Hotel Portofino Star Claude Scott-Mitchell: An Icon On The Rise

In our new series The New Icons, we meet rising Aussie star Claude Scott-Mitchell to talk about her latest TV project and love of vintage.

Claude Scott-Mitchell star of FOXTEL's new TV drama Hotel Portofino Image credit Jonathon Ford

There is something special about meeting a person on the precipice of great things. It’s instantly clear that their unique blend of magic will propel them far beyond even their own expectations. It is at this magic moment, right before ‘big star status’ is cemented, that we catch up with up-and-coming Aussie actor, Claude Scott-Mitchell.

Image credits: Jonathon Ford

With no social media, Claude eschews the usual formula of a star-on-the-rise, preferring to share her deep commitment to creativity through the roles she takes on. Opting for productions with strong characters and intriguing narrative arcs, there’s a sense that Claude is a classicist at heart. This filters into her sense of style, too. Her look is one of old world beauty – with often makeup-free, porcelain skin, she selects natural and cruelty-free skincare products alongside her go-to brand, Aesop. “One of the good bits of my job is meeting someone who knows what they are doing and then I buy what they tell me to!” she reveals referring to the makeup artists she works with on set.

Claude’s approach to fashion is no different. “My signature look is tailored suits and blazers, a mixture of masculine and feminine, old and new styles, and classic cuts.” Living in London, where she is now based, has been a melting pot of eclectic inspiration, encouraging the Aussie to become more daring in the way she dresses. “I love London for the different energies you can have with clothing that goes with the seasons. My dress sense is braver here, you can take risks. Last time I went home I was aware how much my style had changed, it had become louder.”

With an instinctive pull towards vintage clothing, which was born from her time growing up in Marrickville in Sydney’s Inner West and browsing the vintage shops of neighbouring Newtown, Claude notes the emotional and transformative role fashion has in our lives as she remembers a most treasured piece found at a flea market. “I found a too-big military jacket from an 80s Stuart Membery collection. My mother was a model and modelled this exact collection, so stumbling upon this piece in perfect condition was really special. It is far too big and the sleeves are enormous, I’m still waiting to get it altered. I’ve got an idea that I should get some trousers made to match it.”

Her latest show, FOXTEL's Hotel Portofino, is set in 1926 Italy and weaves together a rich tapestry of subplots that range from the rise of Fascism during Mussolini’s reign to the comedic idiosyncrasies of a British family abroad. Set against a stunning backdrop with incredible costume design, the quintessentially British period drama is a visual feast of breathtaking style.

Claude enjoys the research that comes with the fashion of a period series. She reveals it’s her way of tapping into her role. “It [fashion] is an amazing tool in understanding character. In Hotel Portofino the wardrobe is further away from me because I don't dress like this, it’s easier to profile a character in period dress and get inside the role. If I used a fan, I needed to understand why I was using the fan – it’s an amazing way to access the character.”