Salma Hayek's "Ugly Betty" to debut on ABC, Sept.
28th
Written by Nelson Ortiz, Hispanicsurf.com
Note: New premiere time and date for Ugly Betty --
Thursday, September 28 @ 8/7c
 July 20, 2006
(updated 9/01) -- Oscar-nominated Mexican actress, Salma Hayek, who started her acting career in Spanish-language telenovelas is now using
her producing skills for the comedy "Ugly Betty" which will air on U.S. television network, ABC, this fall. Originally titled, Betty the Ugly, is an adaptation from the smash Spanish-language
telenovela called Yo Soy Betty La Fea which aired on Telemundo in 2001.
Prior to that it was a huge hit in Colombia and became an international phenomenon.
"It was a phenomenon in Colombia," executive producer Salma Hayek explained, calling the original version a groundbreaking work.
"Usually, telenovelas are a lot more melodramatic. And this one was dramatic,
but had an amazing sense of humor."
Ugly Betty is about a plain Jane named Betty Suarez (played by America Ferrera) from Queens, N.Y., who wears jumbo braces, red-rimmed glasses and really bad outfits, that lands
a job as an assistant at a high fashion magazine.
"It's an honor to take this role, and I love being
Ugly Betty," said the 22-year old, Ferrera. "To me, Betty is the most beautiful
opportunity that's ever come across my path to represent a whole generation of
young women who maybe don't recognize themselves in anything they're watching."
Hayek feels this English adaptation will be a blockbuster for ABC and many are expecting this show to get high ratings. "The American audience are very
thirsty for something like this and they're just going to love it."
Hayek will appear in cameos as an over-the-top maid who runs very hot and
extremely cold in a telenovela Betty likes to watch.
"It's a lot of fun to go back and do it," said the 38-year old actress,
Hayek. I'm making fun of myself, and very rarely do you get an opportunity to do
that. By the time we finished shooting that, we were all rolling on the floor,
laughing."
"It's causing – I already know this for a fact – a lot of excitement in the Latin community," said Hayek. "They will definitely not
be able to get enough of Betty."
Cast:
"Ugly Betty" stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, Eric Mabius as Daniel Meade, Alan Dale as Bradford Meade, Tony Plana as Ignacio, Ana Ortiz as Hilda,
Ashley Jensen as Christina, Becki Newton as Amanda, Mark Indelicato as Justin and Vanessa Williams as Wilhelmina Slater.
Ugly Betty makes its debut on Thursday, September 28th at 8pm nationally on the ABC Network. |
