I quit my job to become a full-time clown – my family told me I was crazy 

As Nelly Scott stared at her computer, bored, she tried to make it look like she was doing something useful.

At 27, working temporarily at a health and safety company in London, she was feeling uninspired, to say the least.

“One day, after I finished my homework and was sitting waiting for people to ring the bell, my boss told me to at least pretend I was working.” the 34-year-old man from Canada but lives in London tells Metro.co.uk.

‘It was my enlightenment moment. I remember thinking to myself: What am I doing with my life?’

A couple of months later, Nelly delivered her notice. And she knew exactly what she was going to do in her place. She wanted to become a clown.

She said: ‘It may seem like an unusual calling, but acting is in my blood.

“Growing up in Ontario, Canada, with a theater director mother and set designer father, it was inevitable that I would end up on the stage.

‘In fact, when I was a child, my parents put me in their productions instead of paying for childcare!’

Nelly revealed that she grew up interested in the performing arts and became captivated by clowns after seeing a troupe perform in Paris when she was 15 years old.

Nelly originally wanted to be a professional stage actress, but during a family trip to Paris at age 15, she was wowed by a clown street performance.

‘To me, his antics represented absolute freedom. They were so playful and it was clear they didn’t take themselves seriously.

“During our vacation I went back to that show about five times, and one afternoon I started talking to the artists. It was then that I discovered that there was a school for clowns.

At home, Nelly had a high school civics and careers class, so she asked to research the clown.

The professional clown recounted how a ‘lightbulb moment’ led her to question her life choices and quit her job.

Her teacher told her that ‘it was not a real profession’. Luckily, her parents were more open-minded.

It gave Nelly something to aim for, but first she had challenges to overcome. At 17, an accidental overdose at a teen party left her fighting for her life.

‘My recovery gave me time to rethink my priorities and make some changes. At the hospital, I spent my days thinking about comedies and slapstick.

“As soon as I was released, I auditioned for a year-long role at the Shaw Festival of Canada, a theater company.”

Nelly said that clowning around is “the best way to get in touch with yourself” because life really can be “ridiculous”.

After leaving her reception job, in the summer of 2016 she became a full-time teacher and clown performer, working under the stage name Zuma Puma.

At the age of 18, he began to study at various clown schools. After six years, she moved to London and began supplementing her income as an actress and clown with temporary jobs.

She also found work as a part-time clown teacher.

And finally, after leaving her front desk job, in the summer of 2016 she became a full-time teacher and clown performer, working under the stage name Zuma Puma.

“My friends and family told me I was crazy and asked how I would pay my rent. But a friend helped me produce my first clown workshop and it sold out immediately.

Nelly is determined to clown around for everyone and her love of retreats led her to create retreats specifically for clowns.

“With slapstick comes the freedom to embrace life’s ridiculousness, embrace fun and joy, or express yourself fully in difficult times, no matter what.

“When people came to my clown classes, I could see huge transformations: they became more confident and playful.”

Nelly is determined to clown around for everyone and her love of retreats led her to create retreats specifically for clowns.

“For me, clowning around 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 complete freedom.

‘My advice is to follow your instincts, accept those lightbulb moments and let curiosity be your guide. That’s my Red Nose Philosophy!’

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