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Amber Valletta, a prominent supermodel of the 1990s, achieved considerable recognition through collaborations with renowned designers such as Versace and DKNY. The 5’10” fashion icon also held a significant contract with Calvin Klein and appeared on numerous Vogue covers, frequently alongside her equally striking friend, Shalom Harlow. Transitioning into acting in the 2000s, Valletta expanded her career beyond modeling.
Amber Valletta: From Supermodel to Actress
Amber Valletta, after establishing herself as a major 1990s supermodel, transitioned into acting, showcasing her versatility and talent in both industries.
Early Acting Roles
Valletta’s initial foray into film began with a notable role as a poltergeist in Robert Zemeckis’s supernatural thriller, *What Lies Beneath* (2000), alongside Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer. This role marked her first major appearance in a film. Following this, she expanded her filmography with roles in:
- Hitch (2005)
- Transporter 2 (2005)
- Man About Town (2006)
- Dead Silence (2007)
- Gamer (2009)
- The Spy Next Door (2010)
Television Career
In 2011, Valletta shifted her focus towards television, securing a recurring role as Lydia Davis, a fallen socialite, in ABC’s drama series, *Revenge*. Later, in 2015, she portrayed the manipulative Carla Briggs in another ABC soap opera, *Blood & Oil*.
Candid Discussions on Addiction and Sobriety
In 2020, Amber Valletta openly discussed her past struggles with drug and alcohol dependency while celebrating 25 years of sobriety. She credited her decision to abstain from substance abuse as life-saving during an interview with NET-A-PORTER’s digital publication, Porter.
“A Chance of Survival”
Valletta stated, “Left to my own devices, I guarantee you no matter how much I love life, my family, if I take a drink or any of my drugs of choice, I’ll be dead. I’ll ruin everything.” The model first spoke publicly about her dependency issues in July 2014, revealing that she was introduced to drugs at the age of 10 and began using cocaine at 18.
Reflecting on her recovery, the former face of Giorgio Armani shared, “I didn’t have a problem when I was out using, if you saw me high or drunk. So why would I be ashamed of being clean and saying, ‘I have a disease that I can’t control’? Only by being sober do I have any chance of survival.’
Reflecting on Her Modeling Career
Amber Valletta’s modeling career reached its peak in the 90s. During this time, the beauty appeared on 16 American Vogue covers, represented Versace, and signed lucrative contracts with Calvin Klein and Elizabeth Arden.
Sisterhood in the Fashion Industry
The TV and film personality also reflected on the camaraderie she shared with fellow models like Kate Moss and Shalom Harlow: “Nobody was thinking about whether we were making a statement. You’d fight with each other, cry with each other, support each other, lose jobs to each other, all of it.”
Disdain for the “Selfie” Era
Valletta expressed her disapproval of the current “selfie” era in the fashion industry, describing it as uncomfortable. “You would never have taken your Polaroid camera and turned it around on yourself. You would never have talked about how you were flying around in a private jet.”
She added, “[Selfies] make me painfully uncomfortable. I want things to change – that’s all I care about now.”
Activism and Climate Change Advocacy
More recently, Amber Valletta has become an activist, serving as a spokesperson for Oceana’s Seafood Contamination Campaign. She was arrested in November by Capitol police while protesting alongside Jane Fonda during a climate change demonstration in Washington, DC.
“Worth Fighting For”
Explaining her actions, Valletta stated, “I chose to get arrested. I’ve been feeling this need to get loud, to step into my own. I don’t care what anyone thinks. I can’t sit on the sidelines, I need to physically put myself on the line. I chose to get arrested as a symbol. My life is worth putting out there, in order to show that all our lives are worth fighting for.”
Discussing her beliefs further, the mother-of-one elaborated, “I believe in this. I will risk public opinion, being in jail. It was profound. This is the most important crisis we’re facing. I’m not diminishing cancer or Aids, diabetes or addiction, but there won’t be anything left to fight for. Nothing else matters.”
A Worried Outlook
Valletta, who shares a son with ex-husband Chip McCaw, admitted that she is deeply concerned about climate change and the future of the planet. “I’ll be dead, but my great-grandkids? To live in a world where they wouldn’t experience this. Where they couldn’t see elephants or a whale…”
“The ocean could be disgusting and full of plastic; you can’t eat fish, go to a beach, see coral; you can’t have the opportunity to be doctors or scientists or creators. We take it for granted. It’s overwhelmingly ridiculous.”