Instagram/@msamberpriley
Amber Riley is commemorating the monumental year in a bustling manner. The actress and vocalist, who was then recognized mostly for her fiery portrayal of Mercedes Jones in ‘Glee,’ lately dubbed 2016 as a “dream” and treated the public to some pictures and stories from the cast of ‘Dreamgirls’ at the West End through her Instagram account.
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Through this post, she vividly portrayed the different triumphs she experienced both personally and professionally throughout that time. Among those was an extravagant birthday party that kicked off her thirties, a farewell karaoke session with her dearest ones, and a golden ticket to the highly regarded Olivier Awards. The role that took the center stage was that of Effie White in ‘Dreamgirls’ at the West End, accompanied by a photo of her along with the original cast and sweet memories like her niece’s first visit to the city. Riley was enjoying a very expressive and cheerful period in her career, which was like the apex moment for a gifted and engaging singer.
Not only did fans reflect upon the past, but they also expressed their admiration through nostalgia. The main highlight of the comments was her performance’s endless impact. A Twitter user claimed he/she could not catch his/her breath while she was performing ‘I Am Telling You I’m Not Going’ and another one just expressed, “I was so proud of you during this time,” referring to how most of the fans feel proud of her ability to perform and sing at the same time in London.
The picture of Riley wearing her bright purple gown and flaunting her voluminous and elegant hair created huge admiration among the audience. One person expressed such a close tie: “That first photo was my phone’s wallpaper… It made me think of my costume for a beauty pageant! Big hair, purple, queen vibes! You still give me strength.” This reflects the struggle of Riley’s life as the young black woman and especially her non-conformed way that she shares and inspires others. Another fan wrote, “My number one favorite literally. That year seeing someone like me on screen made me so happy.”
The celebration of her talent was also intertwined with the uncertainty of the time. A fan was so surprised: “No way you are almost 40. You could easily go out looking like this and claim your twenties!” Another one praised her, saying, “The fact you haven’t aged at all😍. You might say those photos were taken yesterday and I wouldn’t doubt you.” The remarks are proof of not only her past but also her present visibility.
There were various forms of love through and after the theater performances. One user mentioned a personal memory, “I was there and singing along with you both that night at the Goodnite! I still have the videos 😂😂😂😂,” leaving it to the reader to decide if the karaoke night was as legendary as the performance. And in a moment of pure, unfiltered support, another follower cut through the nostalgia and boldly declared, “No baby, that was your reality because you are the SHT!”
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For Amber Riley, 2016 was nothing less than a dream— a perfect mixture of work success, personal bliss, and recognition as an artist. With hindsight, it was clear that the audience—be it in the theater seats or on the screen—was also feeling the same way. The pictures she shared were more than just personal snapshots; they were the very moments when her talent lit up the global stage, captivating the audience and leaving them with a sweet memory they are gladly replaying years later. It was a time that proved that, just as with her singing, so too with dreams—they have a deep and lasting impact. Amber Riley recently shared a hilarious 90s church kid memory, and in a hilarious cooking confession she declared food as her love language. She and Raven-Symoné have also revealed why spades is banned in their homes.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
