WHEN it involves Strictly Come Dancing, we’re used to listening to in regards to the notorious Curse, which has been blamed for the top of many a relationship through the years.
So it’s beautiful to see a giant smile on Molly Rainford’s face as she talks about how she really discovered love on the BBC1 present.
Molly Rainford reveals how she really discovered love on Strictly Come DancingCredit score: MARK HAYMAN
Molly is about to change into an entire lot extra well-known, after touchdown the function of Anna Knight on EastEndersCredit score: BBC
The 22 yr outdated reached the ultimate of the BBC1 present final yrCredit score: David Fisher/Shutterstock
The 22 yr outdated, who reached the ultimate final yr, may not have taken house the Glitterball trophy, however she did handle to stroll away with one thing equally pretty much as good, after friendship turned to like with fellow contestant Tyler West, 27, throughout the Strictly tour.
She explains: “I suppose it developed in the direction of the top of the tour as a result of we’d spent a lot time collectively and we have been actually good mates.
“The tour was a lot enjoyable. We have been simply doing every little thing collectively and it simply progressed from there actually.”
And who made the primary transfer?
Molly giggles: “He was like: ‘Do you suppose after we get again, we may go on a date?’ and I used to be like: ‘Yeah, alright!’ I used to be completely up for it.
“Everybody on Strictly was so excited for us. They form of wished it to occur [all the way through the show] and we have been like: ‘No, we try to be skilled’.”
The most effective factor about relationship a fellow Strictly contestant is that Molly now has somebody to shimmy round the lounge with.
“We dance on a regular basis,” she admits. “Possibly one evening, we’ll attempt some lifts, however first we have to put a great deal of mattresses down!”
After all, once you get along with somebody new, there are all these “firsts”, like assembly family and friends, however fortunately, Molly and Tyler had already carried out most of that.
“It was such good timing,” she says. “We‘d already acquired all of the scary stuff out of the best way — our dad and mom have been within the Strictly viewers collectively and so they acquired on rather well.”
For many individuals, Strictly would have been the primary time they’d seen CBBC presenter Molly, however she’s about to change into an entire lot extra well-known, after touchdown the function of Anna Knight on EastEnders.
However whereas touchdown a job in a primetime cleaning soap is a giant deal, she really acquired her break greater than a decade in the past, aged 11, as a contestant on Britain’s Received Expertise — and has Simon Cowell to thank for her entire profession.
Though she didn’t win the expertise present, Simon was so impressed together with her singing, he supplied her a scholarship to the well-known Sylvia Younger Theatre College, which Jesy Nelson and Rita Ora additionally attended.
“That was what kicked every little thing off,” Molly explains. “The scholarship really was the primary of its type. I really feel so fortunate, as a result of I may get my training and nonetheless pursue my ardour.
“Then I starred in Nova Jones [a CBBC show about an intergalactic pop superstar who goes on a tour through space], which was superb.
“I can’t consider that one thing that was my little interest at first has became my profession.
“It feels nice, and like such a pleasant, pure development. I’ve gone from the CBBC world into the BBC. It was like I graduated from college.”
Molly’s function on EastEnders is a part of new household, the Knights, and is one thing BBC bosses are hoping will likely be a rankings winner for the cleaning soap.
Molly says: “EastEnders is such a giant beast. It’s stood the check of time. And also you do really feel: ‘Oh my gosh, I’m coming into this world.’
“My household are East Finish born and bred, so everybody thinks it’s cool. I hope I can do it justice.
“Everybody’s buzzing that it gained Finest Cleaning soap in The British Cleaning soap Awards just lately, so it simply appears like I’ve are available at the perfect time. It’s such an iconic present.”
The Knight household has swapped the sunny climes of Marbella for Walford, and so they have huge sneakers to fill as they take over from Mick Carter (performed by Danny Dyer) working the Queen Vic.
