GERMANNU / VALERIA - NOAJ EDITS 01: MENDEL & DELFONIC

2. An accomplished actress, singer, and songwriter. 2. An accomplished actress, singer, and songwriter, Valeria Andrews first made a name for herself with a featured acting role in the film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993), starring Whoopi Goldberg. Valeria also co-wrote the song "Pay Attention" for the film's soundtrack. Sister Act 2: Back In The Habit was an international sensation. In addition to her musical composition for that film, Valeria has recorded two other songs featured on soundtracks to blockbuster motion pictures: “Rhythm of the Night” for Moulin Rouge (2001) and “Ooh La La” for Legally Blonde (2001). Her breakthrough dance single “Girl I Told Ya" became synonymous with the hit television series Gossip Girl (2007). The wonderfully provocative video for "Girl I Told Ya,” which cheekily paid homage to Marie Antoinette, was shot by acclaimed director Marc Webb on location in Hungary. Valeria's most well-known movie role to date is her portrayal of the amorous Wendy in Just Married (2003), appearing alongside Ashton Kutcher. Her other acting credits include a recurring role in the PBS series American Family (2002). She co-hosted an entire season of the "Idolesque” Next Big Star (2001), a talent competition show featuring Ed McMahon. More recently, Valeria guest-starred on the ABC sitcoms Freddie (2005) and The George Lopez Show (2002). Valeria's back story is the stuff of Hollywood legend. She was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. Her father was Australian and her mother is from Uruguay. Her parents married within two weeks of meeting, and due to the language barrier, divorced soon after.Valeria began singing at the age of three, by way of street performance, busking during the days and competing in talent contests at night. She eventually landed a role in Falstaff at the world famous Sydney Opera House, and subsequently took on the title role in Annie. Two nights after the production of Annie came to a close, eleven-year-old Valeria and her father headed for America. They rented a single apartment near Hollywood and Vine, and for the next five years they hit the iconic Venice boardwalk every weekend. Armed only with a boom-box and an empty coffee can for contributions from the passerby, she sang for her dinner. Persistence and patience finally landed her a leading role at The Santa Monica Coast Playhouse in Alan & Marilyn Bergman's musical revue How Do You Keep the Music Playing ? In a prodigious feat, young Valeria performed to packed bases at the USO. This era culminated with Valeria signing with Motown Records as a member of a girl group at the age of 14.   Her teen years were marred with struggle as she ran away from home and her father was deported. Valeria became a ward of the court, and rented rooms in homes until she was 18. Gaining work when she could, she co-wrote and recorded songs for New Line Cinema's Poison Ivy 2 (1996). She even travelled to Kyoto, Japan, singing six nights a week at four shows a night, in order to raise the money to produce a demo package back home in Los Angeles. Her plan was to market the final demo to various record companies in the hopes of a contract. The resulting six minute EPK made the rounds of the major labels and following several months of negotiation, Interscope Records mogul Jimmy Iovine and Warner Chappell Publishing selected her work and Valeria's recording career was off and running. Valeria's first album, Freshly Squeezed, was released in 2009.  Freshly Squeezed is available for download on AmazonMP3, at iTunes, and other major digital online retailers. The energetic pop record features the work of famed producers Dave Aude, Space Cowboy, and Madd Scientist.  None other than Lady Gaga herself is included as a superstar collaborator. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.