Amber Riley's Biography

Amber Riley was born on 15 February 1986 in Los Angeles.

At 17 she auditioned for American Idol but was rejected and many disheartening acting auditions followed.

However, her big breakthrough came in 2008 when she was cast as Mercedes Jones in the popular TV show Glee.

She ended up making more than 100 appearances on the show.

Amber Riley made her Broadway debut in Cotton Club Parade.

Amber Riley partnered by Derek Hough won the 17th season of Dancing with the Stars.

In 2016 she was cast as Effie White in London's West End premiere of Dreamgirls, the musical loosely based on The Supremes.

In September 2016, the BBC announced that Amber Riley would join the first stage of its new entertainment show Let It Shine to give her expert opinion to the contestants.

In 2017, Amber Riley was nominated for the Joe Allen Best West End Debut prize at the inaugural The Stage Debut Awards for her role as Effie White in Dreamgirls.

Se had already won an Olivier award for best actress in a musical for the role.