Holly Valance Biography

Holly Valance
extracted from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia, distributed under the GNU Free Documentation License

Holly Valance
Birth name Holly Rachel Vukadinović
Born May 11, 1983 (1983-05-11) (age 25)
Origin Australia
Genre(s) Pop
Dance
Urban Pop
Occupation(s) Singer
Actress
Model
Years active 2002-2004 (recording artist)
1999-present (actress)
Label(s) London Records (2002-2003)
Website HollyValance.com

Holly Rachel Vukadinović (Serbian Cyrillic: Холи Рејчел Вукадиновић, born 11 May, 1983), who is better known by her stage name of Holly Valance, is an Australian actress and ARIA nominated singer.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Valance was born in Melbourne, to a Serbian father Rajko and a British mother, Rachel. 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.1While modeling as a teen, she was discovered and cast in the long-running Australian soap Neighbours. Cast as Felicity "Flick" Scully in 1999, Valance left the series in 2002 to pursue a music career.2

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 four ARIA Music Awards.3

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.

Following legal problems with her manager/boyfriend, 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".4Valance 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."5

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".6

Film and television career

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 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 addition to film and television roles, Valance has also appeared in ads for Schwarzkopf hair care products and 1800 Reverse.7

Legal action

In 2003, Valance fired her then-manager Scott Michaelson (who owns Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd) by fax, 15 months before his 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.89

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.10 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."11 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.1213

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".8 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",14 though the court did not award in favour of Biscayne getting a percentage of sales of her album, State of Mind.815

Personal life

Valance, who lives in Los Angeles, is dating Australian actor Alex O'Loughlin.16

Discography

Albums

Year Title Chart positions1718 Sales and certifications
AUS JPN UK
2002 Footprints
  • First studio album
  • Released: October 14, 2002
 15 19 9
  • ARIA certification: gold (35,000+).17
  • BPI certification: gold (100,000+).19
2003 State of Mind
  • Second studio album
  • Released: November 6, 2003
 57 12 60

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions20 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 Platinum (ARIA)
 Footprints
"Down Boy" 3 — 34 — — — 61 8 11 36 37 — 70 2 Gold (ARIA)
"Naughty Girl" 3 56 47 — — — 52 — — 39 — 50 — 16 Gold (ARIA)
2003 "State of Mind" 14 — — — 16 — — 27 41; — — — — 8 State of Mind

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"

Filmography

Film
Year Film Role Notes
2006 DOA: Dead or Alive Christie Allen
National Lampoon's Pledge This! Jessica
2008 Taken Sheerah (Diva)
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1999-2002 Neighbours Felicity Scully Regular cast member
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
2007 Moonlight Lola Episode: "B.C.
Shark Christina Shaw "Every Breath You Take"
2008 Valentine Vivi Langdon Episode: "Act Naturally"

References

  1. ^ "On the Move: Holly Valance". timesonline.co.uk (2008-10-05). Retrieved on 2008-10-28.
  2. ^ Thompson, Jonathan (2002-09-0-29). "Q The interview: Holly Valance", The Independent on Sunday. Retrieved on 28 October 2008. 
  3. ^ Kazmierczak, Anita (2002-10-15). "Kylie sweeps Aussie music awards". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-10-28.
  4. ^ "Sexy bra trick clicks with fans". newpaper.asia1.com.sg (2006-10-24). Retrieved on 2008-10-28.
  5. ^ Holly Valance bares her soul
  6. ^ Treuen, Jason (2005-07-22). "Look Mar, no pants". smh.com.au. Retrieved on 2008-10-28.
  7. ^ "Soap Babes: Where are They Now?". orange.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-10-28.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd v Valance Corp Pty Ltd & Ors (2003) NSWSC 874. NSW Supreme Court, 3 October 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  10. ^ Manager 'helped me become a star': Valance. The Age, 18 September 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  11. ^ Not such good neighbours any more. The Age, 15 September 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  12. ^ Naked truth comes out in Holly's evidence. The Age, 20 September 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  13. ^ HollyWorld faces the real music. The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 October 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  14. ^ Holly takes a hit. The Age, 7 November 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  15. ^ Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd v Valance Corp Pty Ltd & Ors (2003) NSWSC 1016. NSW Supreme Court, 6 November 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  16. ^ "Holly Valance is in the big leagues". news.com.au (2008-03-13). Retrieved on 2008-10-28.
  17. ^ a b "Holly Valance - Australian chart peaks". Australian-charts. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
  18. ^ "Holly Valance - Japan chart peaks". Oricon. Retrieved February 17, 2008.
  19. ^ "BPI Certification". BPI. Retrieved June 30, 2007.
  20. ^ swedishcharts.com - Holly Valance - Kiss Kiss

External links

v • d • e
Holly Valance
Studio albums
Footprints (2002) • State of Mind (2003)
Singles
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
PLACE OF DEATH