Valery Ortiz

Born Valery Milagros Ortiz in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on August 1, 1984, Ortiz later moved to Orlando, Florida, where her early interest in dancing transitioned into a passion for acting. She pursued her theatrical talents through local productions and specialized performing arts programs at Dr. Phillips High School. Her dedication led her to the University of Central Florida, where she pursued a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts. During her studies, Ortiz gained initial television experience as a co-host for Nickelodeon’s ‘Splat!’. After a visit to Los Angeles, she decided to relocate, quickly securing a role as a VJ for ‘LATV Live’. These foundational experiences set the stage for her career in entertainment.

Ortiz’s career progressed with notable appearances in both comedy and drama. She was cast as Jell-O, a Jennifer Lopez impersonator, in the cult comedy film ‘Date Movie’ in 2006. Concurrently, she secured a significant role as Madison Duarte in the teen drama ‘South of Nowhere’, appearing from 2005 to 2008. Her television presence expanded with recurring roles in series like “What About Brian” (2006–2007) and a guest appearance in “Two and a Half Men” (2010). A pivotal role came in 2013 with VH1’s scripted series ‘Hit the Floor’, where she starred as Raquel Saldana for three seasons until 2016. More recently, she played Dina Duran in the Disney Channel live-action comedy series ‘Gabby Duran and The Unsittables’ from 2019 to 2021. Her film credits also include ‘Dumbbells’ (2014) and ‘Thriller’ (2018).

Beyond acting, Ortiz has lent her voice and presence to various media projects. She has been an anchor for Si TV and E! News, and hosted ‘American Latino TV’ from 2010 to 2016. She co-hosts the podcast ‘Your Unpaid Therapists’ and actively shares her fitness journey on her YouTube channel. Ortiz has demonstrated her versatility as an artist and media personality, receiving recognition such as being ranked among the ‘Top 25 Hottest Latinas of 2006’ by Maxim en Español. She continues to engage with various creative endeavors, including upcoming film projects like ‘Skeletons in the Closet’ (2024) and ‘Isabel’s Garden’ (2025), for which she won Best Supporting Actress.