As Nelly Scott stared at her computer, bored, she tried to make it look like she was doing something useful.
At 27, temping at a health and safety company in London, she felt uninspired, to say the least.
‘One day, after I’d finished my duties and was sitting waiting for people to ring the doorbell, my boss told me to at least pretend I was working,’ the 34-year-old from Canada but living in London tells Metro.co.uk.
‘It was my lightbulb moment. I remember thinking to myself: What am I doing with my life?’
Nelly Scott, 34, a Londoner from Canada, runs clowning retreats after quitting her job at a health and safety company to take up the art at the professional level
A couple of months later, Nelly handed in her notice. And she knew exactly what she was going to do instead. She wanted to become a clown.
She said: ‘It may seem like an unusual calling, but performing is in my blood.
‘Growing up in Ontario, Canada, with a theatre director mom and set designer dad, it was inevitable I’d end up on stage.
‘In fact when I was a little girl, my parents put me into their productions rather than paying for childcare!’
![Nelly revealed she grew up interested in performing arts, and became captivated with clowns after seeing a troupe perform in Paris when she was 15](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/27/10/67004591-11653811-Nelly_revealed_she_grew_up_interested_in_performing_arts_and_bec-a-5_1674814077037.jpg)
Nelly revealed she grew up interested in performing arts, and became captivated with clowns after seeing a troupe perform in Paris when she was 15
Nelly originally wanted to be a professional theatre actress, but during a family trip to Paris, aged 15, a street show of clowns captivated her.
‘To me, their antics represented absolute freedom. They were so playful and it was clear they weren’t taking themselves seriously.
‘During our holiday I went back to that show about five times, and one afternoon I got talking to the performers. That’s when I discovered there was such a thing as clown school.’
Back home, Nelly had a civics and careers class in high school so she asked to research clowning.
![The professional clown recounted how a 'lightbulb moment' led her to question her life choices and quit her job](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/27/10/67004589-11653811-The_professional_clown_recounted_how_a_lightbulb_moment_led_her_-a-7_1674814142292.jpg)
The professional clown recounted how a ‘lightbulb moment’ led her to question her life choices and quit her job
Her teacher told her it ‘wasn’t a real profession’. Luckily, her parents were more open-minded.
It gave Nelly something to aim for, but she had challenges to overcome first. Aged 17, an accidental overdose at a teenage party left her fighting for her life.
‘My recovery gave me time to rethink my priorities and make some changes. In hospital I’d spent my days thinking about comedy and clowning.
‘As soon as I was discharged, I auditioned for a year-long role at Canada’s Shaw Festival, a theatre company.’
![Nelly said clowning is #the ultimate way to get in touch with yourself' because life really can be 'ridiculous'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/27/10/67004583-11653811-Lauren_pictured_performing_wanted_to_be_an_actress_as_a_teen_but-a-9_1674814149963.jpg)
Nelly said clowning is #the ultimate way to get in touch with yourself’ because life really can be ‘ridiculous’
![After quitting her reception job, in summer 2016 she became a full-time clown performer and teacher, working under the stage name Zuma Puma](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/27/10/67004585-11653811-She_has_been_working_as_a_clown_full_time_since_2016_and_is_not_-a-11_1674814305123.jpg)
After quitting her reception job, in summer 2016 she became a full-time clown performer and teacher, working under the stage name Zuma Puma
Aged 18, she started studying at several clown schools. After six years, she moved to London and began supplementing her acting and clowning income with temping jobs.
She also found some work as a clown teacher on a part-time basis.
And finally, after quitting her reception job, in summer 2016 she became a full-time clown performer and teacher, working under the stage name Zuma Puma.
‘Friends and family told me I was crazy, asking how I’d pay my rent. But a friend helped me to produce my first clowning workshop and it immediately sold out.
![Nelly is determined to make clowning for everyone and her love of retreats led her to create clown-specific retreats](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/27/10/67004579-11653811-An_overdose_at_a_party_when_she_was_17_left_Nelly_fighting_for_h-a-13_1674814310065.jpg)
Nelly is determined to make clowning for everyone and her love of retreats led her to create clown-specific retreats
‘With clowning comes the freedom to tap into the ridiculousness of life, embracing fun and joyfulness, or fully expressing yourself during challenging times, whatever is happening.
‘When people came to my clowning classes I could see huge transformations – they became more confident and playful.’
Nelly is determined to make clowning for everyone and her love of retreats led her to create clown-specific retreats.
‘For me, clowning is the ultimate way to get in touch with yourself because life really can be ridiculous, so it’s about celebrating that and allowing yourself to act with total freedom.
‘My advice is to follow your instincts, embrace those lightbulb moments and let curiosity be your guide. That’s my Red Nose Philosophy!’
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