Molly Hanson: Family, Acting Career, TV Roles and Latest Work
Meet the British actress, singer and audiobook narrator known for her television appearances, theatre performances and famous acting family.
Introduction
Molly Hanson is a British actress, singer and audiobook narrator. She has worked across television, film and theatre. Her career also includes radio and voice acting.
Many viewers know her from Father Brown, The Coroner and The Marlow Murder Club. She also appeared in EastEnders in 2025.
Acting runs in her family. Her mother is Samantha Bond, the well-known British actress. Her father, Alexander Hanson, has also worked extensively in theatre and television.
But Molly has built her own career. She has worked in Shakespeare productions, television dramas and audio recordings.
Her professional work continued in 2026, including audiobook narration and hosting the Actors Never Retire podcast.
Quick Facts About Molly Hanson
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Molly Hanson |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Actress, Singer, Audiobook Narrator |
| Mother | Samantha Bond |
| Father | Alexander Hanson |
| Education | Bristol Old Vic Theatre School |
| Qualification | BA (Hons) Professional Acting |
| Graduation Year | 2014 |
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches (163 cm) |
| Hair Colour | Light/Mid Brown |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
| Languages | English and Dutch |
| Singing Voice | Mezzo-Soprano |
| Talent Agency | Gardner Herrity |
| Notable TV Shows | Father Brown, The Coroner, Doctors, The Marlow Murder Club, EastEnders |
| Notable Film | Dream Hacker |
| Theatre Recognition | 2018 Offie Award Nomination |
| 2026 Podcast | Actors Never Retire |
Early Life and Family Background
Molly comes from an established acting family.
Her mother, Samantha Bond, has enjoyed a long screen and stage career. She is widely recognised for playing Miss Moneypenny in the Pierce Brosnan James Bond films.
She also appeared in Downton Abbey.
Her father, Alexander Hanson, is an experienced British actor. His professional work includes major stage productions and television appearances.
Both parents have worked in entertainment for decades.
This family background helps explain Molly’s close connection to theatre. Still, her own training and performance credits tell the bigger story.
She studied acting professionally. Then she started building credits in different productions.
Education and Acting Training
She attended Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
The school has trained many established British performers. Its graduates have worked across theatre, television and film.
Molly completed a BA (Hons) in Professional Acting in 2014.
Her training covered professional performance skills. These included stage acting, movement and voice work.
After graduation, she started working professionally.
One early appearance came in First Episode, a play by Terence Rattigan. She played Joan in the 2014 production at Jermyn Street Theatre.
Tom Littler directed that production.
The role gave her an early professional theatre credit.
How Did Her Acting Career Begin?
Theatre was an important starting point.
Her early professional work included classical plays and modern drama. She gradually added television roles.
In 2015, she appeared in The Coroner as Hannah Drake.
She also played Paulette Swain in Father Brown. That episode aired in January 2016.
These roles helped establish her screen credits.
Later, she worked on productions for the BBC, Amazon Prime Video and other television companies.
Her acting work has covered several formats. Some roles were short guest appearances. Others involved stage performances and recorded audio.
Television Shows and Famous Roles
Her television credits include crime dramas, period programmes and continuing British television series.
Here are her documented appearances.
| Year | Television Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Coroner | Hannah Drake |
| 2016 | Father Brown | Paulette Swain |
| 2019 | Jack Ryan | British Transit Cop |
| 2023 | Doctors | Michelle Jones |
| 2024 | The Marlow Murder Club | Young Judith |
| 2025 | EastEnders | Police Officer |
Father Brown
She played Paulette Swain in Father Brown.
Her appearance came in the episode The Mask of the Demon, broadcast on 4 January 2016.
The BBC crime drama follows a Catholic priest who investigates mysterious cases.
The Coroner
She appeared as Hannah Drake.
Her role was part of the 2015 episode That’s the Way to Do It.
The series follows a coroner investigating unusual deaths in a coastal community.
Jack Ryan
Her credits include the action thriller Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.
She played a British Transit Cop in the 2019 production.
The Marlow Murder Club
This is an interesting family connection.
She played Young Judith in the 2024 mystery series.
Her mother, Samantha Bond, played the older Judith Potts.
The production gave Molly a chance to portray the younger version of her mother’s character.
EastEnders
Her later television credits include EastEnders.
She appeared as a police officer in the episode broadcast on 14 October 2025.
It added another BBC production to her career.
Films and Screen Performances
Molly has worked on films too.
Her film credits include television movies, short films and thriller projects.
Treasure (2020)
She appeared as Susan in Treasure.
The short film was produced for the BBC and Rocket Room Films.
Members of her family also participated in the project.
It was created during the COVID-19 lockdown, with smartphones used for filming.
Presence of Love (2022)
She played Mrs Whitten in Presence of Love.
The romantic television film was released through Hallmark.
Dream Hacker (2025)
She played Professor Jennifer Connolly in Dream Hacker.
The thriller was directed by Richard Colton.
The role is listed among her major film credits.
Theatre Performances and Stage Career
Stage acting remains an important part of her work.
She has performed in Shakespeare plays, pantomimes and contemporary drama.
