New York Magazine Profiles Penn Alum Becki Newton

Our ongoing love affair with New York Magazine continues with this week's issue, which contains a profile of actress Becki Newton, best known for playing the fierce receptionist Amanda on Ugly Betty.  And Newton went to Penn, just like you!

I said to my husband, ‘I’m going to get it!,’?” she says. “But based on what? All my exquisite comedic work in a Nike commercial? Yet something about the character made perfect sense in my head, even though she’s so demented. I knew exactly how I wanted to portray her.”

Ugly Betty was Newton’s first serious gig; after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a history degree, she decided to pursue acting in New York, with the usual lack of success. “I auditioned for every play, even if they were looking for a 50-year-old African-American person, which confused a lot of casting directors,” Newton says drily. “Looking back, it’s horribly embarrassing, but I thought I was amazing. Somehow that prepped me for what I do now, because I’m not afraid to look stupid.”