Valery Ortiz

Valery Ortiz

Ortiz at the 2014 Alma Awards
Born Valery Milagros Ortiz
(1984-08-01) 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. 1 2 3 4 5 "Our host: Valery Ortiz". Americanlatino.tv. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  2. 1 2 Y., Madiha (2014-05-05). "Chit Chat with Puerto Rican Actress, Singer and Dancer Valery Ortiz!". missoandfriends.com. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  3. 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.
  4. ↑ "Latin Times Media Exclusive Interview Actress Valery Ortiz". latin-times.com. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Valery vs. Raquel". Mr DREAMZ: 6. Summer 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-16.
  6. ↑ "Valery Ortiz Joins AfterBuzz TV’s ‘Spotlight On’ to Talk Career, Fitness and More". eurweb.com. 2014-03-14. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Femme on Fire: Valery Ortiz &#124". playboy.com. 2013-05-29. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  8. 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

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