Molly’s friendship turned to like with fellow contestant Tyler West, 27, throughout the Strictly tour
She reveals: ‘We‘d already acquired all of the scary stuff out of the best way — our dad and mom have been within the Strictly viewers collectively and so they acquired on rather well’Credit score: MARK HAYMAN
Linda Carter’s mum Elaine (Harriet Thorpe) and her tough-talking companion George (Colin Salmon), plus his two daughters Anna (Molly) and Gina (Francesca Henry) have already precipitated chaos.
In addition to Linda clashing with George, and the women turning the heads of Bobby Beale, this week is about to be an enormous one for Molly, as her character finds out what actually occurred to her mum Rose, who went lacking 9 years in the past.
She nearly disowns her dad over the revelation.
Who is aware of what’s going to occur subsequent? It seems, not Molly!
“My mum and pa have been attempting to get the dust, however I’m like: ‘Guys, there’s a lot occurring. I really overlook.’
“Tyler all the time needs to know. He’s hooked already. And I’m sworn to secrecy. I genuinely don’t know what’s taking place to my character within the subsequent couple of weeks.
“That’s what’s particular in regards to the present, because it retains you in your toes.
“Each producer on EastEnders has their very own [on-screen] household.
“They’ve been looking for some time, so the audition course of was fairly lengthy — I didn’t know who my dad was till the ultimate spherical, after I learn with Colin and I believed: ‘This could be such a cool job if I get it.’ What an actor to play my dad!
“Truthfully, you go right into a scene with Colin and also you simply really feel secure. Harriet, who performs my stepmum, is the perfect.
“She’s a kind of outdated traditional theatre performers. You want a little bit of that in your life. I’ve acquired a brand new sister, too — I’ve by no means had a sister earlier than — Frankie, who is beautiful.
“Kellie [Bright], who performs Linda, is the perfect coach for working within the Vic.
“In case you’re not doing something, she says: ‘Why don’t you simply mess around with the cardboard machines so it appears to be like such as you’re busy?’ She provides you a lot of helpful ideas.”
After rising up watching the cleaning soap, successful a job on it has been extra-special for Molly.
“I believed after I was younger that Walford was an actual place and other people lived there,” she says.
“So after I was on set, I felt like somewhat child. It was like going to Disneyland: ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve seen this, and it’s all actual.’ It’s like: ‘Wow, I’m really right here.’
“Attending to work within the Queen Vic too, the place you meet actually each character. I served an orange juice to Phil Mitchell the opposite day.
“Steve [McFadden, who plays Phil] mentioned that considered one of his daughters was known as Molly, and I used to be like: ‘This feels very surreal.’
“The entire forged and crew — particularly those that’ve been there for many years — they’re so supportive, as a result of they need it to be the perfect it may be.
“They’ve been via all of it, so that they’re nice mentors. I’m like: ‘Train me every little thing you understand!’”
Each new forged member is given their very own mentor after they begin, to assist them settle into the calls for of the job – and Molly’s is her Strictly pal James Bye, who performs Martin Fowler.
“It was actually beautiful, as a result of after I first acquired an audition, I mentioned to him: ‘I’ll be on the casting,’ and he mentioned: ‘I’ll see you in a couple of months,’ and now he’s my mentor.
“On my first day, I had a scene with him and it simply felt comforting. I believed: ‘OK, I’ve acquired a pal on set already.’
“It’s very nice that a variety of the forged have carried out Strictly, so I acquired in there fast with that ice-breaker as we’ve that shared expertise.”
And after The Solar revealed that Bobby Brazier, who performs Freddie Slater, is about to compete on Strictly – will Molly be giving him any recommendation?
“For positive, I’ll give him ideas. What’s loopy about Bobby is our dads have been mates since they have been like, seven.
“They used to play soccer collectively [Molly’s dad David played for Chelmsford City FC, while Bobby’s dad is Jeff Brazier and his mum was Jade Goody]. He’s going to be nice. Bobby has acquired rhythm.”
