EastEnders Actress Molly Rainford’s Famous Father Surprises Fans After Social Media Reveal
Molly Rainford, known for her role as Anna Knight on the BBC soap EastEnders, recently surprised fans when it was revealed that her father is a well-known figure. Molly’s character, Anna Knight, is the daughter of George Knight (Colin Salmon) and Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins). She joined the show in June 2023 and is approaching her two-year anniversary on Albert Square.
Fans also remember Molly from her appearance on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, where she was partnered with professional dancer Carlos Gu. She reached the finals but was narrowly beaten by CBeebies star Hamza Yassin and Jowita Przystal, the winners of that season. Molly is currently in a relationship with fellow Strictly contestant, KISS DJ Tyler West, and the couple took a step forward in their relationship in January 2024 by moving in together.
Many viewers were surprised to learn that Molly, who first gained fame at the age of 11 as a finalist on Britain’s Got Talent in 2012 with her rendition of “Ave Maria,” is not the only notable person in her family. Her father, Dave Rainford, is a former professional footballer. Starting his career as a teenager in 1997 with Colchester United, he later played for several clubs including Slough Town, Heybridge Swift, Bishop’s Stortford, and AFC Hornchurch. Dave joined Chelmsford City in 2008 and became their assistant manager in 2012 before retiring in 2014. He now holds a senior role in the Premier League as head of education and academy player care.
After the news of her father’s identity spread, fans flocked to Reddit debating whether Molly could be considered a “nepo baby,” with some suggesting her success might be linked to her father’s fame. However, many others pointed out that her father’s football career is unrelated to the entertainment industry. Molly’s rise was attributed to her own talent, which was recognized early on when she impressed Britain’s Got Talent judge Simon Cowell and earned a drama scholarship to the prestigious Sylvia Young Theatre School.
One viewer commented, “That’s a lot of nepotism,” but others quickly defended Molly, saying, “None of it is nepotism — she was simply given a big opportunity at a young age.” Another fan dismissed the idea that her father’s football background helped her career in music or TV.
Molly herself has acknowledged a celebrity who “changed my life,” referring to Simon Cowell rather than her father Dave. She shared that after her Britain’s Got Talent success at age 11, she was sponsored by Sony Music and Simon Cowell to attend the Sylvia Young Theatre School. This led to opportunities in presenting CBBC’s Friday Download and starring in the sci-fi series Nova Jones.
The Sylvia Young Theatre School is famous for nurturing many stars in stage, screen, and music, including former and current EastEnders actors such as Letitia Dean (Sharon), Samantha Womack (Ronnie Mitchell), and Kara Tointon (Dawn Swann). Notable music icons who studied there include Amy Winehouse, Adele, Rita Ora, Dua Lipa, Billie Piper, Emma Bunton, Mel Blatt, Nicole Appleton, Matt Willis, and Tom Fletcher.