Holly Valance

Holly Rachel Candy (née Vukadinović; born 11 May 1983), known professionally as Holly Valance, is an Australian actress, singer and model. Valance began her acting career on the Australian soap opera Neighbours, as Felicity Scully (1999–2002, 2005). She released her first album, Footprints (October 2002), which provided her top 3 singles, "Kiss Kiss" (April 2002), "Down Boy" (September) and "Naughty Girl" (December). By that time she had relocated to Los Angeles. Her second and final album, State of Mind, appeared in November 2003. Her film roles include, DOA: Dead or Alive (2006), Pledge This! (2006), Taken (2008) and Kambakkht Ishq (2009). Valance has lived in her mother's native United Kingdom since 2009 and became a contestant on the BBC One dance competition Strictly Come Dancing in 2011. In 2013, she was a mentor and judge of fashion competition, Shopaholic Showdown. In September 2012, Valance married British property developer, Nick Candy; the couple have two children.

Not to be confused with Holly Palance.

Holly Valance
Valance in adverts for the reverse charges service 1800 Reverse
Born
Holly Rachel Vukadinović

(1983-05-11) 11 May 1983
Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia
Other namesHolly Candy (married name)
Occupation
  • Actress
  • singer
  • model
Years active1999–present
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 2012)​
Children2
RelativesOlympia Valance (half-sister)
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentsVocals
LabelsLondon
Websitehollyvalance.com

Early life

Holly Valance was born on 11 May 1983, as Holly Rachel Vukadinović,[1] in Fitzroy, Victoria to a Serbian father, Rajko Vukadinović, and a British mother, Rachel (née Stephens), of English and Spanish extraction.[2][3] Her father was a former pianist and model in his native Belgrade.[4][5] Her mother, whose father was a relative of Benny Hill, was a model in the United Kingdom.[3][4][5] Valance's parents divorced in 1986 and she has a sister, Coco. Rajko later remarried, and Holly has a half-sister, Olympia, who has also acted in Neighbours (2014–2018).[6] In Melbourne Rajko ran a "trendy imported European clothes store".[7][8] She started modelling as a teenager, when "she posed for supermarket catalogues and ad campaigns and by 14 she was earning $200 an hour modelling children's clothes and teenage lingerie."[7] Valance grew up in Melbourne and moved to the UK when she was 18; she holds both Australian and British citizenship.[9][10] After two years she moved to Los Angeles, where she spent seven years before returning to the United Kingdom.[9]

Career

1999–2003: Neighbours and music
Valance in December 2002

In 1999 at age 16, Valance was cast in the Australian TV soap opera, Neighbours, as Felicity "Flick" Scully.[7] Soon after gaining the role she left her Catholic school, "where girls were given detention for wearing make-up or having a hem above the knee."[7] She appeared in Human Nature's music video for "He Don't Love You" (November 2000), "in a raunchy shower scene."[7][11] Valance left Neighbours in 2002 to start her music career.[12]

Her first single, released in April 2002, was "Kiss Kiss", an English language cover version of Turkish singer, Tarkan's "Şımarık".[11] Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, described it as "a catchy dance pop hit."[11] It entered both the ARIA Singles and UK Singles Charts at No. 1. It charted in the top ten in seventeen countries, including reaching number one in Macedonia. The music video's director's cut appeared to show Valance dancing naked. She later explained that she was topless but wearing flesh-coloured underwear. The song was nominated for four ARIA Music Awards in 2002.[13]

Valance's second single, "Down Boy" (September), peaked at No. 2 in the UK and No. 3 in Australia. Her first album, Footprints, was released on 14 October 2002, which reached No. 9 in the UK and No. 15 in Australia. She co-wrote the album track, "The Harder They Come", with Rob Davis (ex-Mud), who supplied guitar for the album.[14][15] The album's third and final single, "Naughty Girl" (December) peaked at No. 3 in Australia and No. 16 in the UK.

