EXCLUSIVE: BBC EastEnders star Molly Rainford terrified when she was one of first at school to get period
Soap and Strictly star Molly Rainford is joining in a campaign to educate young people and tackle taboos about menstruation with the hope of ending stigma around periods
Molly surprised students at a Period Prep School event this week
EastEnders star Molly Rainford is calling on MPs to embrace “period power” and help tackle taboos by boosting education in schools.
The actress spoke out after statistics revealed one in three girls are scared of their menstrual cycle starting. Molly, 23, is now on a mission to get the nation talking about periods in a bid to stop the stigma.
The 2022 Strictly Come Dancing finalist said: “I remember being terrified when I started my period and felt very unprepared. I was one of the first in my year group, so I felt like I had no one to talk to about it. I think everyone – especially those running our country – should be flying the flag for women and helping to normalise periods because it’s such a normal thing that half the population goes through on a daily basis.”
With students at Lilian Baylis Technology School
This week, Molly – who is dating Kiss FM DJ and fellow Strictly star Tyler West – surprised students in South London by appearing at inspirational puberty event Period Prep School. With the help of sanitary brand Always and TikTok GP Dr Aziza Sesay, she led taboo-busting talks and one-to-one workshops with teens at the Lilian Baylis Technology School.
Molly got involved with the project after it emerged that 60% of girls find school sex education classes uncomfortable. The actress, who joined the cast of BBC hit EastEnders as Anna Knight earlier this year, is keen to use her public platform to support girls – and has now urged other female stars to follow suit.
Molly with Eastenders costars Francesca Henry and Colin Salmon (
BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
Molly, the youngest ever Britain’s Got Talent finalist when she was 11, told us: “I like to use my background and my following to share my experiences and to be someone people can relate to. I think it’s important to show young girls that although I’m on the telly and they’re at school, periods are something we all share, collectively as women, no matter where we’re from or what we do.
“Women should support women and it would be nice to see more females in the public eye embracing period power.” Dr Aziza added: “It’s so important that everyone is aware periods are completely normal and nothing to be embarrassed about.”
