EastEnders actress Molly Rainford has urged MPs to embrace 'period power' and improve education in schools, after statistics revealed one in three girls are scared of their menstrual cycle starting. The 23-year-old, who joined the BBC soap as Anna Knight earlier this year, spoke out at a Period Prep School event in South London.
Rainford, a finalist on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022, said she was 'terrified' when her period started and felt unprepared. 'I was one of the first in my year group, so I felt like I had no one to talk to about it,' she said. She called on those running the country to help normalise periods, describing them as 'a normal thing that half the population goes through'.
The actress surprised students at Lilian Baylis Technology School alongside sanitary brand Always and TikTok GP Dr Aziza Sesay, leading taboo-busting talks and workshops. The event came after research showed 60% of girls find school sex education classes uncomfortable.
Rainford, the youngest ever Britain's Got Talent finalist at age 11, said she wants to use her platform to support girls. 'Women should support women and it would be nice to see more females in the public eye embracing period power,' she added. Dr Sesay emphasised that periods are 'completely normal and nothing to be embarrassed about'.
