Britain’s Got Talent finalist Molly Rainford at prestigious theatre school through Sony scholarship

Britain's Got Talent finalist Molly Rainford with cousin Ben Azevedo

by Freddy Mayhew, Reporter Friday, January 25, 2013
2:57 PM

Britain’s Got Talent singing sensation Molly Rainford, who wowed Simon Cowell and the judges in last year’s final of the TV talent competition, is studying at a prestigious London theatre school and “loving every minute”.

Molly's Dad footballer David Rainford with Molly, her cousin Ben Azevedo and mum Sarah Rainford

Following in the footsteps of famous alumni including Amy Winehouse, Billie Piper and Spice Girl Emma Bunton – to name but a few – Molly attends the award-winning Sylvia Young Theatre School in Marble Arch after joining in September.

The talented 12-year-old, a former pupil at Manor Junior School in Barking, was offered an exclusive five-year scholarship to the famous theatre school through Sony, the first time the music giant has offered it in the UK.

“She’s loving it and absolutely can’t wait to go every day. She’s absolutely ecstatic with it,” said Sarah Rainford, Molly’s mum. “It’s a privilege really.”

She added: “It’s gone so quick. Auditions started this time last year. Although she didn’t win, she was a winner really because she’s got a five-year scholarship. It couldn’t get any better for a 12-year-old.”

Molly spends two days a week learning the theatre arts, such as singing and dancing, and the other three days being taught the normal school curriculum.

As well as singing, Molly has also taken a role as an ambassador for St Elizabeth’s Centre, a charity dedicated to sufferers of epilepsy and other disabilities and where her cousin and cerebral palsy sufferer Ben Azevedo is a resident.

Sarah said Molly was “really proud to do it” and that the cause is something “really close to her heart.”

As ambassador for St Elizabeth’s in Much Hadham, Hertfordshire, Molly will be supporting the Purple Day Campaign to raise awareness for epilepsy worldwide this March with her picture going out on special fundraising packs to thousands of schools nationwide.

Almost 12 million people tuned in to see Molly perform a heartfelt rendition of Beyonce’s Ave Maria during the final of ITV’s hit talent show (see video).

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