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New York Magazine Profiles Penn Alum Becki Newton

Heather Schwedel Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008Wed, Nov 19, 2008

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.”