Formative Performances: America Ferrera in “Ugly Betty”

[Women’s History Month, Day 27]

Disclaimer: I don’t usually care for shows and films that cast beautiful actresses as “ugly” characters, because it always seems like the casting people are trying to avoid giving work to anyone who isn’t conventionally attractive.

I make an exception for this next actress, though, because a) we don’t see enough women of color on television, period, and b) she’s so good that she makes me forget that the braces and the wig and glasses are all part of a costume.

For four years on Ugly Betty, America Ferrera played a character who was always insecure about her looks, but never her overall worth as a human being. She had moments of deep insecurity and moments of confidence. She was sometimes hopelessly naive, optimistic, and too trusting, seeming younger than everyone around her, but those were nicely balanced with moments where she seemed wiser than everyone in her circle. She was always a delight to watch, the very definition of a character you love to love, whom you root for in every step of her life. Ugly Betty was my happy show, one that always put a smile on my face, and a lot of that was due to Ferrera.

The first of the next two clips is not one of Betty’s best ever moments, but it still illustrates (to me, anyway) why Betty was just so stinkin cute and huggable. The second clip illustrates why I felt for her in her hopeless crushes (and also why Eric Mabius as Daniel was the other big reason I loved the show so much, because I swear he looks gobsmacked in love with Betty in every damn scene they have together. Brother/sister relationship my butt). Betty, you ARE beautiful, inside and out, and you always were.