Amber Riley
Amber Patrice Riley[1] (born February 15, 1986)[2] sometimes known mononymously as RILEY (stylized in all caps), is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her portrayal of Mercedes Jones on the Fox comedy-drama series Glee (2009–2015). For her performance on the series, she and the rest of the cast won a Screen Actors Guild Award, and have been nominated for three Teen Choice Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, and a Grammy Award.
"Riley (singer)" redirects here. Not to be confused with Reiley (singer).
Amber Riley
RILEY
- Actress
- singer
2002–present
Vocals
In 2016, Riley originated the lead role of Effie White in the West End debut of Dreamgirls.[3] She won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical and Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Musical Performance in 2017 for her work.[3][4]
Riley won season 17 of Dancing with the Stars in 2013.[5] In 2017, Riley appeared as a judge on BBC One musical theatre talent show Let It Shine and formed a musical theatre supergroup with Beverley Knight and Cassidy Janson, known collectively as Leading Ladies and signed to East West Records/Warner. Her debut album, Songs from the Stage, was released on November 17, 2017. She participated on the American and British versions of The Masked Singer.
Early life[edit]
Riley was born in Los Angeles County, California, with a mother of the maiden name Hightower. She has two older sisters, Toiya and Ashley.[6] Riley auditioned for American Idol when she was 17 years old, during the show's second season, but was turned down by the producers.[7] She graduated from La Mirada High School in La Mirada, California in 2004.[6][8]