Wikia

	Amber Riley
Gender:	Female
Age:	27
Born:	February 15, 1986
Character:	Mercedes Jones
Occupation:	Actress, singer
Years Active:	2002-present

Amber Patrice Riley (born February 15, 1986), is an American actress and singer best known for her role on the FOX TV series, Glee, as Mercedes Jones.

Biography

Early life and career

Amber Riley was born in 1986, on February 15. At the age of seventeen, Riley auditioned for American Idol but was turned down by the producers.

In 2006, Riley auditioned for the part of Effie White in Dreamgirls, yet was refused because of her age. Riley appeared at the 2010 MTV VMAs on September 12, 2010.

Amber graduated from La Mirada High School in 2004. Riley currently plays the role of Mercedes Jones on the hit 'dramedy' Glee.She has sung numerous solos, including Bust Your Windows, Hate on Me, And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going, Beautiful, Bridge over Troubled Water, I Look to You and Hell to the No. Her character gets through her school days with her 'diva-style' and stylish clothes. In 2011, Riley received an NAACP Image Award nomination for her portrayal of Mercedes on Glee. She has won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her acting on Glee along with the show's ensemble, and has also been nominated for a Teen Choice Award for her acting on the show. Amber's mother, Tiny, was a member of the choir with whom Mercedes dances in the song Like a Prayer during the 15th episode of the first season. She has guest-starred, along with co-stars, Lea Michele and Cory Monteith, on the Simpsons in one episode.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role
2002	St. Sass	Toby
2009	Entertainment Tonight	Herself
2009	The Teen Choice Awards 2009	Herself
2009	The Bonnie Hunt Show	Herself
2009–Present	Glee	Mercedes Jones
2010	The Simpsons	Aeisha

Discography

Singles

Year	Single	Peak positions			Album
Year	Single	Billboard Hot 100\|US	ARIA Charts\|AUS	Canadian Hot 100\|CAN	Album
2009	"Bust Your Windows"	–	–	–	Glee: The Music, Volume 1
	"Hate on Me"	–	–	–	Glee: The Music, Volume 1
	"Don't Make Me Over"	–	–	–	Glee: The Music, Volume 2
	"And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"	94	–	–	Glee: The Music, Volume 2
	"—" denotes did not chart, or was not released.

Featured singles

Year	Single	Peak positions			Album
Year	Single	Billboard Hot 100\|US	ARIA Charts\|AUS	Canadian Hot 100\|CAN	Album
2009
	"Don't Stop Believin'"	4	5	50	Glee: The Music, Volume 1
	"Gold Digger"	–	59	–
	"Push It"	–	60	–
	"Somebody to Love"	28	65	33
	"Halo/Walking on Sunshine"	40	10	28
	"Keep Holding On"	56	56	58
	"Proud Mary"	–	–	–	Glee: The Music, Volume 2
	"Lean on Me"	50	–	–
	"Imagine"	67	–	49
	"Hair/Crazy in Love"	–	–	–
	"Jump"	104	–	–
	"Smile (Charlie Chaplin)"	102	–	–
	"You Can't Always Get What You Want"	–	–	–
	"My Life Would Suck Without You"	51	–
	"Last Christmas"	63	–	–	Last Christmas - Single
"—" denotes did not chart, or was not released.

Trivia

Auditioned for American Idol when she was 18, but she was rejected.
She's best known for being the "prankster" in the Glee Cast.
She's obsessed with shoes.
She loves fish and had one for 3 years.
She loves pizza.
Had never been to New York until Glee sent her.
She gets nervous before singing.
Amber Riley at the 2012 Golden Globes
Added by DiannaAgron xo
She loves Atari.
When she heard about the Glee audition, she thought it was just a singing role.
Amber has a tattoo of the "not of this world" (A Christian clothing company) logo on her wrist.
She claims that her “life was made complete” when she performed for President Obama in 2010.
She appeared on Barney & Friends as a child.
She is obsessed with guys who have braces.
One of her favorite things is Oprah.
Her full name is Amber Patrice Riley.
Her twitter name was originally MsAmberRiley, however, after her account was hacked, she deleted her account. She returned as MsAmberPRiley.
Auditioned for Glee with And I'm Telling You, which song she also sung in Sectionals.
Nip/Tuck creator Ryan Murphy cast her in his failed pilot St. Sass; he later cast her in his 2009 FOX musical series Glee.
She's at least 5"3.
She used to work at the Ikea in Carson, California. They also had singing competitions for the employees and she always won.
She's a light lyric soprano, with her range being F3-C6.
Voiced a character similar to herself on The Simpsons.
Auditioned in 2006 for the movie Dreamgirls, but was turned down because of her age.
Chord Overstreet thinks of her as the best singer he has ever heard.
Chord Overstreet has a nickname for her. (Ms. Pretty)
Before the panel presentation on Tuesday May 1st, she fainted on the red carpet.
Like Naya Rivera, she is also working on a solo album that will be released in the late Summer of 2012. Music producer Adam Anders who produces glee's music will also be producing hers.
She wanted Aylin to win The Glee Project.
Appeared on American Idol winner, Fantasia's new album, Side Effects of You.