Tomorrow is Becki Newton’s birthday – born on the fourth of July!  The Ugly Betty star turns 31.

She gets a fireworks show every year on her birthday, that’s got to be awesome.  To have the figure she does, she probably doesn’t pig out on BBQ every year, though. 

Newton was born in New Haven, Connecticut, and raised in Guilford, Connecticut.  She graduated with a BA in European History from the University of Pennsylvania.  (I had forgotten this – I would imagine it would make her recent trip to the UK more meaningful).

On Ugly Betty, Newton has played Amanda Tanen (Sommers), Fey Sommers, and Ruthie (in 1.12 – Sophia’s Choice), a role she absolutely shined in.

She also was in the great movie August Rush.

Becki graced the July cover of Lucky Magazine (beautifully).  She told them at the time of the shoot, “I get excited around summer clothes—it’s the one season when you can put together a whole outfit without spending tons of money.”

Happy Birthday Becki!  I hope your hubby Chris Chris Diamantopoulos gives you the Queen for a Day treatment, then you get to enjoy some fireworks!

Image: SplashNewsOnline.com

Our friend Ausiello at EW.com has some interesting Ugly Betty scoopage:

Question: Regarding Ugly Betty, got any spoilers that don’t involve Matt and Betty? –Kelcy
Ausiello: Mode’s getting a new editor! Her name’s Amber, she’s in her 20s, she’s Asian, and is a master at the backhanded compliment. Casting is under way. Also, I’m hearing (and already laughing) about a possible mob subplot involving Hilda.

Interesting news about the new editor.  I like the backhanded compliment idea because it’ll add some missing snarkiness to the show (if you’ll remember, Charlie did this sort of thing all the time.)  It’s entirely possible that this character will be a rival to Betty, and will give America Ferrera a chance to show off her reactive comedic chops again.  Marc would still insult Betty directly, letting America use that “I can’t believe you just said that” look, and the new editor could say something that would cause Betty to use her “I’m trying to work this out to see if it’s an insult” look.

Of course, the new editor could be an ally to Betty (kind of a surrogate Christina).  After all not EVERYONE at Mode has to be mean to Betty when they first encounter her.

As for the mob subplot with Hilda, this is extremely intriguing.  Hopefully, Archie’s not mobbed up, but even if he is, this opens up all kinds of story lines, and I can see how Ana Ortiz would really embrace the story.  You can tell, the producers have been looking for a good story to tell at the Suarez house that fits the overall fell of the show – I think this might just do the trick.

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Ugly Betty’s Vanessa Williams spent time yesterday helping a very worthy cause, Dress For Success.  Here is an on-the-scene report.

Williams was at Grand Central Station yesterday, encouraging women  to donate their clothes to Dress For Success, an organization that donates clothes and gives advice to women to help them succeed in the workforce.

Vanessa said, "I am representative of working women, of women that want to look their best, who want to look and express their success in the way that we can and we want to help women that are in need and give them a start to look their best too. "

Sponsors of yesterday’s event committed $250,000 to the nonprofit organization.

Way to go, Vanessa!

Upon further review, it seems that Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle will NOT be appearing on Ugly Betty.

A representative of ABC has told EW that the rumors are not true.  EW blames Perez Hilton for the false report, but my source was British tabloid The Sun.  I should have known better, and for that I am truly sorry.  I had actually gotten some credible info from The Sun before, but they are no longer a source for this blog, as of now.

Anyway, it would have been nice and interesting if Boyle had appeared on the show - she would have been a refreshing change from the usual high fashion, glamorous guest stars (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

Keep in mind, also, that we’ve seen this kind of back and forth (it’s on!  it’s off!) when negotiations were ongoing with Lindsay Lohan to appear on Ugly Betty.  She eventually appeared on the show at the end of season 2 and beginning of season 3, but there were many reports that she was definitely NOT going to appear.

Anyway, dear readers, I apologize again for trusting The Sun.

Image: Newscom

British tabloid The Sun is reporting that Scottish Singing sensation Susan Boyle has indeed been offered a cameo part on Ugly Betty.

It was just too perfect, and SoBoo, as they call her, is still quite popular in the states, so this could be one of the better stunt-casting decisions made by the show.

The Sun reports that producers contacted Boyle about a month ago.

A source close to the star said: “Susan has been bombarded with offers of work in America, but this is something she is really keen on and we hope to make happen.

She will definitely play herself.”

