# Jess Folley > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jess_Folley > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jess_Folley.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jess_Folley > Source revision: 1356998204 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|English singer-songwriter and actress (born 2003)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Use British English|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Jess Folley | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2003|05|11|df=y}} | birth_place = [Brentwood, Essex](/source/Brentwood%2C_Essex), England | years_active = 2017–present | occupation = {{Hlist|Singer-songwriter|actress}} | module = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes | genre = [Pop](/source/Pop_music) | instrument = Vocals | past_member_of = [RLY](/source/RLY) }} }} '''Jess Folley''' (born 11 May 2003) is an English singer-songwriter and actress. She won the [first series](/source/The_Voice_Kids_(British_TV_series)_series_1) of [ITV1](/source/ITV1)'s ''[The Voice Kids](/source/The_Voice_Kids_(British_TV_series))'' in 2017, after which she went on to compete in ''[The X Factor: The Band](/source/The_X_Factor%3A_The_Band)'' as part of girl group [RLY](/source/RLY). The group won the competition, after which they released an [extended play](/source/extended_play), ''Generation''. Folley has since portrayed the role of Ali in the stage musical ''[Burlesque](/source/Burlesque_(stage_musical))'' and [Éponine](/source/%C3%89ponine) in ''[Les Misérables](/source/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_(musical))''. ==Life and career== Folley was born on 11 May 2003 in [Brentwood, Essex](/source/Brentwood%2C_Essex).{{Cite web |last=WestEndTheatre |date=27 May 2025 |title=Jess Folley in Burlesque The Musical {{!}} West End Theatre |url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/216744/star-watch/jess-folley/ |access-date=28 July 2025 |website=www.westendtheatre.com |language=en-GB |archive-date=10 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250610180928/https://www.westendtheatre.com/216744/star-watch/jess-folley/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=West End performer 'empowered' by Burlesque role |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2lx1qnn90jo |access-date=21 February 2026 |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News)}} There, she attended [St Martin's School](/source/St_Martin's_School%2C_Brentwood).{{cite web |title=St Martin's School |url=https://www.st-martins.essex.sch.uk/assets/Documents/Attachments/04.10.2024-News-and-Views.pdf |publisher=St Martin's School |access-date=21 February 2026 |archive-date=16 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250316035855/https://www.st-martins.essex.sch.uk/assets/Documents/Attachments/04.10.2024-News-and-Views.pdf |url-status=live }} She then attended the East London Arts and Music Academy. In 2017, Folley was a contestant on the [first series](/source/The_Voice_Kids_(British_TV_series)_series_1) of [ITV1](/source/ITV1)'s ''[The Voice Kids](/source/The_Voice_Kids_(British_TV_series))''. Coached by singer [Pixie Lott](/source/Pixie_Lott) at age 14, she went on to win the competition.{{Cite news |title=Teen wins £30k prize on The Voice Kids |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-essex-40646131 |access-date=28 July 2025 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Then in 2019, she auditioned for ''[The X Factor: The Band](/source/The_X_Factor%3A_The_Band)'', after which she was put into the girl group [RLY](/source/RLY). They went on to win the series.{{cite news |title=Who is Jess Folley? The Voice and Burlesque |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/stage-names/jess-folley |access-date=21 February 2026 |work=[WhatsOnStage](/source/WhatsOnStage) |archive-date=8 February 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260208114522/https://www.whatsonstage.com/stage-names/jess-folley/ |url-status=live }} Folley expressed that the group intended on releasing a musical project that was "new and original" and writing for it started in 2020.{{Cite news|url=https://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-x-factor/428029-x-factor-the-band-winners-reveal-their-plans-for-debut-album.html?amp|title=X Factor: The Band winners reveal their plans for debut album|date=22 December 2019|access-date=29 August 2020|last=Darvill|first=Josh|work=TellyMix|archive-date=23 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023085955/https://tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/the-x-factor/428029-x-factor-the-band-winners-reveal-their-plans-for-debut-album.html?amp|url-status=live}} Their first and only [extended play](/source/extended_play) (EP), ''Generation'', was released in 2023.{{cite news |title=REVIEW: RLY drop era defining EP 'Generation' |url=https://celebmix.com/review-rly-drop-era-defining-ep-generation/ |access-date=21 February 2026 |work=CelebMix}} In 2022, Folley became involved with the stage production ''[Burlesque](/source/Burlesque_(stage_musical))'', an adaptation of the [2010 film](/source/Burlesque_(2010_American_film)) by [Steven Antin](/source/Steve_Antin) starring [Christina Aguilera](/source/Christina_Aguilera). She wrote the opening song for the main character, Ali Rose, "Got It All From You".{{Cite news |date=27 June 2024 |title='It really shouldn't happen like this!' says Burlesque the Musical star |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24414147.burlesque-musical-jess-folleys-amazing-rise-stardom/ |access-date=29 July 2025 |work=Lancashire Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235 |archive-date=5 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251205075510/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24414147.burlesque-musical-jess-folleys-amazing-rise-stardom/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24x9n1SU39Q |title=Christina Aguilera, Orfeh and Jess Folley {{!}} Burlesque the Musical West End opening night highlights |date=23 July 2025 |last=WhatsOnStage |access-date=29 July 2025 |via=YouTube}} Folley was then invited to portray the role in the workshop, after which she was then cast in the lead role for the show's opening in 2024 at the [Manchester Opera House](/source/Manchester_Opera_House).