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

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Judith attended the Broadway opening night of Noel Coward’s ‘Blithe Spirit’ at Schubert Theatre in New York City on Sunday. She later attended the opening night party at Sardi’s.

The black scarf and white coat are a wonderful contrast, and it makes me wonder about the dress she’s wearing underneath.

I love how the producers and writers of Ugly Betty seemed to have listened to the fans, and transitioned Claire into a wise, if flawed, mentor for Betty. Her scenes with Betty in episode 3.18, A Mother of a Problem, especially when she told Betty to “grow up”, were fun to watch.

Images: Newscom

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Light has, since her first appearance in season 1, brought a certain “seasoning” to the show. Where Tony Plana has been a grounding force, Light has added the other end of the spectrum. Her character Claire is world-weary, with a touch of instability, yet a fierce loyalty to first her husband, then her children.

Her scenes in and out of prison with Lorraine Toussaint as Yoga were some of the funniest the show has seen (I miss that pairing).

Once again, happy birthday, Judith! And Ugly Betty writers, please try to give her a little more screen time – she’s a wonderful bright spot in hte show this season.

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This reception was held by (who else?) the Artists and Athletes Alliance, a not-for-profit organization, operates as the nexus between the entertainment community and Washington, D.C.   They assist artists and athletes in navigating the halls of government, as well as helping them better understand the political process.

Also at the reception, held at Cafe Milano, were Tobey Maguire, Brandon Routh, David Arquette, Her Royal Highness Queen Noor of Jordan, Jeffery Ross  , Isaiah Washington, Jorja Fox, Luke Russert, Fran Drescher, and many others.

(The dogsitting and housesitting industries in LA and New York must be doing a killer business this week)

Judith looks very nice, in fact just a little more youthful than some of her latest appearances.  I hate these red carpets where celebrities are basically wrapped in coats, hiding their designer dresses and suits, but we all need to keep warm, so those are the breaks.

Hopefully, we’ll be seeing a little more of Judith Light on Ugly Betty soon.  She wasn’t part of episode 3.11, Dress For Success, at all!

Images : splashnewsonline.com

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I don’t know if many of you will agree with me, but I think this is a GREAT look for Ferrera. The pattern is just cool (She’s worn something similar before). Notice the eye-catching part of the dress is in the center. You fashionistas will have to explain WHY this works, but it’s extremely flattering on America. Now, for Judith Light:

The power look! Did someone send out a ‘black’ memo before this event? With hands on hips, Light almost looks Wilhelmina-ish. Yet, she looks beautiful as usual. Are her earrings Christmas ornament balls? Cool.

I would be remiss if I didn’t add that I think it’s awesome that there is a Shrek, The Musical. If any animated film was just dying to be made into a musical, it’s Shrek. Hopefully, they kept this version as whimsical as the original.

More pics of Ferrera and Light after the jump!

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The Brad Pitt film will be released Christmas Day in the US.

I Love, love, LOVE this look on Judith. Part Ellen, Part Elvis, it just looks right on Light. It seems like the kind of outfit they’d feature in Hot Flash.

As an aside, did they ever decide the final fate of Hot Flash on Ugly Betty? As I recall, Alexis was planning on killing it, but never quite did, and Connor later sold some underperforming magazines, but we were never told that Hot Flash was one of them. Y’all refresh my memory. Is Hot Flash in limbo (this is what I think), or was there a moment in season 3 where the magazine was actually dropped? I only ask because I loved the idea – it was so brazen and whimsical at the same time.

Regardless, I think Judith looks casually wonderful here.

As for the film, I think Benjamin Button may be the must-see movie for me this year.

More pics after the jump.

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Here are some photos of Light at the event.

This is a beautiful, sophisticated look for Judith.

Considering how quickly (in Betty time) Hilda bounced back from the loss of Santos, I’d say it’s time for Claire to get a little love in her life. And what self-respecting man of mature age would not go for this absolutely beautiful woman?

Yes, there is the whole acoholism and jail time thing, but she is a Meade, after all. Nobody’s perfect!

More lovely pictures (including one with Dick Wolf – so THAT’s what he looks like!) after the jump.

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“We’re going to see some stuff about Claire. Claire has some loneliness problems, some issues,” Light says.  “She’s got a very complicated psyche, so you’re going to see some of that coming out. Maybe she’ll start dating again, maybe there’s an old flame from a long time ago.”

An old flame.  Hmmmm, this could get very interesting.  In general, I love this idea.

This would be a good time to let you in on the strangest “ship” I belong to – Claire and Ignacio.  I don’t think this will or should happen anytime soon, but to me, it would be perfect in the final season.  The matriarch and the patriarch, joining the Suarezes and Meades in the most unexpected way.  This brings up all kinds of soapy issues with the Detty (Daniel and Betty) scenario, but this is Ugly Betty, right? 

About the show itself, Light has this to say:  “We’re doing wonderfully well.”

“I think people respond to the show what it is – it’s real heart and soul of who a person is that they don’t necessarily fit in with the rest of the world or what the rest of the world thinks is the right stuff.

“They are really the person with the intelligence, and the heart and the integrity, and that’s why people respond to it so much.”

Will the show stay successful?  “I think it’ll go to a long time, I really do.”

I certainly hope so.  The show has made a major turnaround this year.  Hopefully we fans who stuck with the show can convince those who had given up to give it another try and see how good the show is again.

Image: Newscom

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There is, understandably, a good amount of talk about Light’s work with One Life to Live.  I had forgotten her soap work, and she rightfully explains how it is by far the hardest work in show business.

It is enlightening to know that a) when Light was on One Life To Live the show had TelePrompTers (which she says she couldn’t use), and b) apparently, they aren’t in use anymore.

Judith seemed a little harried, fitting these appearances in between shoots.  One thing about Ugly Betty, it’s always had an aggressive shooting schedule.

But, doesn’t Judith Light look wonderful, and gracious, as always?

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More Emmy 2008 category semi-final lists are coming in, this time Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.  Not surprisingly, Vanessa Williams made the list.  More surprising (to me at least), is the inclusion of Judith Light.  Here is the whole list:

Kristin Chenoweth, “Pushing Daisies”
Conchata Ferrell, “Two and a Half Men”
Jenna Fischer, “The Office”
Jane Krakowski, “30 Rock”
Judith Light, “Ugly Betty”
Elizabeth Perkins, “Weeds”
Amy Poehler, “Saturday Night Live”
Jean Smart, “Samantha Who?”
Holland Taylor, “Two and a Half Men”
Vanessa Williams, “Ugly Betty”

Williams deserves to be here.  One thing about this strange season that most can agree on is that the Ugly Betty writers set Wilhelmina free this year, and Williams ran with it.  She really grew into the role this season, and is now synonymous with the Evil Diva on TV.

Light is a sleeper, but she REALLY grew on Ugly Betty fans this year, especially in her interactions with Betty.  I understand the screener for Light was “I See Me, I.C.U“, and this was a good episode for her.  So who knows?  Maybe she can sneak into a nomination.

It just seems to be a travesty to me, though, that Becki Newton is not on this list.  I don’t know who should be taken off, but Newton should be included!   She was outstanding this year.  Her performance in “Nice Day For A Posh Wedding” was incredible.

Shame on the academy for leaving her out (and Michael Urie too!).

Source: Orlando Sentinel

Image: Newscom

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