Amber Riley
Introduction '''Amber Patrice Riley''' (born February 15, 1986), 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.In 2016, Riley originated the lead role of Effie White in the West End debut of ''Dreamgirls''. 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.Riley won season 17 of ''Dancing with the Stars'' in 2013.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 Riley was born in Los Angeles County, California, with a mother of the maiden name Hightower. She has two older sisters, Toiya and Ashley. Riley auditioned for ''American Idol'' when she was 17 years old, during the show's second season, but was turned down by the producers. She graduated from La Mirada High School in La Mirada, California in 2004.
Career ===2009–2019: Breakthrough with ''Glee'' and other appearances===Riley at a Toys for Tots event in December 2009In 2008, Riley was cast in the role of Mercedes Jones on the comedy-drama television series ''Glee'', and appeared as a main cast member for all but one of the six seasons—she received guest star credit during season 5.Riley performed numerous solos throughout the series' run, including "Respect", "Bust Your Windows", "Hate on Me", "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", "Beautiful", "Bridge over Troubled Water", "I Look to You", "Ain't No Way", "Try a Little Tenderness", "Spotlight", "All I Want for Christmas Is You" and, three days after Whitney Houston's death, performed a tribute version of "I Will Always Love You". She also played Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the episode "The Rocky Horror Glee Show", singing the lead on the song "Sweet Transvestite" to generally positive reviews from critics. For her role as Mercedes Jones, Riley won a Screen Actors Guild Award and received nominations for three NAACP Image Awards and three Teen Choice Awards.Riley appeared at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards and later sang the national anthem at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. She also co-wrote a track titled "Leave a Light On" for British group The Saturdays, which is featured on their album ''Living for the Weekend''. In January 2014, Riley and her sister Ashley launched a plus size online clothing boutique, Rileyland Fashions. She also models the garments. Riley's debut single, "Colorblind", premiered live on April 3, 2014, on ''The Queen Latifah Show''. The song was written by Emeli Sandé, Claude Kelly and Steve Mac, and was released as a digital download on April 8, 2014.It was expected to be the lead single off her debut album. The song was also performed by Riley on ''Glee''. In 2015, it was reported that Riley would star in a Christmas television film, her first movie role, and her first acting role, since ''Glee''. In December 2015, she portrayed Addaperle, the Good Witch of the North, in NBC's live performance of ''The Wiz''. In February 2016, it was announced that Riley would portray the lead role of Effie White in ''Dreamgirls'', at the Savoy Theatre in London's West End, beginning performances in November 2016.Riley recorded a number of tracks for Todrick Hall's visual album ''Straight Outta Oz''. Also in 2016 she performed the national anthem at the second game of the 2016 NHL Stadium Series featuring the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche at Coors Field.In 2017, Riley teamed up with British singers Beverley Knight and Cassidy Janson to form a musical theatre supergroup, known collectively as the Leading Ladies. Their debut album, ''Songs from the Stage'', was released on November 17, 2017 and features covers songs from ''Cats'', ''Beautiful'' and ''Rent'' among others.In 2019, she took on the role of Audrey II, the carnivorous singing plant, in ''Little Shop of Horrors'' at Pasadena Playhouse.