Acting Career
Throughout 2005 to 2008, Naughton starred in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Hairspray as Little Inez. In March 2008 Naughton was cast to portray Grammy Award-Winning Rap Artist Lil' Kim in Notorious a biopic based on the late Notorious B.I.G.. The film was released in February 2009 to mixed reviews and went on to make over $43 million worldwide. Naughton in particular received positive reviews from critics for her portrayal. The role was marked as Naughton's first and only role which required nudity.
Naughton was cast as the female protagonist in the Lionsgate remake of the 1980 film of the same name Fame. Filming took place in both New York City and Los Angeles in November and December 2008. Naughton portrayed the role of Denise an aspiring singer. The film was released in September 2009 and opened No. 3 at the US Box Office in its opening weekend despite negative reviews from critics. The film went on to make $77 million worldwide.
In August 2010, Naughton was announced to appear in an episode of the award-winning AMC Drama television series Mad Men. Naughton portrays the role of Toni Charles a Playboy Bunny mistress to the character Lane Pryce. The episode Hands and Knees aired on September 26, 2010. The role is marked as the second time Naughton has portrayed a fictional Playboy Bunny. That same month Naughton appeared in the Warner Bros. Pictures Comedy film Lottery Ticket.
In March 2011, Naughton appeared in the Drama television series pilot The Playboy Club which centers around the lives of the employees of the original Playboy Club operating in Chicago. The series was picked up by NBC in May 2011. Naughton portrayed the role of Brenda a Playboy Bunny who dreams of being the first African-American Playboy centerfold. The series premiered on September 19, 2011 and was cancelled after three episodes due to low ratings.
In October 2011, Naughton appeared in an episode of the FX Sitcom television series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Naughton portrays the role of a 1970's Jazz Club Singer named Sha-Dynasty.
In December 2011, Naughton was announced to have been cast in the Lifetime Drama television series The Client List opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt. The film is a re-imagining of the 2010 film of the same name The Client List. Naughton portrays the role of Kendra a hard-working masseuse at a parlor. The series premiered on April 8, 2012 to 2.79 million viewers and mixed reviews from critics. In May 2012 Lifetime renewed the series for a 15-episode second season.
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