America Ferrera plays Betty Suarez in the comedy drama, Ugly Betty. With the season three DVD about to be released, the talented actress talks fans, fashion and Patricia Field…
Betty has a unique sense of style, but would you like to give her a makeover?
AMERICA FERRERA: I think the audience is always sitting around waiting for a makeover to happen, but if you watch this season, you’ll notice the change in Betty’s style. One of the reasons behind that is because we have gone back to New York to film the show and [Ugly Betty’s original costume designer] Patricia Field is styling the characters again. When we created Betty’s look in the beginning, there was always a sense of growth, so Patricia couldn’t wait to get her hands back on Betty.
What difference will we see in Betty’s outfits?
AMERICA FERRERA: Patricia Field looked at the character and said, “Betty has been working at Mode for two years, so she needs to grow.” It’s still Betty and she’s going to be bright and fun to look at – but if she wears Prada, she is going to wear Prada in her own way. It’s not going to be a black Prada skirt; it’s going to be a pink, floral print Prada skirt. Betty is growing in her look, in her image and on the inside as well. She is never going to grow into a version of someone working at Mode magazine like you might expect her to. She is always going to be Betty.
Does anything else change in Betty’s world?
AMERICA FERRERA: Betty’s outlook on fashion changes this season. I have been talking to the writers about it for a while because I always thought, ‘If Betty ever had a connection to fashion, what would it be?’ Betty’s talent is connecting to people. She understands the value of people and that’s how she connects with them – and no matter how crazy fashion gets, it only means something if it finds a way to connect. Fashion is art. Why does someone sit down and draw a painting? Why does someone sit down and write a book? Why does someone sit down and think up beautiful clothing? It’s coming from a place of human connection and that finally clicked for Betty. I don’t know if she’s going stay in fashion forever or that she loves fashion or cares about what she is wearing. It’s more about finding a deeper appreciation for what it is. Like, I love watching the Olympics, but do I ever want to go be in the Olympics? No. But I can appreciate it. And I think that’s what Betty found in fashion.
Are you a fan of fashion?
AMERICA FERRERA: I like certain designers, but I am very bad at fashion. I don’t know all the designer names. I’m pretty similar to Betty because I don’t understand it. I like pretty pictures and I like to look at pretty clothing, but I’ve started to learn more about it because I have to be more aware of fashion for the show. Away from the show, I don’t really wear anything fashion forward, but I like clothes that feel fun and comfortable. If an outfit feels great and looks great, then I don’t care where it’s from. It can be a designer piece or it can be bought from a random shop in a mall.
You’ve always said you feel uncomfortable being in the spotlight and attending red carpet events… Has it become any easier for you?
AMERICA FERRERA: The more you do red carpet events, the more comfortable you become. I can enjoy it sometimes. I’ve loved some of the red carpets along the way. I’m a girl, so there are times where I love getting dressed up and putting on pretty make-up. I love looking good for those events sometimes – but then there are times where it’s the last thing in the world that I want to do. It just depends on what kind of mood I’m in.
Do you get many fan letters from teenage girls who watch the show?
AMERICA FERRERA: From the very beginning, I have always received a lot of letters from people who relate to Betty – especially teenagers. They tell me that they’re really glad that Betty is an image on television. I also get a lot of letters from mothers of teenage girls saying, “I’m so glad that this strong, smart, intelligent female figure is on television for my daughter to watch.” I think girls really enjoy watching something to mix up the image of what a girl should look like. Not that everyone should be like Betty or everyone shouldn’t be like Betty, but she widens the landscape of images for young women on television.
Do you feel any pressure to lose weight?
AMERICA FERRERA: No, especially not in this show. If there is any role on television where I am not going to feel that pressure, it’s Betty. I think that body image is such a personal thing, but I am fine with who I am.
How do you relax and unwind when you’re not working?
AMERICA FERRERA: How do I relax and unwind? I read books. I watch movies. I watch TV. What shows do I like? I was a little bit obsessed with American Idol this year, as embarrassing as it is. I’m a big DVD watcher, too. I am seasons behind on every show, but I love to watch TV shows on DVD – especially things like The Office and Tudors.
Do you dedicate any time to watching your own show?
AMERICA FERRERA: Definitely. I watch every episode of the show to know what I’m doing and how I’m acting. I really enjoy the show and I feel like I would be excited to watch it even if I wasn’t part of it. I have so much fun working on Ugly Betty and we have an incredible cast that I love working with. Sometimes I forget that it is even out there for other people to see. I just get a little DVD every week on set and watch it myself.
When you watch your preview DVD, do you still have time to try to re-shoot a scene that you are not comfortable with?