====''Dancing with the Stars''====In 2013, Riley won the seventeenth season of ABC's dancing competition ''Dancing with the Stars''. She was partnered with the show's one and only six-time champion, Derek Hough. Riley and Hough tied the record for highest first-week score of 27, received 5 perfect scores of 30, and only received a score lower than 8 one time. Riley is the first African-American woman to win ''Dancing With the Stars''. ;Performances Week # Dance/song Judges' score Result Inaba Goodman Tonioli 1 Cha-Cha-Cha/"Wings" 9 9 9 No Elimination 2 Jive/"Reet Petite" 8 8 8 Safe 3 Charleston/"Bang Bang" 8 8 8 Safe 4 Tango/"Love Lockdown" 9 91 9 Safe 5 Foxtrot/"Try a Little Tenderness" 9 9 9 Safe 6 Samba/"Get It Right"Switch-Up Challenge 10Awarded 94 9Points No Elimination 7 Paso Doble/"Diablo Rojo"Group Dance Freestyle/"The Fox (What Does the Fox Say?)" 1010 1010 910 Safe 8 Rumba/"If I Could Turn Back Time" 9 92 10 Safe (Immunity) 9 Quickstep/"That's It!" Salsa (Trio challenge)3/"Que Viva la Vida" 89 89 89 Safe 10Semi-finals Jazz/"Locked Out of Heaven"Viennese Waltz/"Locked Out of Heaven" (Acoustic Version) 1010 10/9410/104 1010 Safe 11Finals Charleston/"Bang Bang" Samba relay/"No Scrubs"Freestyle/"Can You Do This" 10Awarded10 10410 10points10 Safe Quickstep & Samba Fusion/"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher" 10 10 10 Won 1In week four, judge Len Goodman was absent and guest judge Julianne Hough filled in for him.2In week eight, judge Len Goodman was absent and guest judge Cher filled in for him.3The dancer Hough and Riley chose for the Trio Challenge is Mark Ballas.4Scores from guest judge Maksim Chmerkovskiy.===2020–2022: ''RILEY''===On February 28, 2020, Riley confirmed she finished recording songs for her debut extended play. Following her ''Jimmy Kimmel Live!'' performance on August 28 it was announced her EP would be released on October 2.She later confirmed she would be performing under the name "Riley" (stylized in all caps as "RILEY") and released the single "A Moment" on September 4. "BGE" (initialism for ''big girl energy'') was released as the second single from the EP on September 18, alongside its music video. The EP was released on October 2, 2020, featuring a total of six tracks. On October 8, 2020 she released a music video for the track "Creepin'".===2022–present===In Fall 2022, Riley competed on season eight of ''The Masked Singer'' as "Harp". She went on to win the season. Later, in 2023, she competed as "Jellyfish" on the fourth season of ''The Masked Singer UK'' and finished in fourth place.In February 2023, she confirmed her debut album would be released later in the year. In December 2023, Riley performed Chim Chim Cher-ee from the 1964 movie ''Mary Poppins'' on the primetime CBS special ''Dick Van Dyke: 98 Years of Magic''.
Filmography + Film and television Year Title Role Notes 2002 ''St. Sass'' Toby Unsold pilot 2009–2015 ''Glee'' Mercedes Jones Main role (seasons 1—4, 6); Recurring role (season 5); 93 episodes 2010 ''The Simpsons'' Aiesha (voice) Episode: "Elementary School Musical" 2011''Glee: The 3D Concert Movie'' Mercedes Jones Concert film 2012 ''RuPaul's Drag Race'' Herself / Guest judge 2013 ''Dancing with the Stars'' Herself / Contestant Season 17 winner 2014 ''Dancing with the Stars'' Herself / Performer Season 18, episode: "The Finals Award Show" 2015 ''My One Christmas Wish'' Jackie Turner Television film 2015 ''The Wiz Live!'' Addaperle Television special 2016 ''Crazy Ex-Girlfriend'' Dream Ghost #2 Episode: "Josh Has No Idea Where I Am!" 2016 ''Straight Outta Oz'' Brenda Television film 2017 ''Let It Shine'' Herself / Guest judge Auditions stage 2018 ''Nobody's Fool''  Kalli 2019–21 ''A Black Lady Sketch Show'' Various characters 4 episodes 2019 ''The Little Mermaid Live!'' Emcee Special 2020 ''Infamous'' Elle 2020 ''Whose Line is it Anyway?'' Herself2021 ''Christmas Deja Vu''KandiTelevision film2021 ''WICKED in Concert''Performer2022 ''Single Black Female''SimoneTelevision film 2022 ''The Masked Singer U.S.''Herself / Harp Season 8 winner  2023 ''The Masked Singer UK'' Herself / Jellyfish Season 4 fourth place 2023 ''Mamma Mia! I have a dream'' Herself/JudgeTBD''Dream''TBDLead role; Upcoming NBC series
