- Amber Riley was in Glee as "Mercedes"
- She is a fantastic singer
- Learn more about her life after Glee
Amber Riley started singing and dancing at an early age. When she was 17-years-old she tried out for the second season of American Idol but was turned down in early rounds. She eventually got her big break in 2008 when she was cast for the role of "Mercedes" on Glee.
Amber Riley's Time on Glee
Amber starred in all six seasons of Glee for a total of 93 episodes. She is known for her solos on the show such as "Respect", "Bridge Over Troubled Water", and Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You". She even won a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2010 for her role of "Mercedes".
During her time on Glee she also participated and won season 17 of Dancing with the Stars in 2013. Her partner on the show was Derek Hough and the duo received a perfect score of 30, not just once but 5 times on the show!
Amber Riley Today
After Glee ended in 2015, Amber went on to star in the Broadway production of Dreamgirls in 2016 in the leading role of "Effie White". In 2017 she formed a musical theater singing group called "Leading Ladies" and they have an album titled Songs from the Stage.
Most recently, the 36-year-old has played the role of "Audrey II" in Little Shop of Horrors at the Pasadena Playhouse and starred in The Little Mermaid Live!
More recently, Riley made an appearance in the crime movie Infamous in 2020.
Also Interesting:
Fun Facts About Amber Riley
- She has two older sisters, Toyia and Ashley
- Riley and her sister Ashley opened their own plus-sized online clothing boutique in 2014
- She sang the National Anthem at the 2012 Democratic National Convention