AMERICA FERRERA: Oh, no. It’s too late by the time I get the DVD. It’s just a little disc so that we can see the show before it airs. It’s funny. When I sit down to watch it, it feels like we’re making this TV show for ourselves until someone reminds me, “Oh, yeah… Millions of people are watching it every week.” That’s pretty amazing. I couldn’t be happier.
Season 3 of Ugly Betty is available in stores on DVD now.
Read our Vanessa Williams interview
America Ferrera plays Betty Suarez in the comedy drama, Ugly Betty. With the season three DVD about to be released, the talented actress talks fans, fashion and Patricia Field…
Betty has a unique sense of style, but would you like to give her a makeover?
AMERICA FERRERA: I think the audience is always sitting around waiting for a makeover to happen, but if you watch this season, you’ll notice the change in Betty’s style. One of the reasons behind that is because we have gone back to New York to film the show and [Ugly Betty’s original costume designer] Patricia Field is styling the characters again. When we created Betty’s look in the beginning, there was always a sense of growth, so Patricia couldn’t wait to get her hands back on Betty.
What difference will we see in Betty’s outfits?
AMERICA FERRERA: Patricia Field looked at the character and said, “Betty has been working at Mode for two years, so she needs to grow.” It’s still Betty and she’s going to be bright and fun to look at – but if she wears Prada, she is going to wear Prada in her own way. It’s not going to be a black Prada skirt; it’s going to be a pink, floral print Prada skirt. Betty is growing in her look, in her image and on the inside as well. She is never going to grow into a version of someone working at Mode magazine like you might expect her to. She is always going to be Betty.
Does anything else change in Betty’s world?
AMERICA FERRERA: Betty’s outlook on fashion changes this season. I have been talking to the writers about it for a while because I always thought, ‘If Betty ever had a connection to fashion, what would it be?’ Betty’s talent is connecting to people. She understands the value of people and that’s how she connects with them – and no matter how crazy fashion gets, it only means something if it finds a way to connect. Fashion is art. Why does someone sit down and draw a painting? Why does someone sit down and write a book? Why does someone sit down and think up beautiful clothing? It’s coming from a place of human connection and that finally clicked for Betty. I don’t know if she’s going stay in fashion forever or that she loves fashion or cares about what she is wearing. It’s more about finding a deeper appreciation for what it is. Like, I love watching the Olympics, but do I ever want to go be in the Olympics? No. But I can appreciate it. And I think that’s what Betty found in fashion.
Are you a fan of fashion?
AMERICA FERRERA: I like certain designers, but I am very bad at fashion. I don’t know all the designer names. I’m pretty similar to Betty because I don’t understand it. I like pretty pictures and I like to look at pretty clothing, but I’ve started to learn more about it because I have to be more aware of fashion for the show. Away from the show, I don’t really wear anything fashion forward, but I like clothes that feel fun and comfortable. If an outfit feels great and looks great, then I don’t care where it’s from. It can be a designer piece or it can be bought from a random shop in a mall.
You’ve always said you feel uncomfortable being in the spotlight and attending red carpet events… Has it become any easier for you?
AMERICA FERRERA: The more you do red carpet events, the more comfortable you become. I can enjoy it sometimes. I’ve loved some of the red carpets along the way. I’m a girl, so there are times where I love getting dressed up and putting on pretty make-up. I love looking good for those events sometimes – but then there are times where it’s the last thing in the world that I want to do. It just depends on what kind of mood I’m in.
Do you get many fan letters from teenage girls who watch the show?
AMERICA FERRERA: From the very beginning, I have always received a lot of letters from people who relate to Betty – especially teenagers. They tell me that they’re really glad that Betty is an image on television. I also get a lot of letters from mothers of teenage girls saying, “I’m so glad that this strong, smart, intelligent female figure is on television for my daughter to watch.” I think girls really enjoy watching something to mix up the image of what a girl should look like. Not that everyone should be like Betty or everyone shouldn’t be like Betty, but she widens the landscape of images for young women on television.
Do you feel any pressure to lose weight?
AMERICA FERRERA: No, especially not in this show. If there is any role on television where I am not going to feel that pressure, it’s Betty. I think that body image is such a personal thing, but I am fine with who I am.
How do you relax and unwind when you’re not working?
AMERICA FERRERA: How do I relax and unwind? I read books. I watch movies. I watch TV. What shows do I like? I was a little bit obsessed with American Idol this year, as embarrassing as it is. I’m a big DVD watcher, too. I am seasons behind on every show, but I love to watch TV shows on DVD – especially things like The Office and Tudors.
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