For any younger actress, touchdown a job on an enormous cleaning soap like EastEnders could be a dream come true, however for Molly it feels significantly poignant.
She says: “It feels actually particular that we’re one of many first mixed-race households within the Queen Vic.
“Like me, Frankie can also be mixed-race however she’s acquired totally different hair texture to me and a special pores and skin tone, so I really feel like we’re representing fairly lots of people in that pub.
“It’s one thing I’ve not seen that a lot of, so it’s actually particular.”
What Molly is attempting to get her head round is the demanding filming schedule because the cleaning soap stars begin to work on their explosive Christmas episodes.
She admits: “I’m nonetheless figuring out the timings, as a result of I’ve been working there a pair months now, however my episodes have solely simply aired.
“So I’m nonetheless navigating what the timeframe is, however apparently, it’s such as you’re in summer time garments within the winter, and winter garments in the summertime!
“Within the storyline, we’ve come over from Spain, so we’re not sporting quite a bit — I’m hoping Anna will get a pleasant heat winter coat very quickly!”
Regardless of EastEnders being a fairly demanding job, Molly has additionally discovered time to file her debut single, My Coronary heart’s A Damaged Report.
The music, which she recorded with producer Alex Kirsch, is a summer time banger and will likely be enjoying on a loop in your head all day.
“Music has all the time been a ardour undertaking,” she explains. “I’ll by no means lose the will to be an artist.
“So I’m actually excited, as a result of when the solar’s out, folks simply need that feel-good, enjoyable music, and that is the monitor for that. I like it.”
As her DJ boyfriend Tyler has a weekday slot on radio station Kiss, has he assured to present it some airplay?
“I did say: ‘That is fairly a Kiss summer time sound,’ however really, it isn’t as much as him. There’s an entire staff that decides on the playlists.
“Funnily sufficient, there was a Michael Calvin monitor that I wrote and sang on a couple of years in the past, and Tyler mentioned he used to play it in his DJ units – he didn’t even realize it was me singing on it!”
Singing, dancing and appearing – Molly is a complete triple menace and it’s laborious to disregard the similarities between her and Miley Cyrus, who additionally starred in a kids’s TV present a few pop star, earlier than changing into one herself, in addition to dipping her toe into appearing.
Is that what Molly is aiming for?
“I’m hoping that’s the path it’s getting into,” she says.
“I feel Miley’s nice. She’s simply so cool and doesn’t preserve herself to only one field – she’s not only a singer, she does every little thing.
“That’s what I’d like to do. I don’t need to simply keep in a single lane, I need to do every little thing I can.”
And with that perspective, she’s positive to attain it.
- Molly’s single My Coronary heart’s A Damaged Report is out July 15 with EMI/Positiva.
Molly really acquired her break greater than a decade in the past, aged 11, as a contestant on Britain’s Received Expertise
The TV star has additionally discovered time to file her debut single, My Coronary heart’s A Damaged ReportCredit score: MARK HAYMAN
She reveals: ‘Music has all the time been a ardour undertaking’Credit score: MARK HAYMAN
Within the make up chair with Molly
What are your skincare heroes?
I swear by The Inkey Record Salicylic Acid Cleanser, then some moisturiser and SPF. I used to have unhealthy pimples, however I’ve grown out of it.
Any make-up bag necessities?
Mascara, all the time – I really like L’Oréal Paris Telescopic – Fenty Magnificence cream blush, plus lipliner
and gloss.
What are your magnificence ideas?
I like underpainting, the place you apply contour and concealer earlier than your basis. I really feel you utilize much less base that manner.
What do you splurge on?
Bronzer – I really like Chanel the perfect.
Who’s your magnificence icon?
Zendaya, she’s stunning, and Rihanna, clearly.
Describe your magnificence evolution.
Once I was youthful, I used to put on full protection on a regular basis, as a result of I had unhealthy pores and skin.
Now it’s totally different and I put on quite a bit much less. I feel it appears to be like higher, and you probably have a couple of spots, simply cowl them.