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Ugly Betty's Becki Newton Channels Her Inner Vixen
Ugly Betty's scene-stealing bad girl Becki Newton talks to TV Guide about shaking her booty, stalking Tim Gunn and finding love. (ABC's Ugly Betty airs Thursdays at 8 pm/ET.) TV Guide: How do you get in touch with your inner vixen to play Amanda? Becki Newton: I think of the girls I used to meet at New York City auditions. Girls have a great way of sizing each other up with a look that can debilitate everyone. I was usually the victim of that. I've always been more the Betty than the Amanda. But after years of studying those girls, I've learned how to channel it. TV Guide: You felt like Betty? Newton: Always. I think everyone does. The Amandas of the world are covering up a lot of pain by trying to be the one who makes other
TV Guide: How do you get in touch with your inner vixen to play Amanda?
Becki Newton: I think ofthe girls I used to meet at New YorkCity auditions. Girls have a great wayof sizing each other up with a look thatcan debilitate everyone. I was usuallythe victim of that. I've always beenmore the Betty than the Amanda. Butafter years of studying those girls, I'velearned how to channel it.
TV Guide: You felt like Betty?
Newton: Always. I think everyone does. The Amandas of the world are covering up a lot of pain by trying to be the one who makes other people feel bad instead of being the one who feels bad.
TV Guide: Amanda has a very specific walk — explain.
Newton: Amanda believes that wherevershe is, she's on the runway. Whetherit's in the office hallway or walkingdown the street, the world is her runway.At all times she feels like everyoneis staring at her — or they should be.
TV Guide: You're married to actor Chris Diamantopoulos [who stars in the new miniseries The Starter Wife with Debra Messing]. What's your love story?
Newton: Wemet on the subway platform in TimesSquare at rush hour. We walked byeach other and our eyes met. I startedlaughing because I got busted checkingout this handsome guy. He tapped meon the shoulder and said, "Excuseme, I'm lost." He lived a block away!
TV Guide: You weren't nervous about dating a guy you met in the subway?
Newton: [Laughs]At the time he was in The Full Montyon Broadway. I bought a front-rowseat. I saw the full monty and I was like,"There's my husband. Done."
TV Guide: Sweet! Speaking of, you and Michael Urie (Marc) have great chemistry as wicked friends. Are you close off screen, too?
Newton: We are. Hemakes me laugh allday long. I don'tknow when ithappened, but we just started stalking each other.When he's not on set I need to knowwhere he is. We send a lot of texts.
TV Guide: What do you do on set when you are not shooting?
Newton: I do laps and get ineveryone's business. When Tim Gunnwas here, I literally walked back andforth outside his trailer. He came out,and I was like, "Oh, you're here? Hi!"I'm a huge Project Runway fan.
TV Guide: What's your biggest passion besides acting?
Newton: Family. The biggest adjustment being on the West Coast is that my family is on the East Coast. I grew up in a house in the Connecticut woods. We're an easygoing, fun family. We have a Fourth of July party and a volleyball tournament and the losers have to do "the loser dance," which is carefully choreographed by the winning team.
TV Guide: What kind of kid were you?
Newton: Kinda brainy, a little artsy, had a bowl haircut that I did myself. Had some green Doc Martens boots that I wore with everything. I wasn't the coolest kid on the block, but I did my own thing.
TV Guide: Tell me a secret about life on the Betty set.
Newton: America [Ferrera], Michael and Ihave been known to have a dance party.America was born with a dance party —she's been known to bust a move.When in doubt, shake the booty.
TV Guide: Has your life changed a lot being on such a hit show?
Newton: Because I am so differentfrom Amanda, people don't necessarilynotice me in real life. A few havecome up to me and said, "You look likethat girl on Ugly Betty." And I'm like, "Ireally should watch that show andcheck her out."
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