Biography
Holly Valance, an Australian singer, opted to issue her debut single "Kiss Kiss" in the United Kingdom ahead of its domestic release, anticipating a stronger reception in the larger territory. Prior recognition across Great Britain had already come through her work on the teen-focused soap opera Neighbours, the same series that had boosted the global profiles of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan ten years earlier.
Originally born Holly Vukadinovic to a family of Serbian heritage, she arrived in Australia on May 11, 1983. At age four, Minogue and Donovan—who maintained a romantic relationship both onscreen and off—shopped regularly at her father's clothing store in Melbourne. Valance began dancing and staging performances for relatives at home, then entered modeling at fourteen. She landed a role on Neighbours by sixteen and quickly became one of the program's most popular new characters from 1999 to 2002.
Mirroring the route Minogue had taken nearly fifteen years before, Valance moved directly into dance-pop. London released her first album, Footprints, in 2002, which carried production input from Nellee Hooper, Anders Kallmark, and Phil Thornalley. Lead single "Kiss Kiss" reached number one in both the U.K. and Australia, while follow-ups "Down Boy" and "Naughty Girl" entered the Australian Top Five. The album itself reached the Top 20 and received gold certifications in each country.
State of Mind, the follow-up, surfaced the next year. Valance collaborated with producers Steve Anderson, previously associated with Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, and Westlife, and Drew Peters, known for work with Kid Rock and Girls Aloud. The title track became a Top Ten hit in the U.K. and reached the Top 20 in Australia. She then returned to acting, appearing on American television in CSI: Miami, Entourage, and CSI: NY, on film in Pledge This! and Taken, and in a recurring role during the first two seasons of Prison Break. In 2011 she also competed as a contestant on Strictly Coming Down.
Originally born Holly Vukadinovic to a family of Serbian heritage, she arrived in Australia on May 11, 1983. At age four, Minogue and Donovan—who maintained a romantic relationship both onscreen and off—shopped regularly at her father's clothing store in Melbourne. Valance began dancing and staging performances for relatives at home, then entered modeling at fourteen. She landed a role on Neighbours by sixteen and quickly became one of the program's most popular new characters from 1999 to 2002.
Mirroring the route Minogue had taken nearly fifteen years before, Valance moved directly into dance-pop. London released her first album, Footprints, in 2002, which carried production input from Nellee Hooper, Anders Kallmark, and Phil Thornalley. Lead single "Kiss Kiss" reached number one in both the U.K. and Australia, while follow-ups "Down Boy" and "Naughty Girl" entered the Australian Top Five. The album itself reached the Top 20 and received gold certifications in each country.
State of Mind, the follow-up, surfaced the next year. Valance collaborated with producers Steve Anderson, previously associated with Kylie Minogue, Britney Spears, and Westlife, and Drew Peters, known for work with Kid Rock and Girls Aloud. The title track became a Top Ten hit in the U.K. and reached the Top 20 in Australia. She then returned to acting, appearing on American television in CSI: Miami, Entourage, and CSI: NY, on film in Pledge This! and Taken, and in a recurring role during the first two seasons of Prison Break. In 2011 she also competed as a contestant on Strictly Coming Down.
Albums
Singles
