Holly Rachel Vukadinović (Serbian Cyrillic : Вукадиновић, born 11 May, 1983), who is better known by her stage name of Holly Valance, is an Australian actress and ARIA nominated singer.
Early life
Holly was born on the 11th of May 1983 in Melbourne, Australia to Mother Rachel and Father Ryko Valance. Her Mother is English and her Father’s family hail from Montenegro. She is related to the late British comedian Benny Hill — Hill's cousin was her grandfather (cousins twice removed). Valance was educated at the Star of the Sea College, a Roman Catholic high school in Melbourne.
She began a modelling career at age 12 when she discovered she was too young legally to get a job at McDonalds where all her friends worked, and always very ambitious, had to find some other way of earning money. Never really passionate about modelling but successful, she continued until the age of 15 when an opportunity arose to audition for her childhood favourite TV series “Neighbours”. Valance was given the role of bolshie ‘Felicity Scully’ and would remain a show favourite for 3 years. Whilst still shooting the series Holly’s other passion, music, was being pursued. She was signed by London records and commenced work on her first record soon after.
[1]
Music career
Valance's first single as a recording artist was a cover of Turkish singer Tarkan's "Kiss Kiss", released in 2002. The song debuted at #1 in both the Australian Recording Industry Association and UK Singles Charts charts in April/May 2002. The director's cut version of the music video was notable in that Valance appeared to be dancing naked, but in fact she was wearing flesh-colored panties but no top. The footage was then digitally retouched adding strategically placed lighting effects. The song was nominated for 4 ARIA Music Awards.
Her next single, "Down Boy" peaked at #2 in the UK and at #3 in Australia. Her début album, Footprints, was released on October 14, 2002. It debuted and peaked at #9 in the UK and #15 in Australia. The album's third and final single "Naughty Girl" peaked at #3 in Australia and at #16 in the UK. In 2003, the first single "State of Mind" from Valance's second album of the same name debuted and peaked at #8 in the UK and at #14 in Australia, but the album didn't get into the top 50 of either country.
"Desire" was, according to the sticker on the album cover, to be the second official single from the album and she even made a few performances for the promotion, but it was cancelled due to poor album sales. Following legal problems with her manager/boyfriend, and poor sales from the album State of Mind, Valance was dropped from her recording company. Though her official website originally reported Valance would release new material via another label, this never materialized, with Valance recently confirming she is no longer interested in recording music, telling Men's Style magazine:
"No one can make any money. It was a really tough slog and I had a good go at it, but it was difficult. You put in so much effort and put in so many long hours for not much return. I was making all my money from endorsements and appearances, but I didn't make that much from the actual record sales. I think everyone is suffering in the music industry. It wasn't just me. I do something until it's not fun any more and then move on. Music wasn't fun any more."[2]
She signed a £3 million deal with the hair products company Schwarzkopf Live to front the new line aimed at an early teen to early 20s market. Valance was seen modelling Cosmic Blue, Sahara True Blonde, Hypnotic Red as well as XXL dresses and XXL hats (each colour has a strapline which referenced other popular culture artists). The adverts could be seen across the United Kingdom at bus stops, shopping malls, on buses and in magazines.
During this time, Valance appeared on Har Mar Superstar's album The Handler singing on tracks "Body Request" and "Back the Camel Up".