Valance's second album, State of Mind, appeared in November 2003 and its title track, was the lead single.[11] It peaked at No. 8 in the UK and at No. 14 in Australia, but the album did not reach the top 50 in either market. Following legal problems and poor sales from State of Mind, Valance was reportedly dropped from her recording company. She denied this, "I asked to be released, but Warner refused, so I hung out for a year until the contract expired. We parted on good terms."[16] Valance later confirmed she is no longer interested in recording music, telling Men's Style magazine: "I do something until it's not fun any more and then move on. Music wasn't fun any more."[16]

2004–2011: Prison Break and films
Valance at an airport filming an advert for 1800 Reverse, in 2006

In 2004, Valance returned to acting, this time in the United States, appearing in episodes of the television series CSI: Miami and Entourage. In 2005, she appeared in an episode of CSI: NY. In 2005 Valance returned to music, albeit briefly, when she appeared on Har Mar Superstar's album The Handler singing on the tracks, "DUI", "Back the Camel Up" and "Body Request".[17] She appeared in Prison Break in 2006 as Nika Volek, a role which she continued to portray in the show's second season. Also in 2006, Valance appeared in the National Lampoon comedy Pledge This!, alongside American socialite Paris Hilton. The same year, she starred in DOA: Dead or Alive, an adaptation of the popular video game Dead or Alive, in which 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 appeared in an episode of The CW series Valentine.

In 2009, she appeared in Frankmusik's video for his single "Confusion Girl". She also leaked a track called "Superstar" in 2009. In 2009 Valance played Brenda Snow for the video game Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Uprising. She also appeared in Scott Caan's film Mercy.[18] Valance took part in the 2011 series of Strictly Come Dancing,[19] where she was paired with the professional winner of series 8, Artem Chigvintsev.[20] Valance and Chigvintsev were eliminated in the semi-final of the competition on 11 December 2011, giving them a fourth-place finish. She also starred in the Miss Marple television episode called "The Pale Horse".

2012–present: Current work

In 2013 Valance was mentor and judge of fashion competition Shopaholic Showdown.[21] In 2015 she starred in the action film Red Herring as Angela.[22]

Personal life

After living in Los Angeles for seven years, Valance returned to Britain in 2009. That summer she had a brief relationship with electropop star Vince Frank (FrankMusik) after appearing in the video for his "Confusion Girl" single.[23] On 29 September 2012, Valance married billionaire English property developer Nick Candy in Beverly Hills, California.[24][25] In November 2013, Valance gave birth in London to their first child, a daughter, Luka Violet Toni Candy.[26] In September 2017, they welcomed a second daughter, Nova Skye Coco Candy.[27]

In 2003, Valance fired her then-manager Scott Michaelson (who owns Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd) by telephone, 15 months before his contract was due to expire. Biscayne Partners sued Valance Corp., won the case and was awarded damages by the Supreme Court of New South Wales.[28][29] During the trial, Valance's mother claimed Michaelson had been negligent as a manager, which forced her to take over from him.[30] The 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."[31] In court, Valance denied that she had said this to Valentine, even though she had signed an affidavit stating she had no recollection of the conversation.[32][33]

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".[28] 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",[34] though the court did not award in favour of Biscayne getting a percentage of sales of her album, State of Mind.[28][35]

Endorsements and charities

In addition to film and television roles, Valance has also appeared in adverts for Schwarzkopf hair care products and 1800 Reverse. In 2011, Valance appeared in an advert for Foster's Gold bottled beer.[36] In 2015 Valance became an Ambassador for The Children's Trust, the UK's leading charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability.[37]

Filmography
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2006 DOA: Dead or Alive Christie Allen
2006 Pledge This! Jessica
2008 Taken Sheerah
2009 X Returns Sammy Walters Short film
2009 Kambakkht Ishq Herself
2010 Luster Sally
2011 Surviving Georgia Rose
2011 Big Mamma's Boy Katie
2015 Red Herring Angela
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1999–2002, 2005 Neighbours Felicity Scully Main role; 330 episodes
2004 CSI: Miami Kay Coleman Episode: "Addiction"
2005 Entourage Leanna Episode: "My Maserati Does 185"
2005 CSI: NY Lydia Episode: "YoungBlood"
2005–06 Prison Break Nika Volek Recurring role (Season 1–2)
2007 Moonlight Lola Episode: "B.C."
2007 Shark Christina Shaw Episode: "Every Breath You Take"
2008 Valentine Vivi Langdon Episode: "Act Naturally"
2010 Agatha Christie's Marple Kanga Episode: "The Pale Horse"
2011 Strictly Come Dancing Contestant Season 9
2013–14 Shopaholic Showdown Judge / Mentor
Video games
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 – Uprising Brenda Snow Voice

Discography
Main article: Holly Valance discography

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Title of work Result
2000 Logie Award Most Popular New Talent – Female Neighbours Nominated
2002 ARIA Award Highest Selling Single "Kiss Kiss" Nominated
2002 ARIA Award Best Female Artist "Kiss Kiss" Nominated
2002 ARIA Award Breakthrough Artist – Single "Kiss Kiss" Nominated
2002 ARIA Award Best Pop Release "Kiss Kiss" Nominated
2002 MTV Video Music Awards International Viewers Choice Awards - Australia "Kiss Kiss" Won[38]
2003 Disney Channel Kids Awards Breakthrough Artist
-
 Won
2003 Disney Channel Kids Awards Best Single "Kiss Kiss" Won

