Rita Ora

Biography

Rita Sahatçiu Ora (Albanian: [ˈɾita sahatˈtʃiu ˈɔɾa]; née Sahatçiu; born 26 November 1990) is a British singer, songwriter, television personality, and actress. Born in Pristina, modern-day Kosovo, she rose to prominence when she featured on DJ Fresh's 2012 single "Hot Right Now", which topped the UK singles chart. In 2008, she signed with American rapper Jay-Z's label Roc Nation. Ora released her debut studio album, Ora (2012), which debuted atop the UK Albums Chart and produced the UK number-one singles "R.I.P." and "How We Do (Party)". In 2014, Ora featured on Australian rapper Iggy Azalea's single, "Black Widow", which peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100. The following year, she was named an honorary ambassador of Kosovo. After parting ways with Roc Nation, Ora signed with Atlantic Records to release her second studio album, Phoenix (2018). It produced the singles "Your Song", "Anywhere", and "Let You Love Me"; the latter made Ora the first British female solo artist to have thirteen top-ten songs in the UK. Her third studio album, You & I (2023), debuted at number six in the UK. Ora has been a judge on television talent shows including The X Factor UK (2015), The Masked Singer UK (2020–2024), and The Masked Singer US (2024–present), as well as a coach on The Voice UK (2015) and The Voice Australia (2021–2023). She played Mia Grey in the Fifty Shades film series (2015–2018).

== Early life == Rita Sahatçiu was born on 26 November 1990 in Pristina, SFR Yugoslavia (modern-day Kosovo), to Albanian parents. Her mother, Vera (née Bajraktari), is a psychiatrist and her father, Besnik Sahatçiu, is a pub owner; he studied economics. Ora's mother is Catholic and her father is a nominal Muslim. Ora has an older sister, Elena, and a younger brother, Don. Her maternal grandfather, Osman Bajraktari, was the Albanian consul to Russia (then part of the Soviet Union). Ora's paternal grandfather, Besim Sahatçiu, was a film and theatre director. The surname Sahatçiu is derived from saatçi (Turkish for 'watchmaker'); her parents later added Ora (Albanian for 'time') to the family surname so it could be easily pronounced. Her family left Kosovo for political reasons, due to the persecution of Albanians initiated with the disintegration of Yugoslavia. They moved to London in 1991, when Ora was a baby. She grew up in Notting Hill in West London and attended a performing arts school, Sylvia Young Theatre School.

== Career ==

=== 2004–2011: Career beginnings === Ora's first acting role at 13 was in an episode of the British drama series, The Brief; she later appeared in the British film, Spivs (2004). She also began performing at open mic sessions around London and, occasionally, in her father's pub. In 2008, she auditioned for Eurovision: Your Country Needs You on BBC One to be the British contestant for the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 and qualified, but later withdrew from the competition after a few episodes as she "did not feel ready" and thought "that challenge wasn't for her." Her manager, Sarah Stennett (who also worked with Ellie Goulding, Jessie J and Conor Maynard), later told HitQuarters that she reassured Ora that performing in Eurovision would hinder, rather than help her chances to make it as a solo artist. Shortly after, Ora's management got in touch with the American label, Roc Nation, and told them about her. Ora signed a recording deal and a publishing deal with Roc Nation in December 2008, and was one of their first signees. She made a cameo appearance in Jay Z's video for "Young Forever" (2009). After being signed, Ora recorded an album and wanted to release it, but her label advised against it and she started to work on other material for her debut album.

=== 2012–2013: Musical breakthrough and Ora ===

Throughout 2011, Ora released covers and videos about working on her debut album on YouTube. The videos caught the attention of DJ Fresh, who at that time was looking for a female vocalist for his song, "Hot Right Now". She was featured on the single that was released on 12 February 2012, debuting at number one on the UK Singles Chart. During February 2012, Ora was also the opening act at UK concerts on Drake's Club Paradise Tour. The first UK single from her debut album, "R.I.P." (featuring Tinie Tempah), was released on 6 May 2012. Produced by Chase & Status, the song debuted at the top of the UK Singles Chart, becoming her first solo UK number one. On 12 August, "How We Do (Party)" was released as a single, and it reached number one in the UK and Ireland. It was Ora's second UK number one as a solo artist, and third overall in 2012.

Whilst supporting Coldplay on their Mylo Xyloto Tour, she later announced that her debut album would be titled Ora. The album was released on 27 August 2012 in Europe and Oceania, and debuted at the top of the UK Albums Chart. Ora was nominated for Best New Artist, Push Artist and Best UK/Ireland Act at the 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards. In September 2012, it was announced that Ora would be the opening act on the UK concerts from Usher's Euphoria Tour set to start in January 2013. However, the tour was postponed due to Usher's "professional and personal commitments". "Shine Ya Light", released on 4 November, became Ora's fourth consecutive UK top ten single in 2012 (the only artist to do so in 2012), peaking at number ten. On 28 November 2012, Ora performed as a special guest at the concert held in Tirana, Albania, for the 100th Anniversary of the Independence of Albania. In January 2013, Ora embarked on her first UK tour, Radioactive Tour, to support her debut album. She was nominated for three awards at the 2013 Brit Awards, including the Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act. Also in January 2013, Ora revealed that her second album would be clearer and have more direction than the first one. On 26 February 2013, she revealed to Digital Spy that her second album shows a different angle to a "party girl". On 24 May 2013, Ora was the headline act on the In New Music We Trust stage at BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend. On 28 June 2013, she performed on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.

=== 2014–2016: Split from Roc Nation and films ===