Film and television career
From 1999 to 2002, Valance played the role of Felicity "Flick" Scully on Australian soap Neighbours. During the same period, Valance played as a raising star in many TV commercials for 1800 Reverse. In 2004, Valance returned to acting, this time in the United States, appearing in episodes of the television series CSI: Miami, Entourage. In 2005, she appeared in an episode of CSI: NY. She then guest-starred in Prison Break, in 2006, as Nika Volek, a role which she continued to portray in the show's second season. In 2007, she appeared in the TV series Shark and Moonlight.[3]
In 2006, Valance appeared in the National Lampoon comedy Pledge This!, alongside American socialite Paris Hilton. The same year, she was in DOA: Dead or Alive, an adaptation of the popular video game Dead or Alive, where she played Christie.[3]
In 2008, she had a role in the film Taken alongside Liam Neeson and Famke Janssen.[4] She is currently in talks to appear in the thriller Vauxhall Crossed.[5] According to her MySpace page she will star in a new series called Valentine, which will air October. It also states a cameo appearance in the Bollwood film "Kambakkht Ishq" starring Kareena Kapoor & Ashkay Kumar. The film is said to feature many other high profile celebrities which include Sylvester Stalone, Denise Richards and Beyonce to name a few.[1]
Legal action
In 2003, Valance fired her then-manager Scott Michaelson (who owns Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd) by fax, 15 months before her contract was due to expire. Biscayne Partners Pty. Ltd. sued Valance Corp., won their case and were awarded damages by the Supreme Court of New South Wales.[6][7]
During the trial, Valance's mother claimed that Michaelson was negligent in his duties as a manager, which forced her to take over from his role as manager.[8] Former Neighbours co-star Kym Valentine also gave evidence that Valance "said she was feeling bad, a bit stressed out, because she was leaving Scott" and that "she said the solicitors for her record company would get her out of the contract and would be faxing him the paper work (from the UK) to do so."[9] Valance denied that she told Valentine this conversation in court, even though she had signed an affidavit where she stated she had no recollection of the conversation.[10][11]
Justice Clifford Einstein said, "I have given close consideration to the question of whether or not the circumstances presently before the Court which do, it seems to me, show a calculated disregard of the rights of Biscayne as well as a cynical pursuit of benefit".[6] The court subsequently ordered Valance Corp. pay $350,000 to Biscayne Partners Pty. Ltd. Of this amount, $47,264.56 was "from shares Ms Valance and Mr Michaelson had bought together on the London Stock Exchange",[12] though the court did not award in favour of Biscayne getting a percentage of sales of her album, State of Mind.[6][13]
Personal life
Valance currently resides in Los Angeles, California and is dating fellow Aussie actor Alex O'Loughlin. Valance's previous long term partner[14] Peter Ververis was arrested for operating a secret amphetamine laboratory in September 2006 [15], several months after breaking up with the starlet. Valance has recently become involved in charitable work with Mental Disability Rights International[16].
When not shooting film & TV Holly enjoys going to boxing/kick-boxing bouts. Hiking in the LA canyons. Yoga is also becoming an important part of her life. A huge fan of dance having trained in jazz ballet from the age of 7 Holly loves the nightlife in Los Angeles and dreams of one day owning her own club. A massive fan of Electro, Valance wants to create one of the hottest dance clubs in town, the music style a rarity there. A bit of a tomboy at heart Holly is also car crazy, loves card games and shooting galleries (almost non-existent in Australia). Until Holly’s satisfied she’s had her last fight, she’ll continue to tough out a career in fickle Hollywood.[17]
Discography
Albums
Singles
Awards and recognition
Selected Filmography
Television appearances
References
- ^ Hollyvalance.com
- ^ Holly Valance bares her soul
- ^ a b Holly Valance at the Internet Movie Database
- ^ Taken at IMDb.com
- ^ Vauxhall Crossed at IMDb.com
- ^ a b c Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd v Valance Corp Pty Ltd & Ors (2003) NSWSC 874. NSW Supreme Court, 3 October 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
- ^ Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd v Valance Corp Pty Ltd & Ors (2003) NSWSC 874. NSW Supreme Court, 3 October 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
- ^ Manager 'helped me become a star': Valance. The Age, 18 September 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
- ^ Not such good neighbours any more. The Age, 15 September 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
- ^ Naked truth comes out in Holly's evidence. The Age, 20 September 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
- ^ HollyWorld faces the real music. The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 October 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
- ^ Holly takes a hit. The Age, 7 November 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
- ^ Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd v Valance Corp Pty Ltd & Ors (2003) NSWSC 1016. NSW Supreme Court, 6 November 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
- ^ HOLLY'S A BARRED GIRL. The Sunday Mail, 22 January 2006 . Retrieved on 6 October 2008.
- ^ Holly Valance's ex Peter Ververis 'ran secret drug lab'. News Limited, 30 October 2007. Retrieved on 6 October 2008.
- ^ mdri :: mental disability rights international :: Disability Rights Are Human Rights
- ^ hollyvalance.com
- ^ a b "Holly Valance - Australian chart peaks". Australian-charts. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
- ^ "Holly Valance - Japan chart peaks". Oricon. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
- ^ "BPI Certification". BPI. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
- ^ swedishcharts.com - Holly Valance - Kiss Kiss
External links
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Holly Valance |
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| Persondata |
| NAME |
Valance, Holly |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES |
Vukadinović, Holly Rachel |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION |
Singer, Actress, Model |
| DATE OF BIRTH |
May 11, 1983 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH |
Melbourne, Australia |
| DATE OF DEATH |
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| PLACE OF DEATH |
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