Molly Rainford Explained

Molly Rainford
Birth Name:Molly Anne Rainford
Birth Date:22 November 2000
Birth Place:Havering, London, England
Years Active:2012–present
Father:Dave Rainford
Partner:Tyler West (2023–present)

Molly Anne Rainford (born 22 November 2000) is an English actress, singer and television presenter. She was a finalist on the sixth series of Britain's Got Talent in 2012 and was one of the presenters on Friday Download between 2014 and 2015. She has since released two extended plays and has gone on to portray the titular character in the CBBC comedy drama series Nova Jones from 2021 onwards. In 2022, Rainford competed in the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing; she reached the final and finished as a runner-up. In 2023, she was cast in the BBC soap opera EastEnders as Anna Knight, as well as continuing to release music.

Life and career

Early life and Britain's Got Talent

Rainford was born on 22 November 2000 in the London Borough of Havering.[1] [2] [3] Her father is former Chelmsford City F.C. midfielder and assistant manager Dave Rainford and her family descends from Jamaica.[3] [4] In 2012, at the age of 11, she auditioned for the sixth series of Britain's Got Talent, singing her own version of Jennifer Hudson's "One Night Only" from the film Dreamgirls.[5] She advanced to the semi-final stages where she sang "It Must Have Been Love" by Roxette; Rainford made it through to the final after finishing second in the public vote.[6] [7] [8] In the final, she sang Beyoncé's version of "Ave Maria" and finished the competition in sixth place.[9] [10] Following the show, she was signed to Sony Music.[11] Judge Simon Cowell also sponsored Rainford to attend Sylvia Young Theatre School.[12] She later attended East London Arts & Music.[13]

Television and music career

In 2014, Rainford joined the presenting team on the CBBC children's entertainment series Friday Download alongside Akai Osei and Bars and Melody, appearing as a presenter on the eighth and ninth series until the show's cancellation in 2015.[14] In 2016, she appeared in an episode of CBBC's Millie Inbetween as Chloe.[15] [16] In 2021, Rainford began starring in the CBBC comedy drama Nova Jones, portraying the titular character, with the series focusing on the life and adventures of a galactic pop singer.[17] The series was subsequently renewed for a second and third series.[18]

In 2019, she released her debut extended play Commitment, which featured the songs "I Like You", "Long Run", "Forever and a Day", "How Many Times" and the titular single "Commitment", which has amassed over two million streams online.[19] [20] [2] In 2020, she released a second EP, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), which featured covers of Christmas songs including "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)", "Who Would Imagine a King", "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" and the title track.[21] [22] In 2022, Rainford was announced as a contestant on the twentieth series of Strictly Come Dancing.[23] [24] [25] She finished as the runner-up alongside her professional partner Carlos Gu.[26] [27]

In March 2023, it was announced that she had been cast on the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Her character, Anna Knight, was brought in as a daughter in a family introduced as new owners of the fictional Queen Vic pub.[28] She made her on-screen debut on 1 June 2023.[29] She also released "My Heart's a Broken Record" with DJ Alex Kirsch as her first mainstream single.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012This MorningHerself1 episode
Britain’s Got Talent5 episodes
Lorraine2 episodes
2012, 2017Britain’s Got More Talent
2014Friday DownloadEpisode: "Molly Rainford, Anais Gallagher, Akai Osei, Julie Rogers & Pixie Lott"
2016Millie InbetweenChloeEpisode: "Millie Goes Bad"
2017Christmas SpiritMollyShort film
2021–presentNova JonesNova JonesMain role
2022Strictly Come DancingHerself26 episodes
16 episodes
2023–presentEastEndersAnna KnightRegular role
2023Children in NeedHerself1 episode

Discography

Extended plays

Title! scope="col"
EP details
Commitment
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
  • Released: 27 November 2020
  • Label: Molly Rainford
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

TitleYearAlbum
"Sign Your Name"[30] 2019rowspan="2"
"My Heart Is a Broken Record"[31]
(with Alex Kirsch)		2023

