Myra Molloy Explained

Myra Molloy
Native Name:มณีภัสสร มอลลอย
Native Name Lang:th
Birth Name:Maneepat Myra Molloy
Birth Date:18 September 1997
Birth Place:Bangkok, Thailand

Maneepat Myra Molloy (Thai: มณีภัสสร มอลลอย; ; born 18 September 1997), nicknamed Myra (ไมร่า), is a Thai-American actress, singer and songwriter. In 2011 at age 13, Molloy won the premier season of Thailand's Got Talent with her performances of a combination of cross-over classical and Broadway songs.[1] In August 2014 at age 16, she placed Top 6 on ABC television's Rising Star[2] USA. In 2018-2019 Molloy played Kim (alternate) in the US tour of Miss Saigon. Molloy played 'Quinn' in Miramax's 2021 film He's All That, the gender reversing reboot of She's All That.[3]

Background

Molloy was born and raised in Bangkok, Thailand to a Thai mother and an American father. She has a younger sister, Nina. From an early age, Molloy made frequent trips to New York City, where she fell in love with Broadway. She was fascinated by The Phantom of the Opera, more than once standing through the entire performance with her $26 standing-room ticket. She still tries to attend every musical that she possibly can.[4]

Molloy started playing violin when she was 5, later switching to the viola. She was a member of her school orchestra, as well as senior and chamber choirs. Molloy was the first vocal scholar at Shrewsbury International School Bangkok at age 9.[5]

In 2011 when Molloy was 13, she entered the first season of Thailand's Got Talent. In the competition she sang Time to Say Goodbye, Think of Me, Pie Jesu, and the Thai pop song "Star".[6] The founder of Bangkok Grand Opera said he opened his new production company based on the increased interest in Western classical music as a direct result of Molloy's performances.[7]

Since winning the competition in 2011, Molloy has performed regularly with the Siam Sinfonietta Orchestra and Bangkok Opera.[8] She regularly sings at major events including The Thai National Film Awards, The British Embassy Celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's birthday, The Asia-Pacific ICT Awards, numerous music festivals and concerts, and regularly at corporate events for major international companies including Rolls-Royce, Samsung, Johnson & Johnson, Shiseido and many more.[9]

Molloy has performed in Paris,[10] China, Singapore, Thailand, and the United States singing in different languages including English, Thai, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Spanish and Latin. She enjoys singing classical, pop, musicals and Jazz.

In 2012 she landed her first major theatrical role, playing the young Reya in Reya the Musical, based on a popular work of Thai fiction by Thaithow Sucharitkul, music by Somtow Sucharitkul. Every performance of the musical sold out.[11]

In late 2012, Molloy sang from the audience at a David Foster concert in Bangkok, impressing him with her clear soprano voice.[12] Later in the concert David invited Molloy on stage to sing a duet with tenor Fernando Varela. David auspiciously commented, "I'm sure I will be seeing a lot more of you." Then in April 2013 David invited Molloy to perform with him in Malibu, California USA at the 65th anniversary of Israel.[13]

Molloy placed sixth in Season 1 of Rising Star on August 17, 2014, at age 16.

In 2016 Molloy played the character Wish in HBO Asia's original series Halfworlds II. She also co-wrote and performed several songs for the series.[14] In November 2016, Molloy performed the songs and voice of Moana in the Thai version of the Walt Disney Studios animated film.[15]

Molloy graduated summa cum laude from Berklee College of Music in Boston Massachusetts, majoring in singing and songwriting. She was a merit scholarship student.

Myra is Kim (Alternate) in the 2018-19 US Broadway Tour of "Miss Saigon".

(2020)Myra as Mara Chamberlain, "The Bold Type" on Freeform.

(2021)Myra is Quinn in movie "He's All That" on Netflix.

Rising Star

StageSong Original artistResult
Audition Week 1 "Time to Say Goodbye" Andrea Bocelli and Sarah BrightmanSafe (73% / 75%)
Duels Week 6 "Gravity" (vs. Morgan Higgins) Sara BareillesSafe (66% / 66%)
Top 13 Week 7 "Stars" Grace Potter and the NocturnalsSafe (68% / 70%)
Top 8 Week 8 "Your Song" Elton JohnSaved (46% / 55%)
Top 6 Week 9"Chandelier"SiaEliminated (27% / 34%)

Work

Movies and television

2011
2014
2016
2020
2021

Theater and opera

Recordings

Awards

Notes and References

  1. The Bangkok Post,"Thailand's Top Talent is Only 13" June 1, 2011.
  2. "Entertainment Weekly" August 18, 2014.
  3. Web site: 'He's All That' Remake: Madison Pettis, 'American Housewife' Actor Peyton Meyer & Others Join Miramax Pic. 28 October 2020.
  4. Myra Molloy - World Exposure Interview with Cher Dial, August 12, 2014
  5. PRLOG, "Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Music Scholars Concert featuring Myra Molloy and Ex-Cathedra," August 31, 2011.
  6. Bangkok Post, "Thailand's Top Talent is Only 13", May 31, 2011
  7. Thailand Tatler, Grand Apparence, 23 March 2014 http://www.thailandtatler.com/tag/stefan-paul-sanchez/
  8. TopTen Bangkok, BMA presents Siam Sinfonietta's New Year Concert, Dec 2012
  9. Prestige (Singapore), The Phantom Family. A New World, August 13, 2012, http://prestige-singapore.com.sg/2012/08/phantom-family-new-world#.U19m-a1dVRd
  10. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, Social & Cultural News: Concert featuring His Majesty the Kings Songs Set to French Lyrics Debuted in Paris, March 22, 2012, http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/media-center/30/5365-Concert-featuring-His-Majesty-the-Kings-Songs-Set.html
  11. The Nation, Chompoo gets her own mini-me, March 16, 2012
  12. Hayley Westenra forums, David Foster & Friends Asian Tour: Singapore, Thailand, Jakarta, & China, 11-06-2012 http://hayleywestenra.forums.umusic.co.uk/t/1936.aspx?PageIndex=3
  13. Consulate General of Israel, Los Angeles, ISRAEL'S 65TH INDEPENDENCE DAY, April 12, 2013, Web site: Israel's 65th Independence Day . 2014-04-29 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140429182651/http://www.israeliconsulatela.org/index.php/en/featured-stories/item/israel-s-65th-independence-day . 2014-04-29 .
  14. The Hive - Asia, First look at HBO Asia's "Halfworlds" season 2
  15. Disney Video, "ห่างเพียงใด" ("How Far I'll Go") - Disney Moana Music Video
  16. "Entertainment Weekly" August 18, 2014.
  17. Cinema Bravo, November 13, 2016
  18. IMDB, Halfworlds
  19. The Nation, "Chompoo Gets Her Own Mini-me," March 16, 2012
  20. The Nation, Somtow's chariot halfway to Heaven, July 18, 2016
  21. Bangkok Post, Lifestyle, Blood is life, Feb. 2016