Molly Lynch

Molly Lynch is an Irish actress, singer and musician who is best known for playing Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady and Cathy Hiatt in The Last Five Years.

Early life and education

Lynch grew up in the Frankfield area of Douglas in Cork.[1] Her paternal grandfather was Irish singer Pat Lynch, and her maternal grandfather, Con McGowan, was an opera singer.[2] She trained at the Cork School of Music, graduating with a BA in music in 2012[3] and also trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London in 2013–2014.

Career

Lynch made her West End debut in the ENO production of Carousel with Alfie Boe and Katherine Jenkins in 2017 at London Coliseum.[4]

In 2017 Lynch joined the cast of Sunset Boulevard as Betty Schaefer. The show also included Ria Jones as Norma Desmond and Danny Mac and went on a UK tour, after opening at the Curve theatre in Leicester.[5] In 2020 the Curve announced the streaming of the show as part of "Curve - at Home", when the theatre had to remain closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Lynch was part of The Light in the Piazza at the Royal Festival Hall in 2019, as a member of the ensemble and understudy for the role of Clara (played by Dove Cameron). Cast for the show included: Renée Fleming, Dove Cameron, Alex Jennings and Rob Houchen.[6][7][8] The musical transferred to the LA Opera for a short run in October 2019.[9]

Lynch then played the role of Cathy in the two-people Jason Robert Brown musical The Last Five Years at the Southwark Playhouse in 2020. The show closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March/April and re-opened in October of the same year.[10] Alongside Lynch, actor Oli Higginson joined her in the unique version of the show, where both actors were accompanying songs playing various instruments.[11] The musical finally transferred to the Garrick Theatre in the West End in 2021 for a limited one-month run before closing in the same year.[12]

In December 2024 Lynch stared as Eliza Doolittle in the Leicester Curve's production of My Fair Lady, directed by Artistic Director Nikolai Foster.[13]

Stage

Year Title Role Theatre
2012 Sweeney Todd Ensemble, cover Johanna English National Opera
2017 Carousel standby Julie Jordan English National Opera
2017 Sunset Boulevard Betty Schaefer Leicester Curve and UK tour
2019 The Light in the Piazza Ensemble, u/s Clara Royal Festival Hall and LA Opera
2019 - 2020

2021

The Last Five Years Cathy Hiatt Southwark Playhouse

Garrick Theatre

2023 Killing the Cat Heather
2024 - 2025 My Fair Lady Eliza Doolittle Leicester Curve

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2017 Long Walk to Never Girl Short film
2018 Kerry Mucklowe: Silent Night Short film
2020 The Last Five Years Cathy Hiatt
2020 Sunset Boulevard Betty Schaefer streamed by Curve at Home

Awards and nominations

Year Work Award Category Result
2021 The Last Five Years The Offies Awards Best Female Performance in a Musical Nominated

References

  1. ^ "A Question of Taste: Actress and singer Molly Lynch". Irish Examiner. 2018-06-07. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  2. ^ "'Women are very vulnerable in this industry'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  3. ^ MTU, Munster Technological University-. "From MTU Cork School of Music to London's West End: Molly Lynch's Journey in Music and Theatre". www.mtu.ie. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  4. ^ Mukisa, Shirley (2016-11-25). "Rodgers and Hammerstein's iconic Carousel comes to the London Coliseum". English National Opera. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  5. ^ "Further casting announced for UK tour of Sunset Boulevard". 2017-07-03. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  6. ^ "The Light In The Piazza – London". Scenario Two. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  7. ^ "The Light In The Piazza Tickets | Starring Dove Cameron | London, UK". London Theatre. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  8. ^ "The Light in the Piazza Tickets | Royal Festival Hall | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  9. ^ Fowler, Nikki (2019-10-14). "Dove Cameron Lights Up the Stage Opposite Renée Fleming in 'The Light in the Piazza' at LA Opera | Glitter Magazine". glittermagazine.co. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  10. ^ Meyer, Dan (September 1, 2020). "Molly Lynch and Oli Higginson Will Return to The Last Five Years in London". Playbill.
  11. ^ "The Last Five Years at Southwark Playhouse cast to include Molly Lynch and Oli Higginson". 2020-01-24. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  12. ^ "The Last Five Years prepares for West End transfer". 2021-09-13. Retrieved 2024-09-17.
  13. ^ Stephi Wild (August 15, 2024). "Molly Lynch Will Lead Curve's Production of Lerner and Loewe's MY FAIR LADY". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2024-09-17.