# Molly Burnett
**Molly Burnett** (Molly Kathleen Burnett, born 1988) is an American actress, singer, and producer known for playing Melanie Jonas on the soap opera *Days of Our Lives* (2008–2012, 2014–2016), Kelly Anne Van Awken on the crime drama *Queen of the South* (2017–2021), and Detective Grace Muncy on *[Law & Order](https://www.edgepedia.org/law-and-order-franchise): Special Victims Unit* (2022–2023)[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/9822/molly-burnett) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/molly-burnett/umc.cpc.4tgs8g968ychr6c43ytn9x7ih). Burnett holds three Daytime Emmy nominations: two in the Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series category and one for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series.[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/molly-burnett/umc.cpc.4tgs8g968ychr6c43ytn9x7ih)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name and birth | Molly Kathleen Burnett, born 1988, Littleton, Colorado[1](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/9822/molly-burnett) • [3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/molly-burnett/3030568293/) |
| Breakthrough role | Melanie Jonas on *Days of Our Lives*, 2008–2012 and 2014–2016, 671 episodes[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/molly-burnett/umc.cpc.4tgs8g968ychr6c43ytn9x7ih) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/) |
| Daytime Emmy nominations | Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series, 2010 and 2012, for *Days of Our Lives*; Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Digital Daytime Drama Series for *Relationship Status*[5](https://www.jason47.com/days/awarddatabase.html) • [2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/molly-burnett/umc.cpc.4tgs8g968ychr6c43ytn9x7ih) |
| Prime-time series regular | Kelly Anne Van Awken on USA Network's *Queen of the South*, 2017–2021, 31 episodes[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/) |
| Law & Order role | Detective Grace Muncy on *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*, 2022–2023, 21 episodes, plus one 2023 appearance on *Law & Order: Organized Crime*[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/) |
| Temporary soap role | Maxie Jones on *General Hospital* in 2016 and 2018, filling in for Kirsten Storms[6](https://general-hospital.fandom.com/wiki/Molly_Burnett) |
| Producing | Set to produce and star in *Giant Void*, an indie sci-fi film marking the feature debut of writer-director Michael Reisinger[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/news/) |
## Early life and training
Burnett is the firstborn child of Katie and David Burnett and grew up in Littleton, a Denver suburb, with her younger brother Will[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/). Her theatrical work began as a teenager at Littleton High School and with theater companies in the greater Denver area, in roles including Hermia in *A Midsummer Night's Dream*, Mayzie in *Seussical*, Annie in *Annie*, and Dotty in *Noises Off*[8](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/molly-burnett/).
Music ran alongside acting. In high school she sang in the school's a cappella jazz ensemble and was selected for the Colorado All-State Choir, the All-State Jazz Choir, and the National Honor Choir in Los Angeles; she also competed on the speech and debate team in the humorous interpretation division and placed at the national tournament[8](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/molly-burnett/). She graduated from Littleton High School with honors and enrolled at [Wagner College](https://www.edgepedia.org/wagner-college), a private liberal arts school on [Staten Island](https://www.edgepedia.org/staten-island) in New York, but left after one year to pursue acting in Los Angeles[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/) • [9](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollykburnett).
## Days of Our Lives
Within a few months of moving to Los Angeles, Burnett landed the role of Melanie Jonas on the NBC daytime serial *Days of Our Lives*, cast as Max's long-lost sister[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/) • [8](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/molly-burnett/). She played the character from 2008 to 2012, then returned for a second run from 2014 to 2016, totaling 671 episodes on IMDb's count[2](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/molly-burnett/umc.cpc.4tgs8g968ychr6c43ytn9x7ih) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/).
The role brought two Daytime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series, in 2010 and 2012[5](https://www.jason47.com/days/awarddatabase.html) • [10](https://www.postmagazine.com/documents/39thdaytimeemmynominations.pdf). Her 2016 return also produced a pre-nomination in the Lead Actress category for that year's Daytime Emmy process, submitted for her portrayal of Melanie Jonas[11](https://www.tvweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2016-Daytime-Pre-Nominations-Press-Release-FINAL.pdf).
She confirmed her first exit in May 2012, describing her four years on the show as "four years of the best training any actor could have ever been given"[12](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/exclusive-dayss-burnett-confirms-exit/). She taped her final scenes in June 2012, calling the departure "a very emotional time" and noting that she remained in contact with her television mother, [Crystal Chappell](https://www.edgepedia.org/crystal-chappell)[13](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/dayss-burnett-tapes-final-episode/).
## Prime-time and streaming work
After leaving *Days of Our Lives* in 2012, Burnett moved into guest roles on prime-time series, including *CSI: NY* and *Major Crimes*, and took her first film roles as Ashley Bloom in the MTV Original Film *Ladies Man: A Made Movie* and Justine Gable in the Hallmark Hall of Fame film *This Magic Moment*, both 2013[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/). That year she also played Deb in an episode of MTV's *Zach Stone Is Gonna Be Famous*[14](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-451497/filmographie/). Between soap and prime-time work she appeared in web series, including *[Venice: The Series](https://www.edgepedia.org/venice-the-series)* and ACME Comedy's improvised online soap *Scandal Crest*, which reunited her with former *Days* co-stars Freddie Smith and Eric Martsolf[15](https://daytimeconfidential.com/2012/09/12/exclusive-exiting-days-starlet-molly-burnett-talks-booking-gigs-for-mtv-hallmark-and-appe).