Stage  Year Title Role Location 2012 ''Cotton Club Parade'' Performer New York City Center, Off-Broadway 2014 ''Hair'' Dionne Hollywood Bowl 2016–17 ''Dreamgirls'' Effie White Savoy Theatre, West End 2019 ''Little Shop of Horrors'' Audrey II Pasadena Playhouse
Discography ===Extended plays=== Title Details ''RILEY''* Released: October 2, 2020* Labels: Self-released* Format: digital download===Singles=== Title Year Album "Colorblind" 2014 ''Glee: the Music, Bash'' "Someone You Loved" 2020  "A Moment"''RILEY'' "BGE" "Creepin"===Guest appearances===YearSongAlbum2013 "Never Be Lonely"(with Eric Bellinger)''In The Meantime''2014 "Gold Generation"(with Eric Zayne)''Autobiograme'' "This Is What It Feels Like"(with Kenyon Dixon)''Twenty Four''2016 "Lions and Tigers and Bears"''Straight Outta Oz'' "See Your Face" "#ChangeRightNow"''I Am Major''2017 "Anybody Who Knows What Love Is"(with Boyz II Men)''Under the Streetlight''2019 "I'm A Mess"(with Kenyon Dixon)''R&B Kenny''2023 "Waiting"(with Omarion)''Full Circle: Sonic Book One''===Soundtrack appearances===* ''Glee: The Music, Volume 1'' (2009)* ''Glee: The Music, Volume 2'' (2009)* ''Glee: The Music, The Power of Madonna'' (2010)* ''Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers'' (2010)* ''Glee: The Music, Journey to Regionals'' (2010)* ''Glee: The Music, The Complete Season One'' (2010)* ''Glee: The Music, Best of Season One'' (2010)* ''Glee: The Music, The Rocky Horror Glee Show'' (2010)* ''Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album''(2010)* ''Glee: The Music, Volume 4'' (2010)* ''Glee: The Music, Love Songs'' (2010)* ''Glee: The Music, Volume 5'' (2011)* ''Glee: The Music, Volume 6'' (2011)* ''Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (Motion Picture Soundtrack)'' (2011)* ''Glee: The Music, Dance Party'' (2011)* ''Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 2'' (2011)* ''Glee: The Music, Volume 7'' (2011)* ''Glee: The Music, The Graduation Album'' (2012)* ''Glee: The Music, The Complete Season Two'' (2012)* ''Glee: The Music, The Complete Season Three'' (2012)* ''Glee: The Music Presents Glease'' (2012)* ''Glee: The Quarterback'' (2013)* ''Glee: The Music, The Complete Season Four'' (2014)* ''Glee: The Music - Celebrating 100 Episodes'' (2014)* ''Glee: The Music, Bash'' (2014)* ''Glee: The Music, Tested'' (2014)* ''Glee: The Music, Opening Night'' (2014)* ''Glee: The Music, The Back Up Plan'' (2014)* ''Glee: The Music, Old Dog, New Tricks'' (2014)* ''Glee: The Music, The Untitled Rachel Barry Project'' (2014)* ''Glee: The Music, Homecoming'' (2015)* ''Glee: The Music, What the World Needs Now is Love'' (2015)* ''Glee: The Music, Transitioning'' (2015)* ''Glee: The Music, A Wedding'' (2015)* ''Glee: The Music, 2009'' (2015)* ''Glee: The Music, Dreams Come True'' (2015)* ''The Wiz Live!'' (2015)* ''Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Season 1, Vol. 2)'' (2016)* ''Dreamgirls (Original London Cast Recording)'' (2017)* ''The Little Mermaid Live!'' (2019)
Awards and nominations  Year AwardCategory Work Result2010 Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series''Glee'' Teen Choice AwardChoice TV: Female Scene Stealer Choice Music: Group  2011 Grammy AwardBest Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals "Don't Stop Believin' (Regionals version)"  NAACP Image AwardOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy SeriesGlee''  Teen Choice AwardChoice TV: Female Scene Stealer  2012 NAACP Image AwardOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series  2013 NAACP Image AwardOutstanding Actress in a Comedy Series   2017 Laurence Olivier AwardBest Actress in a Musical  ''Dreamgirls''  Evening Standard Theatre AwardBest Musical Performance  WhatsOnStage AwardBest Actress in a Musical  2018 Classic Brit AwardAlbum of the Year ''Songs from the Stage''
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