I still hope she’s somehow “related” to Ashley Jensen’s Christina. And I’d love to see a speechless moment of recognition between Susan and Betty.

Now, as you may know, Susan was supposed to come to the US to tour after the final of Britain’s Got Talent, but she had what the tabloids term a breakdown.

She has since missed a string of dates on the BGT tour as she conserves her energy to record her debut album. Susan’s spokeswoman said: “Susan has many offers on the table. At the moment she is looking forward to recording her album.”

I think this could be done worth a laugh or two, and maybe bring a half a point in the ratings if done right. Plus, I’m dying to see what the writers and producers do with the “idea” of Susan Boyle. Hopefully, she’ll acccept.

Image: Bauer Griffin

A spokesperson for Ugly Betty star Ana Ortiz says she and her husband Noah Lebenzon welcomed their baby girl on Saturday.

They named the girl Paloma Louise (what a beautiful name!).  They waited till the birth to choose the name.  She weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces.  The spokesperson says Ortiz has left the hospital and is now Back home in Broooklyn.

Ana recently told OK magazine that the first thing she’ll have to do with Paloma is introduce her to the family pets.  "I have to get the dog and the baby to know one another so that will be interesting," she explained.  

I can tell you from experience, that sometimes is easier said than done. 

About Paloma’s room:  “The nursery is beautiful and it’s all eco-friendly," explains Ana. "It was designed by a woman named Amanda Moore and she did an amazing job. It’s like this light blue wall and the accent colors are golden and orange and wood. It’s just fantastic.”

Ana thinks she’ll have no problem with work/home balance. 

“I’m excited. I’ve gotten so much support from the cast and so much support from the producers and my mother’s going to come with me to set and help out," she explains. "I couldn’t ask for a better husband, he’s willing to do whatever needs to be done. Everyone’s so excited to have the baby on set that if I even see the baby while I’m working I’ll be surprised.”

In fact, the crew has already set up an on-set nursery for the baby girl in Ana’s dressing room. "There’s a basinet in there and a rocker. It’s hooked up. I’m so lucky!”

Congratulations Ana and Noah!

Image: Bauer Griffin

Michael Urie isn’t the only Ugly Betty cast member starring in a stage production this summer.  Judith Light, who plays the show’s matriarch Claire, is currently starring in A.R. Gurney’s “Children, and the Boston Globe has a very enlightening article about it.

Apparently, in the late 90’s, Light had fallen into a kind of rut, pretty much only working TV pilots and movies of the week.  She had turned down part in a play that she felt she wasn’t a right fit for, and her longtime manager, Herb Hamsher, challenged her about it and accused her of running scared from a challenge.

“I took that in and realized, oh wow, he’s absolutely right. I was getting into habits that were not serving me in terms of my work. I knew that unless I went back to the theater, I was going to keep digging myself in even further,’’ Light tells the Globe.

Being a gay rights activist, “I realized: I’m not living my life like the people who inspired me in the first place. I’m talking the talk, but I’m not walking the walk,’’ she recalls. “I had lost my courage, and I had to do something about it because I didn’t like the way I was operating.’’

She then decided to take the role of a cancer-stricken poetry scholar in “Wit” in 1999.  Light had to keep her head shaved and appear naked onstage.  All this while playing a character who was slowly dying.

The part turned out to be transformative.  The play went on a national tour to rave reviews.  Critics commented that Light had been missing from the stage for far too long. 

“That period stands as sort of the transition point in my life - one that was extremely empowering,’’ she says. “It was incredibly exhilarating and gave me a basis with which to move forward in my life and in my work.’’

The Globe story tells all about Light’s current role, and it’s well worth the read.  I did not know that Judith’s own mother had died in April, causing a conflict for the actress.  She almost didn’t take the part in “Children”, because during that time she was flying back and forth to Florida to take care of her ailing mother.

“I knew my mother wouldn’t want me to not do the play because of her,’’ says Light. “Because she had been so supportive of my career all of my life.’’

As far a her character on Ugly Betty, I’m glad she’s been brought into the fold as a more regular and important character.  Her interactions with Betty have been some of the nicest scenes of the year, and it’s obvious that she’s going to be involved in a major story line in season 4.

Image: Splashnewsonline.com

It seems that Ugly Betty’s Becki Newton has the same idea I’ve been touting on Twitter:  Amanda needs a love interest.  Interestingly, she has a strange suggestion for who might play the role:

Hmmm.  Simon Cowell?  I mean, I can see the personality compatibility, but it couldn’t last.  (Although I’d REALLY love to see Cowell’s very frank reaction to Betty’s wardrobe!)

