Holly Valance

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Not to be confused with Holly Palance.
Holly Valance

Valance at the premiere for Speed Racer in 2008
Background information
Birth name Holly Rachel Vukadinović
Born 11 May 1983 (1983-05-11) (age 28)
Origin Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Genres Pop, dance, R&B
Occupations Singer, actress, model
Years active 1999–present
Labels London
Website hollyvalance.com

Holly Valance (born Holly Rachel Vukadinović on 11 May 1983) is an English-Australian[1] actress, singer, and model. Valance began her career as Felicity "Flick" Scully on the Australian soap opera Neighbours. In 2002 she released her first album, Footprints, which included the international number-one hit single "Kiss Kiss".

Contents

[edit] Film and television career

As a teenager, in 1999 she was cast in the long-running Australian soap Neighbours as Felicity "Flick" Scully. Valance left the series in 2002 to pursue a music career.[2]

In 2004 Valance returned to acting, this time in the United States, appearing in episodes of the television series CSI: Miami and Entourage. In 2005 she appeared in an episode of CSI: NY. She guest-starred in Prison Break in 2006 as Nika Volek, a role which she continued to portray in the show's second season.

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. In 2007 she appeared in the TV series Shark and Moonlight. In 2008 she had a role in the film Taken alongside Liam Neeson and Famke Janssen, and appeared in an episode of the The CW series Valentine. In 2009 Valance played Brenda Snow for the video game Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising. She is also set to appear as Angela in the movie Red Herring[3] and as Sally in the upcoming thriller titled Luster.[citation needed]

She appeared in the Miss Marple television episode called "The Pale Horse".

[edit] Strictly Come Dancing

Main article: Strictly Come Dancing (series 9)

On 6 September 2011 it was announced that Valance would take part in the 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing.[4] Valance was paired with Series 8 professional winner Artem Chigvintsev.[5] Valance was eliminated in the 11th week of the competition, giving her a fourth place finish.

Week # Dance/Song Judges' score Result
Horwood Goodman Dixon Tonioli Total
1 Cha-Cha-Cha/"Who's That Chick?" 6 7 8 7 28 No Elimination
2 Salsa/"Mas Que Nada" 7 7 8 8 30 Safe
3 Tango/"Cell Block Tango" 7 8 7 8 30 Safe
4 Viennese Waltz/"Cry Me Out" 7 7 8 8 30 Safe
5 American Smooth/"Swan Lake" 8 9 9 9 35 Safe
6 Jive/"Runaway Baby" 8 9* 8 9 34 Safe
7** Rumba/"Leave Right Now" 8 8 9 9 34 Safe
8 Quickstep/"Valerie" 7 8 8 8 31 Bottom Two
9 Foxtrot/"Mamma Knows Best" 8 8 9 9 34 Bottom Two
Swing Marathon/"Chattanooga Choo Choo" Awarded 3 Judges Points 37
10 Paso Doble/"Plaza of Execution" 9 9 10 10 38 Safe
11 Argentine Tango/"Por una Cabeza" 9 9 9 9 36 Eliminated
Charleston/"We No Speak Americano" 8 8 9 9 34
  • In week 6 Jennifer Grey guest judged for Goodman.
  • During rehearsals in week 6, Chigvintsev injured himself. Valance danced with Brendan Cole for her week 7 performance. Chigvintsev returned to dance with Valance in week 8.

[edit] Music career

Valance at an airport filming an advert for 1800 Reverse

Valance's first single as a recording artist was a cover of the Turkish singer Tarkan's "Kiss Kiss" (composed by the Turkish "diva" Sezen Aksu), released in 2002. The song entered both the Australian Recording Industry Association and UK Singles Charts charts at No. 1 in April/May 2002. The director's cut version of the music video was notable in that Valance appeared to be dancing naked. She revealed that she was topless but also wearing flesh-coloured underwear. The footage was digitally retouched adding strategically placed lighting effects. The song was nominated for four ARIA Music Awards.[6]

Valance's next single, "Down Boy" peaked at #2 in the UK and at #3 in Australia. Her first album, Footprints, was released on 14 October 2002. It peaked in its first week 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 No. 16 in the UK. In 2003, the first single "State of Mind" from Valance's second album State of Mind peaked in its first week #8 in the UK and at #14 in Australia, but the album did not reach the top 50 in either country.

