, meals, your grandma, however simply don’t do the creepy smile at me, please,” Scott stresses. “I’m actually jumpy, as nicely. I’m a delicate soul, so don’t do this to me, please.”

Under, throughout a latest dialog with THR, Scott additionally particulars a couple of of Smile 2’s most difficult sequences, in addition to Skye’s overconsumption of Voss bottled water. 

First issues first, are you alright? You and Skye Riley went by rather a lot on this one.

Yeah, you’re proper. We did undergo rather a lot, however I’m nice. I’m actually so comfortable and so grateful. I get to advertise one thing I’m so happy with and that I really like. In years to return, I can present my children and be like, “Look what your mother did.” In order that’s fairly cool, and I’m over the moon.

Once you discovered you had been within the combine for Smile 2, is there a pure inclination to seek out the closest mirror and attempt to create your creepiest smile?

Apparently sufficient, I used to be a fan of Parker’s. I’d watched his 2020 brief movie, Laura Hasn’t Slept, after which I’d clearly gone and watched Smile. I used to be such a fan of it, and what actually caught out to me was truly what a personality piece it was. Parker was so clearly prioritizing the character piece a part of it to be able to inform his story. You possibly can’t separate the character from it. They’re not simply used to push the plot ahead. So, for me, it was extra simply, “Who’s Skye?” and stepping into that than it was a smile. And who says that I smile within the film? We don’t know, proper? 

When individuals see you on the road, they in all probability burst into their rendition of “A Entire New World” or, “It’s morphin’ time,” however have you ever ready your self for the inevitable creepy smiles you’ll see any more?

Oh, I actually hope individuals don’t do this. Do you suppose they’re going to do it?

I hope not, however I believe they may.

I’d simply say, please don’t. I’ll sit and speak to you in regards to the climate, music, meals, your grandma, however simply don’t do the creepy smile at me, please. I’m actually jumpy, as nicely. I’m a delicate soul, so don’t do this to me, please. Additionally, what if I get in protection mode and I punch somebody within the face? That’s not good. Are you aware what I imply?

I’m knocking on wooden proper now.

Thanks! I respect it.

So was pop stardom your authentic dream? Or was it on the identical stage as film stardom?

Ooh, I’d say music and my love for music has all the time been a driving drive for me. Music was my past love. It felt like the world that I used to be going to enter, and I’ve been writing music since I used to be 14. I really like music. I really like creating music. So it’s simply been determining the precise collaborators for me and who I wish to be as an artist, what I wish to say and creating what I wish to sound like. It’s the most important blessing to have the ability to make music and create with those that I believe are unbelievable. So that’s the aim, versus any type of concept of pop stardom. It’s extra about simply having the ability to have the assets to make music and to share it with anybody who’s all in favour of connecting with you round music. In order that’s my factor.

Each time I believed I discovered the scene that put you most by wringer, one other one would come alongside and prime it. 

(Laughs.) 

Which scene would you least prefer to relive once more? 

Oh mate, there have been so a lot of them, however the freezer was the toughest 4 days of my life, if I’m being actually sincere. That was actually tough. Yeah, the freezer stuff.

I’ve to ask in regards to the slapping scene. It seemed extremely actual, so did you go all the best way there? Or is it film magic?

Oh my goodness, that was actual, after all. Is there a film magic manner the place you’ll be able to slap your self? That may be loopy, however there in all probability is these days, so I suppose you’re proper. It was completely within the script, however Parker requested me, “Nay, how do you are feeling about it?” That, after all, is the right factor to do, however I used to be like, “After all, I’m going to slap myself.” What’s so humorous is that there aren’t many roles the place that dialog occurs and also you go, “What do you imply? After all, I’m going to slap myself.” That simply doesn’t occur in every other line of labor, however sure, it needed to occur. It was simply a part of the factor. And fairly actually, every thing was so warranted by way of the second and Skye and the story. It was fully justified.

The flash mob scene in her condo, was that additionally one of many stranger days you’ve ever had on set?

Sure, it was very unusual, however what you [initially] see is Skye’s perspective or POV from the digital camera. It was nonetheless enjoyable for me, and the dancers had been additionally Skye’s dancers within the efficiency piece. So we’d already constructed up a rapport, and by the point that it acquired very bodily and intense and so they had been grabbing at me, there was a belief there. However I believed their actions had been superb. Their potential to storytell with their our bodies and create this virtually non-human motion was sensible.

You had been very well-hydrated on this film. 

So well-hydrated.

Did your preparation contain chugging bottles of Voss? Did you go right down to your neighborhood pub and order a spherical of Voss?

