Amber Valletta

Early life

Amber Evangeline Valletta was born in Tucson, Arizona and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her mother, Theresa Malaby, worked at the post office. Her ancestry includes Portuguese (through her grandmother), English, Italian, and Cherokee. Valletta is a Cherokee Nation citizen. Her half-brother is actor and producer Robert Parks-Valletta.

Career

Modeling

Valletta got her start in the fashion industry when her mother enrolled her in modeling school at the age of 15 at the Linda Layman Agency. Valletta, along with the likes of Kate Moss, Eva Herzigová, Tyra Banks, Carolyn Murphy and Shalom Harlow, was one of the most recognizable faces of the generation immediately subsequent to the original supermodels. During the 1990s she appeared 13 times on the cover of American Vogue, second only to Claudia Schiffer's sixteen. Valletta was presented on the November 1999 Millennium cover of American Vogue as one of the "Modern Muses."

She has appeared on the cover of several international fashion magazines, such as Germany's Cosmopolitan and Glamour; Spain's Elle, Telva and Harper's Bazaar; UK's Esquire and Love and US' V, Porter, Interview, Ocean Drive, Shape, Allure, Marie Claire and i-D. Valletta has walked in fashion shows for Versace, Lanvin, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Gucci, Valentino, Prada, Michael Kors, Alberta Ferretti, Claude Montana, Dolce & Gabbana, Pierre Balmain, Sonia Rykiel, Versus, Yohji Yamamoto, Anna Molinari, Calvin Klein, Christian Dior and Tom Ford. She was the face of NARS Cosmetics' Spring 2010 Collection.

Valletta also continued to work with photographer Steven Meisel. Not only was she selected by Steven Meisel for the 2014 50th Anniversary Cover of Italian Vogue but one of her prior Italian Vogue editorials with super model Tracy James and photographed by Meisel was selected as one of Italian Vogues most Iconic photos.

Valletta continues to work as a fashion model, closing the Versace Autumn/Winter 2017 fashion show. She was also model for Marks and Spencer. In 2018, Valletta appeared in advertisements for Mango, Blumarine, Escada, Chanel Watches, Prada and David Yurman. In 2019, she appeared on the cover of Vogue Korea and U.S. Elle, advertising campaigns for Stella McCartney and Holt Renfrew, and editorials for Italian, American and Arabian Vogue.

Acting

Valletta's first role was in the comedy film Drop Back Ten (2000). Later that year, she played a supporting role in the thriller film What Lies Beneath, starring Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer and directed by Robert Zemeckis. She appeared alongside Nicolas Cage in The Family Man. In 2003, she played Celine in Danny DeVito's Duplex, starring Ben Stiller and Drew Barrymore, and in 2004, she played Martina in Raising Helen, opposite Kate Hudson, Hayden Panettiere, Abigail Breslin, and Helen Mirren.

Valletta's first major film role was as Allegra Cole in Andy Tennant's romantic comedy Hitch. The film was released on February 11, 2005, and was a box office and critical success. She also had a role in Transporter 2, playing the mother of the kidnapped child. She played the female lead in the 2006 independent film The Last Time, co-starring alongside Michael Keaton and Brendan Fraser. In 2007, she had supporting roles in the horror film Dead Silence, as Ella Ashen, and as Claire in Premonition, starring Sandra Bullock. Also in 2007, Valletta played the leading role in the independent coming-of-age film My Sexiest Year.

In 2009, Valletta starred alongside Gerard Butler in the science fiction action film Gamer. The film was released in North America on September 4, 2009, to negative reviews from critics. In 2010, she starred in The Spy Next Door, alongside Jackie Chan, George Lopez, and Billy Ray Cyrus; she played Chan's character's love interest, Gillian. In 2011, she appeared in the ensemble comedy film Girl Walks into a Bar.

In 2011, Valletta was cast in the recurring role as the socialite Lydia Davis on the ABC television prime time soap opera Revenge. In 2014, she was a regular cast member in the TNT crime drama series Legends, playing Sean Bean's character's ex-wife. In 2015, Valletta starred in the short-lived ABC prime-time soap opera Blood & Oil. She played Carla Briggs, the glamorous business partner and new wife of oil tycoon Hap Briggs (Don Johnson).

In 2016, Valletta starred in the video for Keith Urban's song "Blue Ain't Your Color," directed by Carter Smith. She also starred in the video for Fergie's song "M.I.L.F. $."

