For Freya Scott’s first major voiceover character, she voices Ridley Jones in the UK dub of the animated series of the same name, which can be screened on Netflix. On stage, Freya originated the role of Young Elsa in the West End production of Disney show FROZEN the Musical, and she made her professional stage debut starring as Matilda in the UK Tour of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical. In 2017, Freya filmed as Jane Banks in Crosswalk the Musical – Mary Poppins for The Late Late Show with James Corden, and this September, Freya is starting a musical theatre BTEC course. Freya answered our questions about voicing Ridley Jones in the UK dub of Ridley Jones for Netflix, originating the role of Young Elsa in FROZEN the Musical at Theatre Royal Drury Lane and starring in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical as Matilda.
You voice Ridley Jones in the UK dub of Ridley Jones, what was it like working on the show across all seasons and returning to record new episodes?
Voicing Ridley was absolutely amazing and so much fun, I had to travel to Glasgow to record Ridley Jones which was so cool. I got to work with the most lovely team at Big Mouth Audio, who were very friendly, and my voice director Donald Pirie was so encouraging and kind. I just had the best time. I never knew if I’d be back for another season after recording Season 1 so it was very special to have been able to do five series in total. I always looked forward to finding out if there was another season and looking at the new songs, which were always catchy and so much fun to sing!
What was Ridley like to voice and is there anything you think you will miss most about recording the series?
Ridley was a dream to voice, she’s very similar to my own voice, just a little bit posher and sweeter with a more animated tone. I first voiced Ridley when I was 14 and then finished when I was about to turn 16, whereas Ridley was around the age of six so I had to try and make my voice sound much younger than I was. I finished the last season of Ridley Jones a little while ago now and I miss it so much! I got to meet some amazing people and got to give a voice to an amazing character, I’m so grateful for my time voicing Ridley and I hope I get to voice some more characters soon.
How different did you find Ridley Jones to your previous projects and how was it having Ridley Jones as your first major voiceover character?
Ridley Jones was very different to my previous projects. When you’re on stage you get to perform with a cast to an audience of thousands and practically live in the theatre, whereas with Ridley I was in a soundproof booth on my own with the animation and my lines on a screen in front of me. Voicing Ridley was almost like doing karaoke as I was dubbing the original work performed by Lara Nemirovsky. Voicing Ridley was my first experience of voiceover work, so I didn’t really know what to expect but I just had the best time! I grew up watching shows such as Doc McStuffins so to be working on an animation created by Chris Nee was so exciting!
Did you have any stand-out favourite episodes to work on and how was it seeing the completed animations for the first time?
I love all of the episodes for different reasons but the first episode of the series is very special to me, the song that Ridley sings in the episode was my audition song and I fell in love with it. I also loved working on episode 5 of Season 1 as I got the opportunity to voice a couple of the lemurs, it was so fun and exciting for me to play around with how they were voiced! Seeing the completed animation for the first time was so special I just felt so proud and was so excited for everyone else to see it.
On stage, you played Young Elsa in the original London cast of FROZEN the Musical, how much did you know about the production before auditioning and what drew you to the role?
I was aware of the Broadway production of FROZEN the Musical and heard it was coming to the West End. I was asked to self-tape for Young Elsa during lockdown and just remember being so excited! I was little for my age so I was auditioning when I was 13 turning 14 and I never thought in a million years that I would get it. I was drawn to the role of Young Elsa because she’s a Disney princess, but also because I really felt like I could understand her and really embody her misunderstood character.
How was it being part of the original London cast of a Disney musical and originating the role of Young Elsa in the West End?
It was absolutely a dream come true! The cast and crew were so lovely, it just felt like a second family. Kanon Narumi, my Young Anna, and I performed for the sitzprobe performance, and hearing it come together with all the orchestra for the first time in such a beautiful theatre was a very memorable moment! I’d always wished to perform in the West End, but I never thought it would be being a Disney princess in a Disney production, it was so amazing. Disney… West End…tick!
What was it like getting into character and how did you feel on your first and last performance in the show?
For me, as soon as I had my blonde wig and my costume on I felt like Young Elsa. The costumes were absolutely beautiful so it wasn’t hard feeling like a Disney princess! I remember my first show being nervous but more so excited, I couldn’t wait to just get out there and do it. On my last performance, it was very emotional, it just felt like such a special thing to be a part of and I was so grateful that I got the opportunity to play Young Elsa.
How did you find the experience touring with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical for your professional stage debut?
My experience touring with the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical was amazing. I moved to London during the rehearsal process and lived away from home for 12 weeks before going to Bradford and starting the tour. I was only 12 at the time so I sometimes found it tough being away from home for so long, but once we started the tour I had the time of my life. It was so fun touring and getting to visit all the beautiful theatres and cities! It was definitely hard work preparing to be Matilda, she’s such a layered character to play and there was a lot to explore with her. Matilda was such a joy to play, and I feel very honoured to have been able to play her.