Her professional credits include performances at Windsor Castle, Windsor Great Park, Jermyn Street Theatre and the Pleasance Theatre.
| Year | Theatre Production | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | First Episode | Joan |
| 2014 | London Road | June / Choral |
| 2016 | As You Like It | Celia |
| 2016 | A Midsummer Night’s Dream | Hermia |
| 2016 | Cinderella | Ugly Sister |
| 2017 | Posh | Toby Maitland |
| 2017 | A Christmas Carol | Belinda Cratchit |
| 2018 | Aladdin: A Popup Pantomime | Sultana / Various |
| 2025 | Beautiful World Cabaret Gala | Performer |
Her Performance in Posh
One stage role brought award recognition.
In 2017, she appeared as Toby Maitland in an all-female production of Laura Wade’s Posh.
The production ran at the Pleasance Theatre.
Her performance earned a nomination at the 2018 Off West End Theatre Awards.
She was nominated in the Supporting Female in a Play category.
It remains a documented achievement in her theatre career.
Audiobook Narration and Voice Acting
Acting is not limited to appearing on camera.
Molly also records audiobooks and character voices.
Her professional training includes voice performance. She is a mezzo-soprano singer with experience in musical theatre, jazz and pop.
She has also worked on audio drama.
Her recorded credits include:
| Year | Audio Project | Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Doctor Who: The Home Guard | Jill Sandbrook |
| 2017 | The Coming of the Martians | Adrienne |
| 2018 | BBC Radio 3 Words and Music | Reader |
| 2020 | BBC Radio 3 Words and Music: Easter | Reader |
| 2023 | Bonesmith | Narrator |
| 2024 | Ghostsmith | Narrator |
| 2025 | Only I Can Save Them | Narrator |
| 2026 | The Girl with Two Names | Narrator |
| 2026 | Spider, Spider | Narrator |
Voice acting requires a different approach.
The performer must communicate emotion without facial expressions or physical movement.
Her recorded work shows experience in both scripted audio drama and audiobook narration.
Latest Work and Projects in 2026
Her professional activity continued during 2026.
One major project was Actors Never Retire.
The Royal Theatrical Fund launched the podcast in June 2026.
Molly served as its host.
The six-part series features conversations with experienced actors and theatre professionals.
Its announced guests included Myra Sands, David Alder, Colette Kelly, Hayward Morse, Barbara Rhodes and Elizabeth Seal.
The first episode was released on 12 June 2026.
Samantha Bond and Robert Lindsay also contributed introductions to the project.
The podcast focuses on working lives in theatre. Guests share career experiences, memorable productions and stories from the stage.
She also has 2026 audiobook credits, including The Girl with Two Names and Spider, Spider.
These projects show her continuing work beyond screen appearances.
Acting Skills and Professional Experience
Her skills cover several performance areas.
She works in English and Dutch.
Her professional profile also lists experience with different British, American and European accents.
She has trained in stage combat, dance and physical theatre.
Singing is another part of her work.
Her vocal range is listed as mezzo-soprano. Her repertoire includes jazz, pop and musical theatre.
These skills support her work across stage productions and recorded performances.
What Makes Her Career Interesting?
Her career has taken several paths.
She started with professional theatre training. Then came television credits and film appearances.
She also developed a steady presence in audio work.
Her Offie nomination shows recognition for her stage performance.
Her role in The Marlow Murder Club created a direct screen connection with her mother.
The 2026 podcast introduced another side of her professional work.
Rather than working in one format, she has continued taking roles across different parts of entertainment.
Final Thought
Molly Hanson has built a varied acting career.
Her professional record includes theatre productions, television dramas, films and audiobook recordings.
She comes from a famous acting family. Yet her individual performances have earned their own recognition.
Her work in Posh brought an Offie nomination. Her television appearances include The Marlow Murder Club and EastEnders.
Her 2026 audio projects show continued professional activity.
For anyone interested in British theatre and screen performers, her career offers several interesting credits worth knowing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Who is Molly Hanson?
Molly Hanson is a British actress, singer and audiobook narrator. She has appeared in television dramas, theatre productions and films.
2. Who are Molly Hanson’s parents?
Her mother is British actress Samantha Bond. Her father is actor Alexander Hanson.
3. What television shows has Molly Hanson appeared in?
Her credits include Father Brown, The Coroner, Jack Ryan, Doctors, The Marlow Murder Club and EastEnders.
4. Where did Molly Hanson study acting?
She trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She graduated in 2014 with a BA (Hons) in Professional Acting.
5. What role did she play in The Marlow Murder Club?
She played Young Judith in 2024. Her mother played the older Judith Potts.
6. Has Molly Hanson received any acting award nominations?
Yes. She received a 2018 Off West End Theatre Award nomination for her performance in Posh.
7. Is Molly Hanson an audiobook narrator?
Yes. Her audiobook credits include Bonesmith, Ghostsmith, Only I Can Save Them and The Girl with Two Names.
8. What did Molly Hanson work on in 2026?
She hosted the Royal Theatrical Fund podcast Actors Never Retire. Her 2026 credits also include audiobook narration.