Other projects

Valletta serves as the spokesperson for Oceana's Seafood Contamination Campaign, to raise awareness of the dangers of mercury poisoning in various kinds of seafood. The decision to join Oceana's campaign was prompted by the mercury-poisoning experience of a friend and the fact that she is a mother.

Personal life

Valletta married Hervé Le Bihan in 1994, divorcing in 1996. In 2000, Valletta had a son with Olympic volleyball player Chip McCaw. She married McCaw, in September 2003, and they divorced in early 2015.

Valletta endorsed incumbent Democratic President Barack Obama for re-election in 2012.

In July 2014, Valletta spoke out about her battle with drug and alcohol addiction.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

References

References

1. "Amber Valletta". [[Women Management]].
2. "Amber Valletta - Model".
3. Rose, Mike. (February 9, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for February 9, 2023 includes celebrities Michael B. Jordan, Tom Hiddleston".
4. "Amber Valletta".
5. (February 21, 2005). "Amber's catwalk glow turns to screen stardom".
6. Bryant, Julie. (November 22, 1998). "Models with a cause".
7. "Amber Valletta on Twitter". Twitter.
8. Deeny, Geoffrey. (March 10, 2022). "Amber Valletta launches Karl Lagerfeld capsule, explains goals as brand sustainability ambassador". Fashion Network.
9. Reporter, D. SEAN ROWLEY Senior. (2022-12-27). "Valletta speaks for ocean, ecosystem conservation".
10. Palmer, Tamara. (February 2, 2018). "Does Robert Valletta's Name Sound Familiar? Well, That's Because His Sister Is a Supermodel".
11. "Amber Valletta on Instagram". Instagram.
12. (December 10, 2013). "Amber Valletta: The Original Waif - #TBT With Tim Blanks - Style.com".
13. Lee, Helen. (April 11, 2007). "Vogue's 'World's Next Top Models' cover". SassyBella.com.
14. "Amber Valletta - Fashion Model Models Photos, Editorials & Latest News".
15. (2014-09-01). "50 models cover Vogue Italia's 50th anniversary issue".
16. "Portfolio".
17. "Atelier Versace Spring 2015". style.com.
18. (October 2, 2012). "Amber Valletta: Marks & Spencer's latest top model". Telegraph.
19. (August 11, 2018). "ESCADA SPORT Fall / Winter 2018 with Amber Valletta".
20. (December 25, 2018). "ESCADA New York Fashion Week Debut".
21. (January 9, 2018). "Vogue-Amber is the new face of Escada".
22. (September 4, 2009). "Gamer".
23. (November 26, 2008). "Shauna Sand Gets Estranged Hubby Arrested". [[Gossip Girls]].
24. Lesley Goldberg. (April 6, 2011). "Amber Valletta to Guest Star in ABC Drama Pilot 'Revenge'". The Hollywood Reporter.
25. Nellie Andreeva. (December 14, 2012). "Amber Valletta Cast In TNT Pilot 'Legends' - Deadline". Deadline.
26. Nellie Andreeva. (March 12, 2015). "Amber Valletta Joins ABC Drama Pilot 'Boom'; Duo Added To Comedy 'Dr. Ken' - Deadline". Deadline.
27. (March 13, 2015). "Legends star Amber Valletta joins ABC drama pilot Boom". Digital Spy.
28. "CMT : Videos : Keith Urban : Blue Ain't Your Color". [[Country Music Television]].
29. "Supermodels Star in new Fergie Music Video".
30. "Model "MILFs"! Fergie's New Video Brings Out Fashion's Bad Mama Jamas". Vogue.
31. [http://na.oceana.org/en/about-us/people-partners/celebrity-supporters/amber-valletta Celebrity Supporters: Amber Valletta] {{Webarchive. link. (August 27, 2011 , Actress, Activist, Oceana)
32. Lopez, Molly. (February 16, 2005). "Amber Valletta". [[People (magazine).
33. Bullock, Maggie. (October 28, 2009). "Fashion Spotlight: Amber Valletta". [[Elle (magazine).
34. Suebsaeng, Asawin. "15 Wild Celebrity Campaign Donations From the 2012 Election". [[Mother Jones (magazine).
35. Friedlander, Ruthie. (July 10, 2014). "Amber Valletta Bravely Opens Up About Her Struggle With Addiction". [[Elle (magazine).
36. Revitalize. (July 11, 2014). "How I Live With Addiction Every Day: Amber Valletta". MindBodyGreen.