Of course, she’s kidding, but on a serious note, I think I’m not alone in saying that Amanda most definitely needs a love interest.  Every other character (except Justin) on the show has had a go at a serious relationship - but Amanda is stuck in one night stand mode.  I guess you could count Tavares, the closet straight designer, but that was more of a fling.

I would suggest Matt, but I don’t think I can duck fast enough.  The pairing just doesn’t have any zing, although I could totally see Amanda going after the Sugar Daddy.  It would be interesting to see Amanda totally infatuated or even in love - her season 1 fling with Daniel showed a side we haven’t seen since.

Am I hawking this idea because I secretly wish to see more scantily-dressed Amanda bedroom scenes?  Well, that’s a pleasant side effect.  But really, although I’ve enjoyed Newton as the wacky sidekick, her character hasn’t had much to do in a while, and in a show with soap opera touches, falling in love is something to do.

Newton seems to be enjoying her European summer; I had never heard of “T4″ until I saw this video.

So, Ugly Betty writers, we’re reaching a consensus at UBN: Betty’s romantic entanglements are getting old - give us Amanda in love!

Ausiello has some casting news about Ugly Betty, and it’s big enough to give it top billing in this week’s Ask Ausiello column.

Question: Will Daniel Eric Gold, who plays Betty ex-BF/boss Matt, be returning to Ugly Betty next season? –Janeen
Ausiello: Not only is he returning, but sources confirm to me exclusively that he’s been promoted to a full-fledged series regular! But don’t take that to mean Matt and Betty will reunite and live happily ever after. In fact, I hear Betty producers are already cooking up a fresh obstacle for the pair, and rumor has it they want him to be lovable and blue collarish. (Think Seth Rogen only much cheaper.)

So, Daniel Eric Gold has been promoted to series regular.  (Mr Gold, pick up your phone…it’s Christopher Gorham.). 

Actually, this isn’t too surprising; Silvio Horta had kind of hinted at it at the end of season 3, and with all the "I love you, I hate you" story lines that are possible between Matt and Betty, the writers have a really good foundation for story lines in season 4.

Now, this "obstacle" (ie, another possible Betty love interest, if I’m understanding Ausiello) - made me roll my eyes.  He kind of sounds like Gio, although Gio was turned very quickly from working class sandwich guy to struggling entreprenuer.

We’ll watch the casting notices, but I like the idea of a Seth Rogen type (especially if they use pre-weight loss Rogen as the prototype).  Now that Betty’s an editor, maybe this young man is going to be her assistant?

Come to think of it, that might be the role of the beautiful African American woman the show is casting.  (Another idea is that she’s replacing Christina - SOMEBODY has to work in The Closet).

I love this time of year - the speculation is wide open!

Image: SplashNewsOnline

Ugly Betty’s Ana Ortiz is primed and ready for when she goes into labor.  Her baby, a girl, is due tomorrow.

Ortiz tells OK Magazine, “The bag is packed – mostly.  I need to get some toothbrushes.”

If she’s down to toothbrushes, I’d say Ana is just about ready.  Ortiz also talks about why she’s looking so buff, even at 9 months pregnant:

“Because they didn’t write [my pregnancy] into the show, it was kind of important to me to try to stay as much in shape as possible. It’s the first time I ever worked with a trainer because I didn’t know how far to push everything.”

Wow - like I’ve said before, Ana is made of stout stuff.  Pregnant, in the summer, and she’s working out with a trainer?  I don’t know about how it’s been in New York, but where I live it’s been one of the hottest summers I can remember.  I just can’t imagine being almost about to deliver and still working out daily with a trainer.

Apparently, the pregnancy interrupted Ortiz’s summer plans.  “I was actually gonna audition for [Broadway's' Chicago] and then I got pregnant,” she admitted, adding that she will “definitely” try out for the parts of Roxie or Thelma after she delivers.

Ana can REALLY sing - check this out - a song Ortiz recorded with Kyle Puccia a while back.

If there are any - er - developments, I’ll pass the news along (probably first on Twitter).

She could easily be Roxie or Thelma, if Ugly Betty and her new baby allow her time.

Good luck and blessings to Ana and husband Noah Lebenzon.

Image: SplashNewsOnline.com