Amber Patrice Riley ( February 15, 1986) is an American actress, singer-songwriter, and philanthropist, best known for her portrayal of Mercedes Jones on the FOX television series Glee.
Biography[]
Born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Tiny (née Hightower) and Elwin Riley. She also has two older sisters, Toyia and Ashley, Riley auditioned for American Idol at age seventeen but was turned down.
Riley auditioned for American Idol at age seventeen but didn't make it past producers. She auditioned for the role as Effie White in the 2006 movie musical Dreamgirls however Jennifer Hudson was chosen instead.
Riley was casted as Mercedes Jones in 2008 and has had a main role on Glee from 2009 - 2012. Her role from then on was reduced to a guest role. For the role she won Screen Actors Guide Awards including an NAACP Image Award and a Teen Choice Award. On the 17th season of Dancing With the Stars Riley was the first African-American woman to win.
She portrayed the role of Addapearle in the NBC program The Wiz Live! on December 3, 2015.
Riley appeared in UP's television movie musical My One Christmas Wish as Jackie Turner, which is based off a true story of Turner. In 2017, Riley appeared as a judge on BBC One musical theatre talent show Let It Shine.
Riley began filming for Tyler Perry's film Nobody's Fool on April 4, 2018. Filming lasted through April 20, 2018. Riley has wanted to work with Perry for sometime. During an interview with AOL Build, Riley stated: "It was amazing. I actually put Tyler in the bullseye of my dream book. I do a dream book at the end of the year and he was in the bullseye on the page. I really wanted to work with him. And I got the audition in January and then I booked it, and was like 'Wow that was fast God, thanks!' ... I had to bring my A Game and I had so much fun. Everyone was just inviting ... It was a dream come true. I hit the bullseye.” The film went on to earn $33.5 million at the box office.
As Addapearle
Stage[]
In 2012 Riley made an impressive New York stage debut, in an off-Broadway production of Cotton Club Parade.
On August 1st, 2014 Riley starred in ‘Hair the Musical’ alongside friend and Glee co-star Jenna Ushkowitz. The Adam Shankman directed production was shown at the Hollywood Bowl.
On February 5, 2016 it was announced that Riley would star as Effie White in the West End production of Dreamgirls musical at the Savoy Theatre. Riley went on to win the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her turn as Effie. Her run with the production lasted from December 2016 to November 18th 2017.
On Feburary 24, 2018 Amber performed 'I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Loved You)' with American singer and stage actress Shoshana Bean at Bean's concert, 'For The Record Presents Shoshana Bean' at Spectrum Live in Los Angeles. She had an amazing time saying Bean "melted my face with her vocals!"
On June 14, 2018 Amber sang at the 2018 National Geographic Awards at GWU Lisner Auditorium on June 14, 2018 in Washington, DC.