Awards and nominations

YearCeremonyCategoryWorkResult
2023I Talk Telly AwardsBest Soap NewcomerEastEnders[32]
2024National Film Awards UKBest Supporting Actress in a TV SeriesEastEnders[33]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rainford . Molly . Birthday girlllll✨ it's been year full of blessings and lessons. I'm so grateful for everyone and everything around me right now, so thanks for all the love & energy Here's to another year of grafting and living my best lifeeee . . 10 August 2022 . 22 November 2021 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171400/https://www.instagram.com/p/CWk0X7qo9xP/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y= . live .
  2. News: Molly Rainford is the tenth celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2022 . . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171440/https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2022/molly-rainford-strictly-come-dancing-2022 . live .
  3. News: Daughter of Clarets captain is BGT finalist . . 10 August 2022 . 9 May 2012 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171505/https://www.chelmsfordweeklynews.co.uk/news/9694976.daughter-of-clarets-captain-is-bgt-finalist/ . live .
  4. News: Molly's bright future, despite BGT disappointment . . 10 August 2022 . 16 May 2012.
  5. News: New Noise: Molly Rainford . Wonderland . 10 August 2022 . 24 November 2021 . 4 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220204053502/https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2021/11/24/new-noise-molly-rainford/ . live .
  6. Web site: Britain's Got Talent semi-finalists revealed . . 10 August 2022 . 6 May 2012 . 22 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130122050309/http://www.itv.com/news/2012-05-06/semi-finalists-revealed-in-britains-got-talent/ . live .
  7. Web site: Britain's Got Talent: Rogues and Molly storm to final . . 10 August 2022 . 9 May 2012 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171440/https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/tv-radio/britains-got-talent-rogues-and-molly-storm-to-final-26851449.html . live .
  8. News: Loveable Rogues, Molly Rainford through to Britain's Got Talent final . . 10 August 2022 . 8 May 2012 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171455/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a380627/loveable-rogues-molly-rainford-through-to-britains-got-talent-final/ . live .
  9. News: Britain's Got Talent Star Molly Rainford Joins Strictly Come Dancing 2022 Line-Up . . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171504/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/molly-rainford-britains-got-talent-joins-strictly-come-dancing-2022-line-up_uk_62f358d3e4b0ee32ad77dfcf . live .
  10. News: Britain's Got Talent Molly Rainford: l want to be a diva like Beyoncé . . 10 August 2022 . 9 May 2012 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171508/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a380748/britains-got-talent-molly-rainford-l-want-to-be-a-diva-like-beyonc/ . live .
  11. News: 'BGT' Ryan O'Shaughnessy, Molly Rainford sign record deals . . 10 August 2022 . 19 May 2012 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171437/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a382489/bgt-ryan-oshaughnessy-molly-rainford-sign-record-deals/ . live .
  12. News: Benjamin . Laura . Molly Rainford opens up on life after Strictly: new music, Tyler West romance and exciting EastEnders role . 21 July 2023 . . 10 July 2023.
  13. News: In depth with Molly Rainford . Mission Statement Magazine . 10 August 2022 . 3 August 2021 . 3 August 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210803002836/https://www.missionstatementmagazine.co.uk/post/in-depth-with-molly-rainford . live .
  14. Web site: Download - Presenter Download: Molly . . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171444/https://www.bbcchannels.com/ . live .
  15. Web site: Millie Inbetween: Series 3.2. Millie Goes Bad . . 10 August 2022 . 1 December 2016 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171506/https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b084ngkk/millie-inbetween-series-3-2-millie-goes-bad?seriesId=b09m65p2 . live .
  16. Web site: Millie Inbetween - Series 3, Episode 2 - Millie Goes Bad . . 10 August 2022 . 1 December 2016 . 16 November 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161116023857/https://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/millie_inbetween/episodes/3/2/ . live .
  17. News: Molly Rainford is out of this world in Nova Jones . . 22 September 2021 . 10 August 2022 . 25 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220425104131/https://www.rte.ie/entertainment/2021/0922/1248261-molly-rainford-is-out-of-this-world-in-nova-jones/ . live .
  18. Web site: BBC Children's, RTÉ renew musical adventure Nova Jones for two more seasons. C21Media. 10 August 2022. 27 May 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220527181623/https://www.c21media.net/news/bbc-childrens-rte-renew-musical-adventure-nova-jones-for-two-more-seasons/. live.
  19. News: Newcomer Molly Rainford releases debut EP, 'Commitment' . RN Brit . 10 August 2022 . 8 October 2019 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171508/https://www.rnbrit.com/blog/2019/10/10/commitment-ep . live .
  20. Web site: Commitment - EP by Molly Rainford on iTunes. Apple Music. 10 August 2022. 10 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171500/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/commitment-ep/1479609863. live.
  21. Web site: Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – EP by Molly Rainford on iTunes . . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171509/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/christmas-baby-please-come-home-ep/1536996490 . live .
  22. News: We Have A Festive Chat With The Extraordinarily Talented Molly Rainford . Fizzy . 10 August 2022 . 2 December 2020 . 2 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201202113703/https://fizzymag.com/articles/interview-with-talented-molly-rainford-about-christmas-ep . live .
  23. Web site: Welcome Molly Rainford our tenth celebrity contestant! . . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171445/https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/entries/6c099ecf-5b4b-4138-95cb-72d3f20ce046 . live .
  24. News: Strictly Come Dancing 2022 confirms BGT star Molly Rainford for line-up . . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171507/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/molly-rainford-strictly-come-dancing-2022-contestant-newsupdate/ . live .
  25. News: Strictly Come Dancing announces Britain's Got Talent star as tenth contestant . . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171455/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a40854306/strictly-come-dancing-2022-lineup-molly-rainford/ . live .
  26. Web site: Hamza Yassin wins Strictly Come Dancing with partner Jowita Przystał Strictly Come Dancing The Guardian . 2022-12-18 . amp.theguardian.com.
  27. Web site: 2022-12-17 . Strictly Come Dancing winner announced . 2022-12-18 . BBC News . en-GB.
  28. News: Strictly Come Dancing's Molly Rainford tipped to join EastEnders. 1 March 2023. Digital Spy. (Hearst Communications). Harp. Justin. 2 March 2023.
  29. colinsalmon24. 1641575740226301953. TX June 1st. x. Salmon. Colin. Colin Salmon. 30 March 2023.
  30. Web site: Sign Your Name – Single by Molly Rainford on iTunes . . 10 August 2022 . 10 August 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220810171511/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/sign-your-name-single/1467164432 . live .
  31. Web site: EXCLUSIVE: Molly Rainford & Alex Kirsch talk teaming up on My Heart Is A Broken Record . Official Charts Company. 14 July 2023. 15 July 2023 .
  32. News: Gonzalez . Elliot . Nominations revealed for the I Talk Telly Awards 2023 as voting opens. I Talk Telly . 11 November 2023.
  33. Web site: Armstrong. Jeff. The National Film Awards unveils nominations for 10th anniversary celebration.. National Film Academy. 29 April 2024. 1 May 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240501183303/https://www.nationalfilmawards.org/the-national-film-awards-unveils-nominations-for-10th-anniversary-celebration/. 1 May 2024. live.

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