Valance has also featured in other music videos, first in 2000 when she appeared in Human Nature's music video "He Don't Love You", and again in 2009 with the British electro-pop newcomer Frankmusik in the video for his single "Confusion Girl".

[edit] Legal troubles

In 2003 Valance fired her then-manager Scott Michaelson (who owns Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd) by telephone, 15 months before his contract was due to expire. Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd sued Valance Corp., won the case and was awarded damages by the Supreme Court of New South Wales.[7][8]

During the trial Valance's mother claimed that Michaelson was negligent in his duties as a manager, which forced her to take over from him.[9] The 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."[10] In court, Valance denied that she had said this to Valentine, even though she had signed an affidavit stating she had no recollection of the conversation.[11][12]

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".[7] 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",[13] though the court did not award in favour of Biscayne getting a percentage of sales of her album, State of Mind.[7][14]

Following the legal problems and poor sales from the album State of Mind, Valance was reportedly dropped from her recording company. She denied this stating, "I asked to be released, but Warner refused, so I hung out for a year until the contract expired. We parted on good terms."[15] Valance later confirmed 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."[16]

However, in 2005 Valance returned to music, albeit briefly, when she appeared on Har Mar Superstar's album The Handler singing on the tracks "Back the Camel Up" and "Body Request".[17]

[edit] Endorsements

Valance appeared in adverts for the reverse charges service 1800 Reverse

In addition to film and television roles, Valance has also appeared in ads for Schwarzkopf hair care products and 1800 Reverse.[18]

In 2011 Valance appeared in an advert for Foster's Gold bottled beer.[19]

[edit] Personal life

Valance was born to an English mother from Southampton and an ethnic Serb father originally from Montenegro.[20] She has two sisters, Coco and Olympia, and all three have dual Australian-British citizenship.[1][21] Valance grew up in Melbourne and moved to the UK when she was 18. After two years in the UK, she spent seven years in Los Angeles.[1] Returning to the UK in 2009, she is presently resident in London with property developer Nick Candy. The couple announced their engagement on 22 December 2011 while vacationing in the Maldives for Christmas break.[22]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

Year Title Chart positions[23][24] Sales and certifications
AUS IRL JPN UK
2002 Footprints
  • First studio album
  • Released: 14 October 2002
 15 39 19 9
2003 State of Mind
  • Second studio album
  • Released: 6 November 2003
 57 — 12 60

[edit] Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions[26] Certifications Album
AUS AUT BEL DK FIN FR GER IRL ITA NL NZ SWE SWI UK
2002 "Kiss Kiss" 1 11 28 20 11 50 14 2 3 23 17 12 19 1
  • AUS: Platinum
  • UK: Silver[27]
 Footprints
"Down Boy" 3 — 34 — — — 61 8 11 36 37 — 70 2
  • AUS: Gold
"Naughty Girl" 3 56 47 — — — 52 25 27 39 — 50 — 16
  • AUS: Gold
2003 "State of Mind" 14 — — — 16 — — 27 41 — — — — 8 State of Mind

[edit] Awards and nominations

Year Award Result Category Work
2000 Logie Award Nominated Most Popular New Talent – Female Neighbours
2002 ARIA Award Highest Selling Single "Kiss Kiss"
Best Female Artist "Kiss Kiss"
Breakthrough Artist – Single "Kiss Kiss"
Best Pop Release "Kiss Kiss"
2003 Disney Channel Kids Awards Won Breakthrough Artist
-
Best Single "Kiss Kiss"

