Adam Scott just finished filming the next season of “Severance,” but he wasn’t giving up any details about the plot. Scott, who is best known for his portrayal of Ben Wyatt in the sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” was recently named an ambassador for Philips Norelco to promote its OneBlade shaver, and was in New York to host a party to celebrate the partnership. He took a few minutes to sit down with WWD to talk about his new role as a “diverse facial hair styler,” his bedtime grooming routine and how he’d love to meet the golfer with the same name.
WWD: How did you get involved with Norelco?
ADAM SCOTT: It was sort of kismet because about three or four years ago, a makeup artist I was working with had the OneBlade in her kit. She let me take one home and I’ve been using it ever since. If you need to actually shave, you get a clean shave with it. So when Philips Norelco came to us, it was sheer coincidence that the product was something that I actually had in my medicine chest that I use every single day. So it was kind of a no-brainer.
WWD: The promotional ad you created for the campaign where talk about how you learned to shave by watching actors you admire shave in movies was really funny. Did you write it?
A.S.: No, my friend Chris Kelly wrote it [and stars alongside me in it]. And Jesse Peretz is a good friend of mine and he directed it. It was all kind of organic and really fun. Usually with commercials, it’s isn’t coming from a place like that. So it was a really special experience.
WWD: Do you actually think about facial hair and grooming when you’re working on a character?
A.S.: I really do. [In the commercial,] we’re certainly poking fun at the sort of self-congratulatory nature of acting and the self-involved sort of stereotype of actors. But it’s funny because it’s true — there has to be a certain amount of that in order to do the job properly. So it certainly is something I think about. I’ve always thought James Spader shaving in the gas station bathroom in “Sex, Lies and Videotape” was one of the coolest things I’d ever seen. There’s this sort of this mythology in the movies and television about shaving — when you shave and how you shave — and that always existed in the back of my mind. And it’s always there when I’m coming up with the looks for characters.
WWD: Do you have a favorite facial hair moment?
A.S.: I had a small role in “The Aviator,” a Martin Scorsese movie, and I had a mustache for four or five months. It was a small role, but it was spread out over an entire summer. I loved having it but I wasn’t a recognizable person back then. Since then, I’ve also worn a moustache every once a while, much to the chagrin of my wife, daughter and son. I’ve had a beard too and even when I had a mask on during the pandemic, I was recognized out in the world with a beard. But with a mustache, you don’t get recognized. It’s strange. There’s this immediate dismissal with a mustache — like: I’m writing this person off immediately. But I really like the way it looks. And I like that it’s sort of making its way back into culture in less of a jokey way.
WWD: What other projects are you working on?
A.S.: Well, we just finished “Severance,” so I’m just focused on going home and taking a bit of a break. Then I’ll get going on other stuff this summer. But I’ve been away from home for a while now. I’m tired, but happy, because it was super fun, but I’m excited to take some time off.
WWD: How’s your golf game? You know there an Australian golf pro also named Adam Scott.
A.S.: I know very well. We’ve been collision course now for 20 years. I don’t know how to play golf. So it’s good that he’s the professional golfer, and I’m the one that has no earthly idea how to play. He is incredible — and incredibly handsome as well.
WWD: Have you ever met him?
A.S.: I have not, but I would love to. I know we’re aware of each other. I remember I did an interview back in 2004 and they ran a side-by-side story where we were asked questions about each other or about ourselves. That was 20 years ago, it’s crazy, but yeah, I would love to meet him. He’s an unbelievable athlete, that’s for sure.
WWD: In the press release where Norelco named you an ambassador, they call you a diverse facial hair styler.
A.S.: That’s a pretty heady title.
WWD: Indeed. But beyond your facial hair, what kind of clothes do you like to wear?
A.S.: I love clothes and fashion as an observer, as a customer, as a fan. I’m always on the lookout for something and most recently, I discovered Drake’s, which is a company that’s been around for 100 some odd years in the U.K., but it’s beautiful. This is their suit I’m wearing.
WWD: What about when you’re on the red carpet? Do you have a particular go-to designer?
A.S.: I really don’t. Buck Mason is a brand that I find really versatile and affordable. I’ve worn them for stuff. [It can be dressy,] but it can also be incredibly casual. But I don’t necessarily have a go-to designer. I work with a stylist and we sort of sniff around for whatever is feeling right at the time.
WWD: Have you been an ambassador for any other brands?
A.S.: No, this is the first time [and I’m enjoying it.] We have some other spots for Father’s Day, back-to-school — key moments throughout the year — and they’re all funny.
WWD: Do you have any grooming tips you can share?
A.S.: I have a routine I go through every night. Sometimes I’m really tired, but I’ve gotten mine down to 12 minutes, so it’s not that bad. You’ve got to take as good care of your teeth as possible — that’s something I learned the hard way. And I’m 51 years old, so you have to take care of your skin. You’ve got to do that every night and every morning. And you have to make sure your facial hair and elsewhere is kind of taken care of and shored up.
WWD: You have good hair so I imagine you have to take care of that too.
A.S. Yes, I’m lucky because you know not everybody can say that. I don’t know what I did to deserve a full head of hair at this age, but I count my lucky stars.
