Valery Ortiz | |
---|---|
![]() Ortiz at the 2014 Alma Awards | |
Born | Valery Milagros Ortiz August 1, 1984 |
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).
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]
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]
Ortiz currently lives in Los Angeles, California. She enjoys reading, hiking, decorating, and writing. [4]
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 |
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 |
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