Valery Ortiz

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, 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. Following in her older brother's footsteps, she was accepted into the Dr. Phillips High School performing arts magnet program.

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. 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. 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 YearTitleRoleNotes 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