What was it like finding out you had booked the starring role of Matilda and what was she like to play?
I had gone to see the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical for my 11th birthday the previous year and absolutely loved it! I stood up and told my mum during the bows that I’m going to do that one day and nearly a year to the day I was heading up to London to start rehearsals! It was a lengthy audition process for the role of Matilda with around 11 rounds in total, I think. I was always nervous waiting to see if I received a callback, but once I got to the final I was more so excited, I was just grateful to have gotten so far. I remember my mum getting a phone call and I knew immediately it was “THE” call. Mum’s face said it all, I felt so excited and overwhelmed I just started crying, so did Mum. I immediately called my nan and told her the news and then the rest of my family, and they were all so excited for me. That’s all I can remember really as it just felt so surreal and was such a relief after many weeks of auditioning.
Getting to play such an iconic role was incredible. I loved exploring her character and then getting to portray her. There was a lot to learn, whether it was singing, acting, dancing, even boxing! I had so much fun getting to bring her to the stage. I think my favourite moments of the show was the scene with Matilda and The Escapologist as it’s such a beautiful song, and the bows, as I loved seeing the audience’s reaction and the happiness it brought them. It’s one of the reasons I love performing, that feeling is unlike anything else!
Do you have any favourite memories from performing in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical that you can tell us about?
I think one of my favourite memories is my debut show, it was the most amazing feeling performing it for the first time. I felt so happy and proud, it was definitely a pinch-me moment. Edinburgh Playhouse was by far my favourite venue as we got to stay in the most beautiful city but also got to perform to 3,000 people – the noise at the finale bow was crazy and the standing ovations were very cool!
There was one show where I went to take Mr. Wormwood’s hat off the hat stand and it fell and rolled off stage. The conductor put it on and I had to firstly not laugh, but then improvise and carry on. Instead of handing Mr. Wormwood the hat, I handed him the glue and he glued the hat to his head himself. I found it very funny, those moments don’t always feel good at the time, but they remind you that you’re in live theatre and keep you grounded.
What do you remember from your time filming as Jane Banks in Crosswalk the Musical – Mary Poppins for The Late Late Show with James Corden in 2017?
I was only ten at the time and it was my first professional job so I didn’t really know what to expect. I remember just being excited and happy to be there! There was lots of waiting around and watching the other actors doing their part and then it was mine and Bobby’s turn. We just had to hold James Corden’s hand and cross the road. I remember finding it so magical seeing huge spoons and teddies being danced across the road, I think my highlight of my day though was getting a selfie with James Corden.
Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get started in the industry?
I joined a local musical theatre Saturday school when I was around the age of eight that I still go to now. I was then cast as Oliver in a local amateur production of Oliver! in Margate and that’s where it all began. I did my first performance and knew that I just loved being on stage! My teacher Zara told my mum that she saw something special in me and that I should audition for the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical, which I did and I didn’t get past the first round of auditions… but I didn’t give up, and went back the following year and I’m so glad I did because I was offered the role. It was after doing the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical that I was lucky enough to gain representation with my amazing agent Michelle at Daisy and Dukes Agency and things kind of just went from there.
What are some of your favourite films, TV and theatre shows to watch?
Oohhhh that’s a hard one! Well, for films I love anything musical – one of my favourites being La La Land, I also love a bit of mystery so I like things like Enola Holmes, Stranger Things, Wednesday, I could go on, haha. For theatre, well, my all-time favourite musical is Wicked. I went to watch Wicked before I started the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Matilda The Musical, I watched Laura Pick as Elphaba and I remember being so in awe of her performance. I also got to watch Lucie Jones with Kanon (my Young Anna) for my 15th birthday, we saw her at stage door after the show and she was so lovely! I just love the theatre and would watch a show every day if I could!
How do you like to spend your free time?
I spend most of my free time acting and training and doing what I love, but away from acting I love reading, I think my book collection can be called a library at this point! I’m very much like Matilda when it comes to reading, haha. I enjoy art and journalling, photography and drawing. I guess anything creative!
What are you hoping this year brings for your career and do you have any projects coming up that you can share?
I’m starting a musical theatre BTEC in September, which I am extremely excited for! I hope I get to perform more shows and explore more characters, hopefully I’ll get some more self-tapes/auditions and we will see whatever happens next! You never know in this industry, whilst there will be more no’s than yeses, it only takes one yes and that can come along when you least expect it. I’m very lucky and grateful for the opportunities that have come my way and I can’t wait to do more shows at college!
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