Biografi
Riley has been a very precocious child with a great enthusiasm for the stage since the tender age of 5. Blessed with the gift of creativity from the onset, Riley began to "write" her own original stories before her handwriting was even legible. By time she was 7, she had created her first YouTube vlog channel, "Black and Girly with Miss Riley".
At the age of 3, Riley began participating in an acting showcase class entitled "Broadway Babies". Since then, she has performed in fifteen community musical theatre productions and four professional dance and musical theatre (equity) productions with re-known stage and Broadway actors.
Riley's passion for musical theatre began when she was first cast in the youth ensemble of "Alice in Wonderland Jr." at the age of 5. Her most notable roles in community youth theatre include her portrayal of Little Inez in "Hairspray Jr."; Little Ti Moune in "Once On This Island Jr."; Molly in "Annie Jr."; Young Simba in "Lion King Jr"; Mowgli in "Jungle Book Kids"; and Charlie Bucket in "Willy Wonka Kids".
In the summer of 2019, she also had the distinct honor of working with several professional Broadway actors on stage in 'Kinky Boots' and Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Cinderella' during The Muny's 101st Season. This amphitheater is the oldest and largest musical theatre stage in the U.S., seating up to 11,000 patrons each show.
Over the years, Riley has been featured in a few short films by up-and-coming regional film directors in her hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. However, this year she filmed her first mainstream tv/film project, a Showtime Original entitled "On Becoming a God in Central Florida", co-executive produced and starring Kirsten Dunst. The critically acclaimed series premiered on August 25, 2019 and is also executive produced by George Clooney with Sony and Smokehouse Pictures. Her Season 1 episodes will air in October and will feature her in a recurring role as 'Melody', daughter of parents played by notable actors John Earl Jelks and Shari Headley in the series.
Riley considers herself a triple threat and her extraordinary work ethic is a testament to her ultimate desire. Throughout the year she trains with some of the best coaches in the industry. Her on-going lessons include vocal, acting, musical theatre and several styles of dance.
When Riley is not performing on stage or pursuing new tv/film projects, she enjoys writing in her journals, drawing, reading, learning new vlogging techniques from her favorite YouTubers, and spending time with her family and friends. This includes her two older brothers, cousin and Jack and Jill family.
