LOS ANGELES--America's beautiful when she's ugly.
That's what America Ferrera, the actress who plays the titular role in the new ABC comedy Ugly Betty, said this week at the TV Critics Association summer tour in Pasadena, California.
"When I'm in character and wearing Betty's clothes, I never feel more confident or more beautiful," she said. "When I'm Betty, there's a light that shines from the inside, and it's wonderful to be her."
Ugly Betty is based on a Colombian telenovella that has already been ported Mexico, India, Russia, and Germany. The show tells the story of a young woman who goes to work at a fashion magazine and raises some eyebrows with her unconventional appearance.
Ferrera, who received accolades for her work in the film Real Women Have Curves, said she likes that she can go to work on a TV show and not feel pressure about her looks.
"I love that I can go to work and not worry about my hair and makeup," she joked. "I love wearing Betty's clothes."
Oscar-nominee Salma Hayek, who serves as the series' executive producer, said the show is a celebration of people who might not fit the standard idea of what's attractive.
"It's about the...person that is not conventional in the way they look, or the way they act," Hayek said. "But they get ahead in life because they are incredibly smart and hard working. [Betty] is not a victim."
Ferrera added that she is proud of the character and excited by the chance to remind audiences that people come in all different shapes and sizes.
"I'm not a model. I never wanted to be a model," the actress stated. "But to me, Betty is the most beautiful opportunity to represent a whole generation of young women who don't see themselves in anything they're watching [on TV]. I love, love, love being [Betty]."
The show's title, which is a literal translation of the Spanish name, has drawn flak from some groups. Hayek said she doesn't understand why some people are offended.
"It's sarcastic," she says. "I don't think Betty is really ugly. We're making fun of it. We're not really calling her ugly. We're making fun of people who would call her ugly. I think she's beautiful."
Ferrera said the show is not intended to mock or ridicule people who already feel marginalized by TV. The actress said she understands how it feels to be put down.
"I went to public school...There is not a more damaging and self-defacing place to be than high school. It's horrible," she told the group. "Now, I can turn on [a show] that relates to those struggles."
Hayek leveled a humorous barb at the consumer beauty ideal that is pervasive in Hollywood and fashion.
"Personally, I have seen a lot of really skinny, tall models that maybe I think they're ugly," she quipped to laughter. "And they need to eat a little to look healthy. In this show, we encourage [America], 'Go to the craft table!'"
Ugly Betty premieres Friday, September 22, on ABC.
Comments (16)
It's nice that American big money TV moguls are looking out of our country, out to the world in search of stories and they found this Colombian telenovela. This is fresh air in a rarefied TV atmosphere fraught with Waspy and Jewish shows. American ladies and gents is more than that and, by the way, ignorance of the Spanish language/culture will become a certified handicap. It's good that you're reaching out into this rich culture so integral to ours.
I think that it is a going to be a good show. I have only seen one in spanish, but it was good.
i watched this show in spanish lol, pretty faithfully too, even though i dont know spanish. but it was still really funny and i got the gist of it. so im pretty excited now thats its coming out in english!! im definitely watching it.
I'm excited for this show! I think America Ferrera will do a fantastic job. She's a great actress who can be an important role model through this.
Ugly Betty is actually one of the shows I'm most excited to watch in the fall.
This is a show I want to see It looks Interseting. A girl who inner beauty greater than outer. ABC might have another hit if it's as good as they say.
This one actually looks interesting. I might give it a look.
Salma Hayek was an oscar-nominee. She didn't win the oscar.
In Germany the "Ugly Betty" adaptation is one of the most succesfull shows ever.
nihir - you make a valid point. America Ferrera is a very attractive actress. It is amazing that make-up and braces can make her look so unattractive.
I loved the soap opera Betty La Fea... very funny. Hopefully this will be as funny.
for people not bothered with the idea of appearance they sure make quite a ruckus about it, it almost seems egotistical.
I just hope is as good as the original (a soap opera from Colombia) because it was really really great, one of the best!
Well...
I don't think that this show could be so funny as the original Soap Opera (where we dind't find drama, the soap opera was hilarious)... I saw the trailer on ABC's web page and It doesn't seem so good this show... Maybe they should broadcast the original version... :)
I love how the network is telling us that it doesn't matter how people look and that it's great to cast a leading role to someone who's not typically good looking...And then they cast that role to someone who is good looking.Yeah, that's a great role model.How stupid do they think we are?
Yes I'm looking forward to checking out this show.
Interesting......I think?