EASTENDERS star Molly Rainford is a familiar face on telly after landing a role as Queen Vic’s pretty barmaid.
The star has won a legion of fans playing Anna, the daughter of Cindy Beale.
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But talented Molly has been working in showbiz for over a decade, and first shot to fame as a finalist on the sixth series of Britain’s Got Talent in 2012.
Molly became BGT’s youngest-ever finalist at the time, at age 11 performing Ave Maria in the final and finishing sixth.
Following the show, she won a scholarship at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London, gifted by Simon Cowell and Sony Music.
After finishing school, Molly went on to star in the lead role in CBBC series Nova Jones and released two EPs, including her single Commitment.
It set her on the path to stardom and she continued to win big opportunties.
Talented singer Molly played the lead in Nova Jones, in the CBBC comedy about the life and adventures of a galactic pop star.
She later joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2022 and came runner up with dance partner Carlos Gu.
And talent runs in Molly’s family.
She grew up in Essex living with her dad Dave Rainford and mum Sarah.
David is a former Chelmsford City FC midfielder and was an assistant football manager.
He started at Colchester United and returned to the team during his senior career in 1997.
EastEnders’ Molly Rainford chats to the Sun’s TV Mag
He also played for Slough Town, Heybridge Swifts, Bishop’s Stortford and AFC Hornchurch.
From 2012 to 2013, Dave was assistant manager for Chelmsford City after joining the team in 2008, and he now works for the Premier League in a top job.
Some EastEnders fans have just figured out who her famous dad is, and took to Reddit to discuss it.
“That’s a lot of nepotism,” one said.
Another rushed to defend Molly, writing: “None of it is nepotism – it isn’t family connections that have helped her out she was just lucky enough to have been given a massive opportunity at a young age.”
One more said: “You keep believing that, you’re telling me she got into eastenders for her acting talent?! Everyone knows it’s her dad that helped.”