References
  1. "Holly Valance | Miss 'Kiss-Kiss'". FHM. Archived from the original on 20 April 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  2. Gibbs, Ed (17 July 2011). "Almost famous". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  3. "Blic Online". Blic.rs. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  4. Farkas, D. (5 October 2008). "Holi Valans: Srpkinja u pohodu na Holivud". Nadlanu.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  5. "Blic Online". Blic.rs. 5 January 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  6. "Holly Candy and sister Olympia Valance lead stars in celebrating Neighbours 30th anniversary". HELLO!. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  7. Nimmervoll, Ed (2004). "Holly Vallance". HowlSpace. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2020 – via National Library of Australia. Note: this source claims subject was born in New Zealand but this is not supported by other reliable sources.
  8. Nimmervoll, Ed. "Holly Valance". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 February 2020. Note: this source, by same author, has birth place as Fitzroy.
  9. "BBC News - Five Minutes With: Holly Valance". BBC. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  10. "On the Move: Holly Valance". The Times. 5 October 2008. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  11. McFarlane, Ian (2017). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Holly Valance'". The Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. Jenkins, Jeff (Foreword) (2nd ed.). Gisborne, VIC: Third Stone Press. p. 497. ISBN 978-0-9953856-0-3.
  12. Thompson, Jonathan (29 September 2002). "Q The interview: Holly Valance". The Independent on Sunday. Archived from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  13. Kazmierczak, Anita (15 October 2002). "Kylie sweeps Aussie music awards". BBC News. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  14. "Footprints – Holly Valance | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
  15. "'The Harder They Fall' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA) | Australasian Mechanical Copyright Owners Society (AMCOS). Retrieved 23 February 2020. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
  16. "Sexy bra trick clicks with fans". newpaper.asia1.com.sg. 24 October 2006. Archived from the original on 6 November 2008. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  17. Treuen, Jason (22 July 2005). "Look Mar, no pants". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 28 October 2008.
  18. "Holly Valance Movie Appearances @ARTISTdirect". Artistdirect.com. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  19. "Strictly Come Dancing signs up Lulu and Edwina Currie". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. 6 September 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011.
  20. "Holly Vallance profile at". Strictly Come Dancing. British Broadcasting Corporation. 10 September 2011. Retrieved 12 September 2011.
  21. "Shopaholic Showdown". Radio Times. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  22. "Red Herring2015". Amazon. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
  23. "FrankMusik Talks About Relationship With Holly Valance". mirror. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  24. "Holly Candy (hollycandy) profile on". Twitter. Twitter. Retrieved 27 November 2012.
  25. "Holly Valance marries sweetheart Nick Candy in a fairytale wedding in Beverly Hills". Herald Sun. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  26. Eden, Richard (24 November 2013). "Strictly Come Dancing star Holly Valance gives birth to her first child". The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
  27. https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/holly-valance-and-nick-candy-delighted-to-welcome-second-daughter-nova-skye-coco-a3640631.html
  28. Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd v Valance Corp Pty Ltd & Ors (2003) NSWSC 874, NSW Supreme Court, 3 October 2003; retrieved 10 September 2006.
  29. Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd v Valance Corp Pty Ltd & Ors (2003) NSWSC 874 Archived 8 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine. NSW Supreme Court, 3 October 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  30. Manager 'helped me become a star': Valance, The Age, 18 September 2003; retrieved 10 September 2006.
  31. "Not such good neighbours any more", The Age, 15 September 2003; retrieved 10 September 2006.
  32. Naked truth comes out in Holly's evidence. The Age, 20 September 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  33. "HollyWorld faces the real music". The Sydney Morning Herald, 4 October 2003; retrieved 10 September 2006.
  34. Holly takes a hit. The Age, 7 November 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  35. Biscayne Partners Pty Ltd v Valance Corp Pty Ltd & Ors (2003) NSWSC 1016 Archived 8 September 2014 at the Wayback Machine. NSW Supreme Court, 6 November 2003. Retrieved on 10 September 2006.
  36. "fosters". YouTube. 11 April 2012. Retrieved 28 April 2012.
  37. https://www.thechildrenstrust.org.uk/about/ambassadors
  38. "2002 MTV Video Music Awards Winners". Billboard.com. 1 September 2002. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
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