{{Cite web |date=25 June 2024 |title=Burlesque musical world premiere – first look |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/burlesque-musical-world-premiere-first-look_1608964/ |access-date=28 July 2025 |language=en-US |archive-date=1 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250901165243/https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/burlesque-musical-world-premiere-first-look_1608964/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Admin |title=Burlesque – Opera House, Manchester {{!}} Musical Theatre Review |url=https://musicaltheatrereview.com/burlesque-opera-house-manchester/ |access-date=28 July 2025 |language=en-GB |archive-date=8 December 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251208114834/https://musicaltheatrereview.com/burlesque-opera-house-manchester/ |url-status=live }} After a successful run and a short transfer to [Glasgow](/source/Glasgow),{{Cite web |date=26 June 2024 |title=Burlesque The Musical theatre review: World premiere at Manchester Opera House starring Todrick Hall and Jackie Burns |url=https://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/arts-and-culture/26062024-burlesque-the-musical-theatre-review-world-premiere-at-manchester-opera-house-starring-todrick-hall-and-jackie-burns/ |access-date=28 July 2025 |website=Mancunian Matters |language=en-GB |archive-date=14 August 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250814235501/https://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/arts-and-culture/26062024-burlesque-the-musical-theatre-review-world-premiere-at-manchester-opera-house-starring-todrick-hall-and-jackie-burns/ |url-status=live }} she was announced to be reprising the role on the [West End](/source/West_End_theatre) at the [Savoy Theatre](/source/Savoy_Theatre).{{Cite web |date=23 July 2025 |title=Christina Aguilera, Orfeh and Jess Folley – watch the full West End opening highlights of Burlesque the Musical |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/christina-aguilera-orfeh-and-jess-folley-watch-the-full-west-end-opening-highlights-of-burlesque-the-musical_1687942/ |access-date=29 July 2025 |language=en-US |archive-date=23 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250723131128/https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/christina-aguilera-orfeh-and-jess-folley-watch-the-full-west-end-opening-highlights-of-burlesque-the-musical_1687942/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=13 June 2024 |title=Theatre Review: Burlesque the Musical |url=https://tanstopics.com/2024/06/13/theatre-review-burlesque-the-musical-christina-aguilera/ |access-date=28 July 2025 |website=Tan's Topics |language=en |archive-date=25 July 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250725070324/https://tanstopics.com/2024/06/13/theatre-review-burlesque-the-musical-christina-aguilera/ |url-status=live }} In 2026, she was cast as [Éponine](/source/%C3%89ponine) in ''[Les Misérables](/source/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_(musical))'' at the [Sondheim Theatre](/source/Sondheim_Theatre).{{cite news |title=New cast members join 'Les Misérables' in the West End |url=https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/new-cast-members-join-les-miserables-in-the-west-end |access-date=21 February 2026 |work=London Theatre |archive-date=11 February 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260211025808/https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/new-cast-members-join-les-miserables-in-the-west-end |url-status=live }} ==Discography== {{For|her discography as part of RLY|RLY#Discography}} === Extended plays === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col" style="width:9.5em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:21.5em;" | Details |- ! scope="row" | ''18&Anxious'' | * Released: 27 June 2025 * Label: [Independent](/source/Independent_music) * Formats: [Streaming](/source/Streaming_media), [digital download](/source/Digital_download_(music)) |} === Singles === {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:2em;"| Year ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Album |- ! scope="row" | "Chasing Shadows" | rowspan="3" | 2019 | rowspan="3" {{Non-album singles}} |- ! scope="row" | "Got It Bad" |- ! scope="row" | "I Love" |- ! scope="row" | "Where the Women?" | 2026 | {{TableTBA}} |} ==Stage== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Venue ! {{Ref.}} |- | 2024–2025 | ''[Burlesque](/source/Burlesque_(musical))'' | Ali Rose | [Savoy Theatre](/source/Savoy_Theatre), [West End](/source/West_End_theatre); [King's Theatre, Glasgow](/source/King's_Theatre%2C_Glasgow) and [Manchester Opera House](/source/Manchester_Opera_House) | align="center" | {{cite news |title=Burlesque the Musical Jess Folley's amazing rise to stardom |url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/24414147.burlesque-musical-jess-folleys-amazing-rise-stardom/ |access-date=21 February 2026 |work=[Lancashire Telegraph](/source/Lancashire_Telegraph)}} |- | 2026 | ''[Les Misérables](/source/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_(musical))'' | [Éponine](/source/%C3%89ponine) | [Sondheim Theatre](/source/Sondheim_Theatre) | align="center" | {{cite news |title=New stars to join Les Misérables in the West End next month |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/new-stars-to-join-les-miserables-in-the-west-end-next-month_1708412/ |access-date=21 February 2026 |work=[WhatsOnStage](/source/WhatsOnStage)}} |} == References == {{Reflist}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Folley, Jess}} Category:2003 births Category:21st-century English actresses Category:21st-century English singer-songwriters Category:21st-century English women singers Category:Actresses from Brentwood, Essex Category:English musical theatre actresses Category:English women singer-songwriters Category:English women songwriters Category:Living people Category:Singers from Essex Category:The Voice Kids contestants Category:The X Factor (British TV series) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jess Folley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jess_Folley) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jess_Folley?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.