Valery Ortiz | |
---|---|
Ortiz at the 2014 Alma Awards | |
Born | Valery Milagros Ortiz (1984-08-01) August 1, 1984 (age 40) San Juan, Puerto Rico |
Occupation(s) | Actress, model |
Years active | 2004–present |
Spouse |
Jesse Carrion (m. 2011) |
Website | www |
Valery Milagros Ortiz (born August 1, 1984) is a Puerto Rican actress and model. She has appeared in various television series including South of Nowhere (2005–2008), Diary of a Single Mom (2009–2011), Hit the Floor (2013–2016) and Gabby Duran & the Unsittables (2019–2021). Ortiz has also appeared in films including Date Movie (2006), Dumbbells (2014) and Thriller (2018).
Early life
Ortiz was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and raised in Orlando, Florida. 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. She worked in Orlando as an extra on the Universal Studios backlot. Following in her older brother's footsteps, she was accepted into the Dr. Phillips High School performing arts magnet program. 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.
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. After the first season, a two-week 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. During the movie's filming, she was cast the television series South of Nowhere. Shortly after, she was cast in the pilot Emily's Reason's Why Not, which was picked up and aired in 2006. In 2010, she appeared on an episode of Two and a Half Men. 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. For three seasons, Ortiz portrayed the role of Raquel Saldana in Hit the Floor, a scripted VH1 series that premiered May 2013.
In August 2019, Disney Channel announced the premiere date for their new live-action comedy series Gabby Duran and the Unsittables with Ortiz set to star as Dina Duran. Ahead of the series premiere in October 2019, the show received an early season 2 renewal from Disney Channel.
Personal life
Ortiz currently lives in Los Angeles, California. She enjoys reading, hiking, decorating, and writing.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Date Movie | Jell-O | |
2008 | From a Place of Darkness | Rosa | |
2013 | 2 Dead 2 Kill | Donna Valens | |
2014 | Dumbbells | Missy | |
2015 | Lure | Girlfriend | Short |
2016 | Skirtchasers | Gabriella | TV movie |
Peaches | Sydnee DeLeon | Short | |
2018 | Thriller | Ms. Cruz | |
2020 | 2 Minutes of Fame | Ms. Ellen | |
2021 | Old Flames Never Die | Steph | TV movie |
2024 | Skeletons in the Closet | Valentina |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2004 | Nickelodeon SPLAT! | Herself/co-host | TV series |
2005–08 | South of Nowhere | Madison Duarte | Main cast |
2006 | Emily's Reasons Why Not | Waitress | Episode: "Pilot" |
2006–07 | What About Brian | Roxanne | Recurring cast: season 2 |
2007–09 | On the Up | Herself/host | TV series |
2008 | 10 Items or Less | Buck's Friend #2 | Episode: "Forever Young" |
2009 | Cold Case | Marisol Acosta | Episode: "Stealing Home" |
2009–11 | Diary of a Single Mom | Lupe | Main cast |
2010 | Melissa & Joey | Celeste Vega | Episode: "Up Close & Personal" |
Gigantic | Kelli | Episode: "Pilot: Part 1 & 2" | |
Two and a Half Men | Tracy | Episode: "Chocolate Diddlers or My Puppy's Dead" | |
2010–16 | American Latino TV | Herself/host | TV series |
2011 | In the Flow with Affion Crockett | J-Lo/Kim Kardashian 2011 | Episode: "No Rush!" |
2013 | Cowgirl Up | Maddie | Main cast: season 2 |
Cltrl.Alt.Del | Catalina | Episode: "Do You See What I See?" | |
2013–16 | Hit the Floor | Raquel Saldana | Main cast: season 1-3 |
2016 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | Maria | Episode: "Uprising" |
2017 | Switched at Birth | Noelle | Recurring cast: season 5 |
If Loving You Is Wrong | Tippa Haynes | Recurring cast: season 2 | |
2018 | NCIS | Carrie | Episode: "Dark Secrets" |
2019 | Going Up | Vanessa | Recurring cast: season 1 |
Five Points | Valeria | Recurring cast: season 2 | |
2019–21 | Gabby Duran & the Unsittables | Dina Duran | Main cast |
References
- ^ Y., Madiha (2014-05-05). "Chit Chat with Puerto Rican Actress, Singer and Dancer Valery Ortiz!". missoandfriends.com. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Our host: Valery Ortiz". Americanlatino.tv. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- "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.
- ^ "Spotlight: Actress Valery Ortiz has all the right moves". celebzter.com. 2013-03-11. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
- "'Gabby Duran & The Unsittables': Disney Channel Sets Premiere Date For Live-Action Comedy Series – Update". Deadline Hollywood. August 29, 2019.
- "Disney Channel Gives Early Season 2 Renewal to New Comedy 'Gabby Duran' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. October 7, 2019.
External links
- Official website
- South of Nowhere Cast Profile
- Valery Ortiz at IMDb
- Valery Ortiz as Raquel Saldana on VH1's Hit the Floor (TV series)
- 1984 births
- Living people
- Actors from San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Actresses from Orlando, Florida
- 21st-century Puerto Rican actresses
- Puerto Rican film actresses
- Puerto Rican television actresses
- Puerto Rican dancers
- Puerto Rican female dancers
- Singers from Orlando, Florida
- University of Central Florida alumni
- Dr. Phillips High School alumni