Valery Ortiz
Valery Ortiz | |
---|---|
Ortiz at the 2014 Alma Awards | |
Born |
Valery Milagros Ortiz August 1, 1984 San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Occupation | Actress, dancer |
Years active | 2004–present |
Height | 5 ft 3 in (160 cm) |
Website | http://www.valeryortiz.com/ |
Valery Milagros Ortiz (born August 1, 1984) is a Puerto Rican actress, dancer, singer, songwriter & author who is known for her role as Madison Duarte on the television series South of Nowhere, also for her role as Raquel Saldaña on VH1's "Hit the Floor".[1]
Early life
Ortiz was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico[2] and raised in Orlando, Florida.[3] Passionate to become a "ballerina" and she explored her dancing talents after receiving a scholarship to The Southern Ballet Theater Performing Art Centre in Orlando. She continued dancing but eased out of it in middle school as her interest in theatre and acting grew.[2] She worked in Orlando as an extra on the Universal Studios backlot.[4] Following in her older brother's footsteps, she was accepted into the Dr. Phillips High School performing arts magnet program.[3] After four years of study, Ortiz began working in several productions like Latins Anonymous (Orlando Fringe Festival), West Side Story as Maria, A Midsummer Night's Dream as Helena, The Vagina Monologues (Orlando Premiere) and The Edinburgh, Scotland Fringe Festival.[1]
Career
While attending the University of Central Florida for a Bachelor in Fine Arts, Ortiz was given an opportunity to work on television show, Splat! as a host.[3] After the first season, a two week[5] road trip "vacation" to Los Angeles turned into permanent relocation to Los Angeles. Ortiz quickly started working on a local television show called LATV Live as a VJ.
While working at the Hard Rock Cafe as a hostess, Ortiz was cast as in the comedy Date Movie as Jell-O, a Jennifer Lopez impersonation.[6][7] During the movie's filming, she was cast the television series South of Nowhere.[8] Shortly after, she was cast in the pilot Emily's Reason's Why Not, which was picked up and aired in 2006.[1] She currently is an anchor for Si TV and E! News. Ortiz was “One of the Top 25 Latinas of 2006” from Maxim en Español.[1] Ortiz currently portrays the role of "Raquel Saldana" in Hit the Floor, a new scripted VH1 series that premiered May 2013.[8]
Personal life
Ortiz currently lives in Los Angeles, California. She enjoys reading, hiking, decorating, and writing.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Our host: Valery Ortiz". Americanlatino.tv. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- 1 2 Y., Madiha (2014-05-05). "Chit Chat with Puerto Rican Actress, Singer and Dancer Valery Ortiz!". missoandfriends.com. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- 1 2 3 Rodriguez, Priscilla (2014-07-21). "Valery Ortiz Talks VH1's Hit the Floor & Meeting Jennifer Lopez". latina.com. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- ↑ "Latin Times Media Exclusive Interview Actress Valery Ortiz". latin-times.com. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- ↑ "Valery vs. Raquel". Mr DREAMZ: 6. Summer 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-16.
- ↑ "Valery Ortiz Joins AfterBuzz TV's 'Spotlight On' to Talk Career, Fitness and More". eurweb.com. 2014-03-14. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- ↑ "Femme on Fire: Valery Ortiz |". playboy.com. 2013-05-29. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- 1 2 "Spotlight: Actress Valery Ortiz has all the right moves". celebzter.com. 2013-03-11. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Date Movie | Jell-O | |
2008 | From a Place of Darkness | Rosa | |
2014 | Dumbbells | Missy | |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Nickelodeon SPLAT! | Co-Host | |
2005–2008 | South of Nowhere | Madison Duarte | Starring Role |
2006–2007 | What About Brian | Roxanne | |
2006 | Emily's Reasons Why Not | Waitress | |
2007–2009 | On the Up | Herself | Host |
2008 | 10 Items or Less | Buck's Friend #2 | |
2009–2011 | Diary of a Single Mom | Lupe | |
2009 | Cold Case | Marisol Acosta | |
2010 | Melissa & Joey | Celeste Vega | |
Gigantic | Kelli | ||
Two and a Half Men | Tracy | ||
2011 | In the Flow with Affion Crockett | J-Lo / Kim Kardashian 2011 | |
2013–2016 | Hit the Floor | Raquel Saldana | |
External links
- Official website
- South of Nowhere Cast Profile
- Valery Ortiz at the Internet Movie Database
- Valery Ortiz as Raquel Saldana on VH1's Hit the Floor (TV series)