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Rita Sahatçiu Ora (born Rita
Sahatçiu; 26 November 1990) is a British singer, songwriter and actress.
She rose to prominence in February 2012 when she featured on DJ Fresh's
single "Hot Right Now", which reached number one in the UK. Her debut
studio album, Ora, released in August 2012, debuted at number one in the
United Kingdom. The album contained the UK number-one singles, "R.I.P."
and "How We Do (Party)". Ora was the artist with the most number-one
singles on the UK Singles Chart in 2012, with three singles reaching the
top position.
Ora's second studio album, Phoenix, was released in November 2018. The
lead single, "Your Song", reached the UK top ten, and the subsequent
singles "Anywhere" and "Let You Love Me" reached the top five in the UK.
"Let You Love Me" made Ora the first British female solo artist to have
thirteen top ten songs in the United Kingdom.
Ora was born in Prishtina, Yugoslavia (present-day Kosovo), to Albanian
parents. Her mother, Vera (née Bajraktari), is a psychiatrist, and her
father, Besnik Sahatçiu, is a pub owner, having previously studied
economics. Ora has an older sister, Elena, and a younger brother, Don. She
was born as Rita Sahatçiu; surname derived from the Turkish word saatçi,
which means "watchmaker"), but her parents later added Ora (which means
"time" in Albanian) to the family surname so it could be easily
pronounced.
Her family left Kosovo for political reasons, because of the persecution
of Albanians initiated with the disintegration of Yugoslavia. They
relocated to London, England in 1991, when she was a baby. She grew up in
Notting Hill, in West London, and attended St Cuthbert with St Matthias
Primary School in Earl's Court, following which she graduated from a
performing arts school, Sylvia Young Theatre School. She began singing at
an early age |
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I never think too hard about a
look. When you consider an outfit too much, that's when it goes
wrong.
I walked into this industry blond with red lips, and I will leave
this industry blond with red lips. Mark my words.
I really admire people who have long-distance relationships. It's an
incredible achievement. I couldn't do it.
All I can do is take influences from where I was raised.
I'm most scared of failing, of disappointing people. |
