Isn't she lovely

Ugly Betty fans tune in every Tuesday at 8pm to catch all the latest episodes of their favourite series on Showtime's ShowSeries channel and we've managed to get a little extra for you. Gulf Weekly talks to three of the programme's stars and finds out a little more about what it's like to be a part of such a fun and popular show.

America Ferrara

What are your thoughts on the success of the show now you're two seasons in?

What's happened with the show is everything that we hoped for, it's insane. I can't explain it. I don't know what kind of special stars or elements have to align for something to get everything it deserves.

Have you been bombarded with lots of opportunities since the show started?

I am incredibly, incredibly fortunate about the opportunities I've had. But at the same time, I've had plenty of opportunities to screw it up, too. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is 'No' ... and not feel the need to do everything. It's about doing what rings true to me.

Does playing the same character ever get boring?

No, not at all there's something pretty awesome about staying with a character and growing. Just thinking about the end makes me want to cry. One day it's going to be over. Life goes by so fast.

How is it working with Salma Hayek?

She's fantastic. She's a mentor, a role model and so much more.

What do you think about the constant media scrutiny about body image?

I felt that Ugly Betty was going to be something that was really going to ring true to people. I'm just as vulnerable as anyone else to feeling insecure or self-conscious, but the fact that I'm forced to talk about it and confront it through work has made it easier for me to get over that.

How do you feel when you are all dressed up as Betty?

I actually feel so beautiful when I'm playing Betty. She has such a light and such a confidence that just comes out of her, and having to be in that character 15 hours a day ... I find that I'm a happier person because I have to be who she is most of the time.

Eric Mabius

What's it like working with America?

I just can't believe how unruffled she is, how she's taking all of this in her stride. We have so much fun on set. I've said this before and I'll say it again.

It's one thing to relate to her as a person, but there's something about her. My opinion is biased but other people have brought this up, when we have our scenes together, there's something that's heightened.

When were you first aware of the huge success of the show?

It only hit me when we travelled to New York to do interviews for the show. It was pretty overwhelming. There were police barricades outside the hotel; there were hundreds of people outside. It's exciting, it means people are watching the show, but it's intense.

Will Daniel and Betty ever get together?

The quickest way to kill a show is to have that unrequited love consummated. But, given the decade-long life-span of most television series, we joke it'll happen in season nine or 10.

I've always said that in the end, Daniel should propose to Betty, only to get turned down because she has another love. I have no idea if it'll be Henry by that time.

Do fans have a stab at you for being such a tart on the show?

A lot of people say, "Oh, you're that jerk on Ugly Betty". I don't blame people for having a pop, but I'd like to remind them that I'm not Daniel.

But on the upside you're also seen as the show's heart throb?

When we started the producers said, "You probably better go to the gym because you'll be having you shirt off a fair amount". But yeah, I get to bring a bit of the steaminess into the show but it's still tasteful steaminess for the 8pm slot."

Ashley Jensen

You've been very busy! How does it feel to be a part of one of TV's most popular shows?

I can't believe my luck. To go from Extras to Ugly Betty, I feel like I walked into the best show that went to pilot, that won Golden Globes, all in a matter of steps.

Ugly Betty is charming and delightful and just sort of tumbled into America at the right time. And it's hopeful too, with nice underlying messages.

So it's great to be a part of something like that. Because so much of what's on television is gloom and doom and you have to cover the children's ears. It's a show that everybody can watch.

Does working on the show and living in LA make you paranoid about your fashion sense?

That hasn't happened to me yet. No, I don't think I can yet afford to get myself tied into knots about that.

But because I play Christina the hopeful designer, I could definitely have a bad day, wandering around the streets and people would be like, "Oh my god, she is so unfashionable!" That could be embarrassing.

How was it moving to LA?

I came out to LA on my own, until my gentleman and my dog came out. That was a lonely time for the first two months. I think I sort of wandered around in a daze for a while. Literally wandered around.

Thinking, 'I can walk (in LA]. It's fine.' I got on the metro and ended up in downtown at dark. I'm wandering around in like a little red and polka dot dress. I was thinking, 'Okay, I'm not in Notting Hill anymore'.

What do you think is the secret of the show's success?

Everybody can relate to it, there are Bettys everywhere. Even though we may pretend we haven't, everybody's got a wee bit of Betty in them. Everybody's had situations where you feel like you're a wee bit of a fish out of water.

What do you make of the obsession with body image in Tinseltown?

I don't really understand it. I go through phases where I say, "I'm going to get fit". Then phases where I go, "I'll have a glass of wine rather than go to the gym".

Gosh, I'm in LA, and I should have a little fitness regime. But you see everyone running up Runyon Canyon with weights and things - and I'm thinking it's quite strenuous just doing a leisurely walk.

Have you had a Betty moment?

Oh yes many, the other day I left the elevator thinking I was looking quite good, I got out the door and was waiting on someone to bring my car around.

Then a woman came up to me and said, "Excuse me, can I say you have your skirt tucked into your underwear".

I'd walked all the way from the room, down the stairs, into the elevator with it tucked into my pants...