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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Safeeyah Kazi

Who is Naomi Scott? Meet Aladdin’s new Jasmine

Naomi Scott has been tallying up her film count for over a decade, but she's landed her biggest role yet, playing a Disney Princess in a live-action remake.

The London-born actress, 25, plays Jasmine in Guy Ritchie's take on Aladdin alongside Mena Massoud as the famous street urchin and Will Smith as the loveable Genie.

From playing the pink Power Ranger to taking a flying carpet ride, here is everything you need to know about your next favourite actress:

What has Naomi Scott been in?

Princess: Naomi Scott at the Paris premiere of Aladdin (Getty Images)

Scott’s role in Aladdin really is a full-circle move for the star as she began her career as a Disney Channel protégé.

Her first role on the platform was in Life Bites back in 2008 - an adaptation of the platform’s Italian series Life Bites - Pillole di vita.

She was then cast as Mohini Banjaree in Disney Channel original film Lemonade Mouth alongside Hayley Kiyoko and Bridgit Mendler, where she was also given the opportunity to show off her vocal ability.

Lemonade Mouth: The star landed a role in the Disney Channel original (Getty Images)

She went on to land a number of roles in other projects, including sci-fi drama Terra Nova, with an upcoming role in the 2019 reboot of Charlie’s Angels.

What do we know about Naomi Scott’s role in Aladdin 2019?

New role: Naomi Scott as Princess Jasmine in the new Aladdin (Daniel Smith)

The actress will play Jasmine, who in the original animation is an outspoken and charismatic princess who has become tired of being confined to the walls of her palace.

She is set to star alongside newcomer Mena Massoud, in the titular role, Marwan Kenzari, as Jafar, and Will Smith as the iconic Genie.

What was the controversy around casting her as Jasmine?

Controversy: Scott's casting sparked outrage from some fans of the film (Sky/ Disney)

After Scott’s role in the live action remake was announced, Disney was blasted for casting a non-Arab star in the role with it widely being assumed that the fictional location of Agrabah is in the Middle East.

Scott, who is of British and Indian heritage, had her role questioned after fans accused Hollywood producers of viewing the Arab and Indian actors as “interchangeable” and not seeing past their skin colour.

Disney's Aladdin new official trailer

Neither party have commented on the backlash.

Who is Naomi Scott’s husband?

In 2014 Scott tied the knot with Ipswich Town football player beau Jordan Spence after enjoying a four-year romance prior, according to Grazia.

The pair occasionally crop up in very cute snaps on each other’s Instagram pages.

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