Molly Burnett: ”I am a big sneakerhead! My first pair was the Retro 1 Air Jordans"
Interviewed by Claudia Brizzi / claude______
Photography: Jax Puwalski / shardsofdecency
Styling: Amia Serrano / amiaserrano
Hair: Emma Willis / emmawilliishmu
Makeup: Courtney Hart / courthart1
Despite the global pandemic, this has been a difficult year for many people but a lucky one for others, as in the case of young American actress Molly Burnett. Star of the successful series Queen of the South where she plays the role of the exuberant Kelly Anne, the beautiful Molly is endowed with an innate talent, a lot of determination and tenacity.
Capable of playing different roles with great conviction, she divides her time between her passion for acting, sports, and sneakers.
Enchanted by the lights and the magic of the stage, since she was a child she dreamed of becoming an actress, a dream that became reality thanks to her perseverance: two qualities that have made her famous until she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Young Actress in a Drama Series.
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The series Queen of the South, an adaptation of the telenovela La Reina del Sur, is now in its fifth season and you will continue to play the role of Kelly Anne. What are the differences between the American version and the Spanish version?
Each version has its own nuances and storylines, but both Teresa's are strong resilient women who can balance compassion and consideration with self-preservation and dominance.
What made you choose to play this character? What was your reaction when you read the script and her story?
Kelly Anne jumped off the page for me. She was sassy and funny. At first glance her character appears to be your standard underestimated "trophy wife", but I knew there was more to her. She was a very smart, compassionate woman who just needed a little guidance from Teresa to be able to step into her full potential.
The series is now in its final season, what will you miss the most, and what are the moments from the TV series that have stuck with you the most?
It has been an honor to play Kelly Anne for four seasons, and we are all sad it has to come to an end. I will miss our amazing cast and crew the most! We truly became a family, and it was such a treat to work with such talented individuals. Some of my favorite moments were joking around with the cast. For such a serious show, we are all pretty big goofballs. I will miss the laughs the most.
What reactions do you think Queen of the South triggered in the Italian audience?
It is such a treat to see women running the show with empathy and compassion, as well as strength and conviction. I hope our amazing Italian fans have enjoyed watching the complex characters' journeys through these last five seasons.
Does the the relationship you have with the cast influence your performances? Or is one set worth the other?
We all truly love and respect one another, and I think that comes across on screen. Even if we have scenes where our characters are mad at each other, the love we have offscreen allows us to be truly vulnerable and trust one another.
While you were in high school, you acted in some theatrical shows and then you became a TV actress: do you prefer one of the two genres? Which one do you feel more comfortable with?
Musical Theater is my first love! Television acting is my current love. I don't think I prefer one over the other, as they are uniquely different wonderful acting experiences. I hope to be able to continue doing both!
When was your passion for acting born? Was there something that pushed you towards this world?
My parents said I basically popped out knowing I wanted to be an actor. When I was 5 years old, my mom took me to see Peter Pan the musical. I was hooked. She said my eyes never left the stage, and I left that night telling her THAT was what I wanted to do when I grew up!
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What do you remember about your first debut? And what has been the most significant experience in your career?
My first professional TV role was as Melanie Jonas on Days of Our Lives. I was 18 years old and so grateful to be a part of such a classic television show.
What does it mean to be an actress today compared to the past?
Now, because of social media, actors have the ability to connect directly with our fans. We can use our platforms to bring awareness to social causes that are important to us and show people who we really are offscreen.
Does being an actress and having studied acting help you understand people better?
Creating characters and figuring out why people do the things they do, for a living, has absolutely allowed me to be more understanding and compassionate to the differences that exist between people with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Many young people want to work in your profession because they are attracted by the ease with which success can be achieved: do you think that social media makes it easier to achieve this goal?
I would venture to say this is one of the hardest careers to find success in. For every role you book, there are 100 auditions you won't book. Mental toughness and perseverance are key. Social media, however, has allowed the individual to take a little bit of the power back for themselves. There are so many fun apps and platforms to showcase your talent.
What would you recommend to a girl who would like to pursue your career?
I think the most important thing is to really love what you do. This career demands so much patience and determination. As long as you continue to remember you're pursuing acting for the love of it, you will continue to find fulfillment.
From the role of Melanie Jonas in the soap opera The Time of Our Lives to that of Kelly Anne in the American series Queen of the South: two very different realities but which one belongs to you more?
Kelly Anne and Melanie Jonas were both such fun characters to play. I can't say one belongs to me more than the other. It was so fun to inject pieces of myself into both complex powerful women.
Tell us about your reaction when you found out you were nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Young Actress in a Drama Series.
Such an honor. Any time you are recognized for the hard work you've put in is such a treat. Especially when you are included in a group of wonderful female talents whose work you respect and look up to.
Besides acting, sport is another great passion of yours, so much so that you want to become a sports reporter. Do you think this job has something in common with that of the actress?
Sports, particularly NFL and College football is a big love of mine. Acting is my biggest love, however, I always welcome the opportunity to share my love of sports!
Speaking of sports, we know that sneakers are the basis of your wardrobe. What was the first pair of sneakers you ever bought?
I am a big sneakerhead! My first pair was the Retro 1 Air Jordans.
Today, sneaker culture is living its golden age. Is it just due to social media or is there a particular reason?
I think the growth in sneaker culture can be attributed to the fact that more pop culture icons today have their own sneaker lines. From hip hop artists to athletes to designers and beyond. Social media has definitely increased the amount of sneaker exposure.
