Valery Ortiz

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 active2004–present
SpouseJesse Carrion (2011-present)
Websitehttp://www.valeryortiz.com/

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[1] and raised in Orlando, Florida.[2] 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.[citation needed] She continued dancing but eased out of it in middle school as her interest in theatre and acting grew.[1] She worked in Orlando as an extra on the Universal Studios backlot.[3] Following in her older brother's footsteps, she was accepted into the Dr. Phillips High School performing arts magnet program.[2] 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.[4]

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.[2] 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.[4] 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.[4] For three seasons, Ortiz portrayed the role of Raquel Saldana in Hit the Floor, a scripted VH1 series that premiered May 2013.[8]

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.[9] Ahead of the series premiere in October 2019, the show received an early season 2 renewal from Disney Channel.[10]

Personal life

Ortiz currently lives in Los Angeles, California. She enjoys reading, hiking, decorating, and writing.[4]

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

  1. ^ a b Y., Madiha (2014-05-05). "Chit Chat with Puerto Rican Actress, Singer and Dancer Valery Ortiz!". missoandfriends.com. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  2. ^ a b c Rodriguez, Priscilla (2014-07-21). "Valery Ortiz Talks VH1's Hit the Floor & Meeting Jennifer Lopez". latina.com. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Latin Times Media Exclusive Interview Actress Valery Ortiz". latin-times.com. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d "Our host: Valery Ortiz". Americanlatino.tv. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  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. ^ a b "Spotlight: Actress Valery Ortiz has all the right moves". celebzter.com. 2013-03-11. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
  9. ^ "'Gabby Duran & The Unsittables': Disney Channel Sets Premiere Date For Live-Action Comedy Series – Update". Deadline Hollywood. August 29, 2019.
  10. ^ "Disney Channel Gives Early Season 2 Renewal to New Comedy 'Gabby Duran' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. October 7, 2019.