In late 2015 she appeared in the multi-episode role of Nina Moore on *CSI: Cyber*[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/). Her film credits from this period include Lex in the sci-fi thriller *Ctrl+Alt+Del* (2016), Lisa in *The Wedding Party* (2016), Southern belle Kate Stenson in *Shattered* (2017), and [Dolly Oesterreich](https://www.edgepedia.org/walburga-oesterreich) in *The Lover in the Attic: A True Story* (2018)[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/) • [16](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/molly-burnett/).
Her longest prime-time commitment was Kelly Anne Van Awken on [USA Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/usa-network)'s crime drama *Queen of the South*, which she played from 2017 to 2021 across 31 episodes[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/). In 2022 she joined *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* as Detective Grace Muncy, appearing in 21 episodes through 2023 and crossing over to *Law & Order: Organized Crime* for one episode in 2023[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/). Coverage on TV Insider reported her departure from *SVU* after one season in May 2023[16](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/molly-burnett/).
More recent television work includes Kendall Roberts in two 2024 episodes of *The Lincoln Lawyer* and Lori in two 2025 episodes of *9-1-1*[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/) • [17](https://www.tvmaze.com/characters/1451469/9-1-1-lori). After her first *9-1-1* appearance, in which Lori was trapped on a train, Burnett confirmed on Instagram that the character would return[18](https://www.tvinsider.com/1224101/911-molly-burnett-returning-lori-theories-chimney/). Her upcoming credits include Chloe in *Giant Void*, Rihanna in the post-production film *New Me*, and Cora Sault in a 2026 episode of *Criminal Minds*[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/).
## General Hospital
Burnett twice stepped in as a temporary recast for Maxie Jones on ABC's *General Hospital* while [Kirsten Storms](https://www.edgepedia.org/kirsten-storms) was on leave, first airing in July 2016 and returning in 2018[6](https://general-hospital.fandom.com/wiki/Molly_Burnett) • [19](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/molly-burnett-ghs-maxie/). Her debut episode aired on July 5, 2016, the same week Storms announced a temporary hiatus for health reasons[20](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/molly-burnett-debuts-as-ghs-maxie/). Her first scenes on the show were with [Ryan Paevey](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryan-paevey) as Nathan; she later described the stint as "a blast"[21](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/molly-burnett-on-gh-run/).
## Producing
Burnett has moved into production. She is set to produce and star in *Giant Void*, an independent science-fiction film that marks the feature debut of writer-director Michael Reisinger, playing the character Chloe[7](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/news/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/). She runs Something Hidden Productions, Inc., based in Los Angeles[9](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollykburnett).
## References
1. [Molly Burnett, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/9822/molly-burnett)
2. [Molly Burnett Movies and Shows, Apple TV](https://tv.apple.com/us/person/molly-burnett/umc.cpc.4tgs8g968ychr6c43ytn9x7ih)
3. [Molly Burnett, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/molly-burnett/3030568293/)
4. [Molly Burnett, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/)
5. [Days of Our Lives Award Database, Jason47](https://www.jason47.com/days/awarddatabase.html)
6. [Molly Burnett, General Hospital Wiki](https://general-hospital.fandom.com/wiki/Molly_Burnett)
7. [Molly Burnett News, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2796394/news/)
8. [Molly Burnett, Soap Opera Digest](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/actors/molly-burnett/)
9. [Molly Burnett, Something Hidden Productions, Inc., LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollykburnett)
10. [39th Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards Nominations, Post Magazine](https://www.postmagazine.com/documents/39thdaytimeemmynominations.pdf)
11. [2016 Daytime Emmy Pre-Nominations Press Release, TV Week](https://www.tvweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/2016-Daytime-Pre-Nominations-Press-Release-FINAL.pdf)
12. [EXCLUSIVE! DAYS's Burnett Confirms Exit, Soap Opera Digest](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/exclusive-dayss-burnett-confirms-exit/)
13. [DAYS's Burnett Tapes Final Episode, Soap Opera Digest](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/dayss-burnett-tapes-final-episode/)
14. [Molly Burnett : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-451497/filmographie/)
15. [EXCLUSIVE: Exiting DAYS Starlet Molly Burnett Talks Booking Gigs For MTV, Hallmark and Starring in Improvised Soap 'Scandal Crest', Daytime Confidential](https://daytimeconfidential.com/2012/09/12/exclusive-exiting-days-starlet-molly-burnett-talks-booking-gigs-for-mtv-hallmark-and-appe)
16. [Molly Burnett – Actress, Singer, Producer, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/molly-burnett/)
17. [Lori – 9-1-1, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/characters/1451469/9-1-1-lori)
18. ['9-1-1' Theory: What Will Molly Burnett's Return Mean for Chimney?, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/1224101/911-molly-burnett-returning-lori-theories-chimney/)
19. [Molly Burnett in as GH's Maxie, Soap Opera Digest](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/molly-burnett-ghs-maxie/)
20. [Molly Burnett Debuts As GH's Maxie, Soap Opera Digest](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/molly-burnett-debuts-as-ghs-maxie/)
21. [Molly Burnett On GH Run, Soap Opera Digest](https://www.soapoperadigest.com/content/molly-burnett-on-gh-run/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Soap operas and continuing serials › US and Americas daytime serials and characters › Daytime serial production and people*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license