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West End star Molly Osborne on performance and her upcoming Broadway debut

“We were always encouraged to think outside the box, to ask questions, to fail and start again so that we could learn,” says Molly Osborne about her time at Trinity Laban.

Only a few months after graduating, Molly Osborne made her West End debut as Tzeitel in Fiddler on The Roof. She describes her experience as magical. “When I was cast, it was a case of being in the right place at the right time”, she explains. “It just so happened that my then agent, the wonderful Bobbie Chatt, had another client who had been requested to be seen, so she was able to get me in the room. The audition environment allowed for lots of time to play and be directed, to be authentic, which I think is such a gift particularly when you’re still learning how to approach those kinds of rooms. I had no idea it would transfer to the West End, and I remember balling my eyes out when they told us the news half way through the Menier Chocolate Factory run.”

“While it felt really massive on a personal level, because dreams were coming true, the experience really taught me about the level of professionalism required to sustain a career in the arts. It’s hard work and it’s a privilege to be able to have that work in an area that you also have a passion for. It takes a lot to get a show to the West End. I had joined a community of like-minded people who all work really hard to make a show happen and all I had to do was focus on my small role in that, just as I would at drama school.”

Described as “remarkable” and “a true rising star” of the London stage by the Evening Standard, Molly discovered her love for performing at a young age and moved to London at 18 to study Musical Theatre at Trinity Laban. She has taken on the roles of strong female characters in a range of productions, including Hetty in The Sex Party and Chana in Indecent. “I have learned a lot about the strength of the voice, both literally and metaphorically,” she says. “In a literal way, these women, some of whom are real people, aren’t afraid of demanding space to be heard with a power and presence. Metaphorically, they know their own mind and have a strong sense of self. I’ve loved having the chance to exercise those qualities through these characters and be guided by the respective creative team to unlock that level of expressive freedom. One of Trinity Laban’s greats, Verity Quade, worked very hard with me on harnessing vocal power in singing lessons. She taught me how to observe my discomfort when taking up space and how to move through it to be unapologetically loud and proud.”

More recently, Molly starred in the world premiere musical version of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and the adaptation of Sara Ryan’s beloved memoir Laughing Boy. This February, she makes her Broadway debut as Desdemona in Shakespeare’s Othello with two-time Academy Award winner Denzel Washington and Tony Award and Academy award nominee Jake Gyllenhaal. This production of Othello will be the first Broadway staging of the tragedy since a 1982 revival starring James Earl Jones and Christopher Plummer. The play follows the Moor of Venice commander, Othello, who appoints Cassio – and not Iago – as his chief lieutenant. Driven by jealousy for both soldiers, Iago plots their downfall by turning Othello’s wife, Desdemona, against him. Commenting on Molly’s casting, director Kenny Leon stated, “I am so excited to welcome Molly Osborne to our Broadway cast of Othello as Desdemona. Her unique blend of heart and intellect, coupled with a natural vulnerability, makes her a truly captivating actress. I am thrilled to welcome her to our theatre community and eagerly anticipate collaborating with her on her Broadway debut.”

Molly shares what she’s looking forward to most in this production. “When I’m lucky enough for a job to come through, I’m always most excited for what I will learn,” she says. “It is such a privilege to be a part of this production and to work with this team. My hope is to have an open mind, to be brave and to play with the material in a way that serves Kenny Leon’s vision. I can’t wait to see what he will do with it. It was such an insane opportunity to come through, one that felt so incredibly exciting and yet so out of reach. I was in complete shock when I got the call. I think the reality of it is still sinking in.”

“The language is, of course, a wonderful challenge. I have loved Shakespeare for a long time, particularly since Trinity Laban’s wonderful Helen Evans led us through the Shakespeare module. I actually used a monologue that I prepared for one of her classes in my audition for Othello, which feels very special. I hope to bring honesty to the piece and to be able to wrap my head and tongue around the language. I also think approaching an adaptation of such a classic piece is always a great challenge, particularly something as well-known as Othello.”

Alongside her stage performances, Molly has worked in film and television, featuring in PBS’ Call the Midwife and in Amazon Prime’s upcoming Anansi Boys. She discusses the highlights of working on different sets and how it differs to the stage. “For me, screen work feels like a totally different job. There’s an immediacy to it. You might only read through the scene with the other actors once before shooting, do a few takes and then you move on,” says Molly. “There’s a beauty to giving it your all and then letting it go and leaving it behind, whereas part of the technique required in theatre is to sustain something over a longer period, night after night. Every job is totally different. The short films I’ve worked on have been really fun and had that same community feel that resembles theatre. Big budget TV shows can afford the most astonishing sets and costumes. One week you might be put up in a hotel for the night and have cars drive you everywhere, another week you might be out of pocket traveling to a set because you loved the script so much and you just had to be a part of it. Part of the beauty of the job is that you probably won’t experience the same thing twice.”

Molly’s tips for aspiring performers

  • Develop a strong relationship with yourself. Listen to your body, find out how to follow your instincts and be honest with yourself without sacrifice.

  • Respect your colleagues, all of them.

  • Take ego out of the equation.

Molly elaborates on how the Musical Theatre BA course helped her professional acting career. “My experience at Trinity Laban not only developed me as a performer but as an individual as well,” she says. “We were always encouraged to think outside the box, to ask questions, to fail and start again so that we could learn. There was an excellent balance of practical and theoretical classes that, combined, formed the foundations of my practice. It also instilled a hunger in me to continue learning and expanding that practice. I think of my teachers often and feel so much gratitude for my time at Trinity Laban. The people at the helm of the course are what make it great. Kind, inspirational people with an abundance of passion. I saw in them who I wanted to become.”