[edit] Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1999–2002 Neighbours Felicity "Flick" Scully 250 episodes
2004 CSI: Miami Kay Coleman Episode: "Addiction"
2005 Entourage Leanna Episode: "My Maserati Does 185"
CSI: NY Lydia Episode: "Youngblood"
2005–2006 Prison Break Nika Volek 5 episodes
2006 DOA: Dead or Alive Christie Allen
National Lampoon's Pledge This! Jessica
2007 Moonlight Lola Episode: "B.C."
Shark Christina Shaw Episode: "Every Breath You Take"
2008 Taken Sheerah (Diva)
Valentine Vivi Langdon Episode: "Act Naturally"
2009 Kambakkht Ishq Herself (Cameo)
2010 Luster Sally
Agatha Christie's Marple: The Pale Horse Kanga Cottam Television movie
Red Herring Angela
Surviving Georgia Rose
Big Mamma's Boy Katie
2011 Strictly Come Dancing Herself/Contestant

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Five Minutes With: Holly Valance
  2. ^ Thompson, Jonathan (2002-09-0-29). "Q The interview: Holly Valance". The Independent on Sunday. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20020929/ai_n12667176?tag=content;col1. Retrieved 28 October 2008. [dead link]
  3. ^ Red Herring
  4. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing signs up Lulu and Edwina Currie". BBC News (British Broadcasting Corporation). 6 September 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-14809342. Retrieved 6 September 2011. 
  5. ^ "Holly Vallance". Strictly Come Dancing. British Broadcasting Corporation. 10 September 2011. http://www.bbc.co.uk/strictlycomedancing/2011/dancers/celebrity/holly_valance.shtml. Retrieved 12 September 2011. 
  6. ^ Kazmierczak, Anita (15 October 2002). "Kylie sweeps Aussie music awards". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2331249.stm. Retrieved 28 October 2008. 
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd v Valance Corp Pty Ltd & Ors (2003) NSWSC 874. NSW Supreme Court, 3 October 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  9. ^ Manager 'helped me become a star': Valance. The Age, 18 September 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  10. ^ Not such good neighbours any more. The Age, 15 September 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  11. ^ Naked truth comes out in Holly's evidence. The Age, 20 September 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  12. ^ HollyWorld faces the real music. The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 October 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  13. ^ Holly takes a hit. The Age, 7 November 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  14. ^ Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd v Valance Corp Pty Ltd & Ors (2003) NSWSC 1016. NSW Supreme Court, 6 November 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  15. ^ "Sexy bra trick clicks with fans". newpaper.asia1.com.sg. 24 October 2006. http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/printfriendly/0,4139,116116,00.html. Retrieved 28 October 2008. 
  16. ^ Holly Valance bares her soul
  17. ^ Treuen, Jason (22 July 2005). "Look Mar, no pants". Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/music/look-mar-no-pants/2005/07/21/1121539075875.html. Retrieved 28 October 2008. 
  18. ^ "Soap Babes: Where are They Now?". orange.co.uk. http://www.orange.co.uk/entertainment/television/pics/2875_2.htm?linkfrom=%3C!--linkfromvariable--%3E&link=link_next&article=soapbabeswherearetheynow. Retrieved 28 October 2008. 
  19. ^ http://www.youtube.com/user/fosters?v=XwP1JSmVDSA&feature=pyv&ad=13685131530&kw=fosters%20gold
  20. ^ "Almost famous". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 July 2011. http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/almost-famous-20110716-1hik9.html. Retrieved 17 July 2011. 
  21. ^ "On the Move: Holly Valance". London: timesonline.co.uk. 5 October 2008. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/features/article4873468.ece. Retrieved 17 July 2011. 
  22. ^ The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 December 2011. http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity/holly-valance-engaged-to-multimillionaire-20111223-1p7qp.html. 
  23. ^ a b "Holly Valance – Australian chart peaks". Australian-charts. Retrieved 30 June 2007.
  24. ^ "Holly Valance – Japan chart peaks". Oricon. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  25. ^ "BPI Certification". BPI. Retrieved 30 June 2007.
  26. ^ swedishcharts.com – Holly Valance – Kiss Kiss
  27. ^ http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Holly Valance
Holly Valance
Studio albums
Footprints (2002) • State of Mind (2003)
Singles
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