(Laughs.) Throughout this film, I wished to ask for a spherical of one thing else, imagine me. No, I’m joking. It’s truly actually exhausting to down a bottle [of Voss]. I suppose I didn’t anticipate how uncomfortable that will be. For instance, the one take that ends with me smashing the bathe, that was an hour-long reset. So we solely did that take throughout two occasions, however we began the take [in a place] the place it could then be reduce. Parker didn’t wish to waste a [full] take and need to reset if he knew that it wasn’t the one, however we did it 5 occasions. So I needed to chug every time, and it was actually necessary to me that she downed the entire bottle at that time within the film. There was a second earlier than the place she does drink fairly quick, however she doesn’t drink the entire thing. Or perhaps she does in the beginning, as nicely; I can’t bear in mind. However you’re proper; there was rather a lot [of Voss chugging]. 

I used to be additionally very well-known for being well-hydrated anyway, as a result of I had a large two-and a-half-liter bottle with me on a regular basis. We named it Gidget. Fluids had been simply popping out of me for a month. I used to be crying a lot; I used to be snotting, so we needed to replenish that. There have been so many tears, and I needed to simply drink water to fill myself again up once more.

The top of the hair division, Angie Johnson, stated that Kristen Stewart was an inspiration for Skye’s hair. Is it weird to reference somebody you’ve labored with up to now?

No, as a result of she’s nonetheless an icon. Despite the fact that she’s a pal, she’s nonetheless Kristen Stewart, and so she’s nonetheless somebody that you simply reference. It was truly a selected look the place we referenced her. I despatched her an image of me and her subsequent to [each other], and it was Skye’s slicked-back have a look at the gala. [Kristen] had a selected look on a pink carpet that I liked, and I used to be like, “Oh my gosh, that is nice.” So we rolled with that [for Skye’s gala look], and I believe it labored rather well.

So that you co-wrote a pair Skye Riley tracks that play all through the film. The piano model of “Simply My Title” occurs to be my favourite. Is it an fascinating train to jot down lyrics in character? 

Yeah, it’s actually enjoyable. However even if you’re within the midst of creating music for your self and writing for your self and with different individuals, typically you do have these moments the place you write in character anyway. It’s a type of inventive train to combine it up just a little bit. So I get pleasure from that, and I benefit from the concept of being in a session and going, “What would it not be like if we wrote a tune for so-and-so?” [Smile 2: The Skye Riley EP] was just a little bit like that, and it was enjoyable as a result of we weren’t placing the identical inventive limitations that you simply placed on your self as an artist. These exit the window just a little bit, and also you lean into issues that you’d by no means do and methods of singing that you’d by no means do. I’m clearly singing lyrics that I’d by no means write about issues that really feel extra this manner or that manner, and that’s a really enjoyable course of. 

Alexis [Kesselman], or Idarose, wrote and produced 4 of the tracks. She’s my age, and he or she’s so proficient. We had essentially the most enjoyable writing collectively, and funnily sufficient, we began writing “Simply My Title” collectively over Zoom simply days after I used to be solid. We then wrote “Loss of life of Me,” which is the top credit score tune, after the film was made, in order that was actually enjoyable in a pleasant full-circle second.

Did you additionally design Skye’s signature that performs a distinguished position in a single sequence? 

Sure, Parker stated, “Do a bunch of various signatures, and we will determine.” So I did a bunch, after which we simply landed on that.

Alongside the traces of Skye’s “I want water for my daughter” or “I want the waiter for some water,” do you will have any warm-up routines or rituals earlier than performing a scene or tune? 

If I’m singing or doing vocal warmups or I’m within the studio, then it’s very boring. I simply have an app on my cellphone, and it’s a 20-minute warmup or no matter. That scene, although, I imagine that was Parker. He simply actually preferred the sound of that, and I used to be like, “Yeah, I prefer it too. It’s a vibe.” So we type of went with it, and there’s one thing in regards to the water [as discussed earlier]. There’s one thing just a little bit off-kilter about it, however it works rather well.

Just like Skye and Gemma (Dylan Gelula), do you suppose you and your pal Princess Jasmine will ever reunite sometime?

Oh, after all. There’s a film within the works proper now with Skye and Princess Jasmine. It’s a merging of worlds, and naturally, it’s going to be a musical that’s each magic and spirituality. It’s coming quickly to a cinema close to you.

Lastly, what are you able to say in regards to the film you produced not too way back?

Funnily sufficient, I discovered that I acquired this job the day I wrapped that film. It’s known as Everlasting Return, and it’s a good looking love story. It’s type of whimsical. It’s nearly grief and letting go and rediscovering your self and transferring on. So it’s lovely, and it’s a really totally different film from Smile 2, with a really totally different character and a really totally different tone.

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Smile 2 is now taking part in in film theaters.