America Ferrera Shines

I'll try not to "ooh" and "aah" about America Fererra too much (okay, I know I will), but as Betty Suarez, Fererra is completely amazing. She is totally the heart and soul of "Ugly Betty." Without her, the show would not succeed, due to the fact that many of the characters are played just too over the top. America has made me laugh and cry on more than on occasion in her portrayal of the "ugly" assistant.

The actress is excited to be recognized with Golden Globe nominations for the show and actress.

"We've worked so hard, and now we can celebrate it together," Ferrera said. "It is a wonderful cast and crew and show to be on. Everyone is so excited."
Though some people were appalled by the show's title when it first came out, Ferrera's confident that viewers now get the message that "ugly" isn't meant to insult.

"I think we knew the title would be a little jarring. But once you see it, then you know," she said. "You get it. You know there's irony in the title and it's a commentary on the definition of what ugly and beautiful is."

More from America Fererra after the jump.

America Ferrera Makes 'Ugly' Beautiful [ABC News]

The show makes it easy to empathize with Ferrera's character.
"It is very clear from the start that Betty is the hero," Ferrera said. "She's the one you're supposed to love and who is probably the most beautiful on the inside of everyone in the show."

"People give me looks and think, 'Do I know you from high school?' They don't know exactly where to place me but they recognize me," she said. "But I went to vote with my glasses and braces at my lunch break and they're like, 'Oh, my God, ugly Betty is voting.' That created a little stir."

Ferrera was pleased to see her character become a popular costume on Halloween.

"That was really fun to see little girls and old men dressing up as 'ugly Betty,'" she said.

I'm assuming that would be kind of surreal for her.

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