Becki Newton (born Rebecca Sara Newton), was born on the 4th of July in 1978. She grew up in Guilford, Connecticut, USA, together with her mother, father and a one-year-older brother Matt (who’s an actor as well). Already at an early age, Becki knew she wanted to act. She started doing musicals in elementary school because not only could she act, but she loved to sing as well. Therefore, the two siblings joined almost every local production they could. As they got older, Becki saw Matt graduating from college and moving straight to New York City and started working on TV. After seeing him pave the way, Becki pretty much followed his lead.

While in New York, Becki earned money by working as a waitress and simultaneously doing television commercials for Olive Garden, Kodak and other companies. She then got hired by the producers behind the TV show Burly TV, a comedy variety show aimed at college students. She hosted the show for a couple of episodes.

Her first “real” acting job (aside from the commercials) came with a guest-role on the first-ever episode of Cold Case, where she portrayed the young version of the character Melanie. After that she won parts in other television shows as well. She guest-starred in the season seven finale of Charmed, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and in a two-episode arc in the 1960s-set drama American Dreams to name a few. Becki’s first movie role came with the 2004-comedy/drama P.S., where she portrayed the small character of Rebecca (coincidence?). She played opposite Laura Linney, Topher Grace and Paul Rudd.

After a long day of various auditions in early 2006, Becki went to audition for the role as the bitchy receptionist fashionista Amanda Tanen on ABC’s up-coming comedy/drama Ugly Betty. Due to all the previous auditions that hadn’t gone so well, she wasn’t in a good mood and was quite bitchy as Amanda – and the producers loved it! Becki says she get her Amanda-attitude from all the girls that used to look down on her during school. After that audition she got the part, and the rest is history! Of playing Amanda, Becki said “I have always been playing nice girls. Amanda was a real character part and it’s so much more fun. I’m never going back to playing nice girls again”.

The show, based on the Columbian telenovela Yo Soy Betty La Fea, tells the story about Betty Suarez – smart, sweet and hard working. The only problem is that she’s not thin and beautiful like all her coworkers at Mode, the high-fashion magazine where she works. The only reason the owner hired her to be his son’s – Daniel’s – secretary, is that he thought Betty was someone who Daniel would never sleep with. Betty’s hard work and determination earns Daniel’s respect, as she helps him find his way through the shark infested waters of the fashion industry. Ugly Betty‘s premiere was very well recieved both by viewers and critics and the show was an instant hit.

As of today, Ugly Betty has won several prestigious awards such as Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild Awards and Primetime Emmys. Becki Newton herself was actually one of the ten finalist considered for a Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series nomination at the 2007 Emmy Awards for her role on the show.

The fourth episode, titled “Fey’s Sleigh Ride”, teamed up Becki with her co-stars Michael Urie (“Marc) and America Ferrera (“Betty”) with a fantastic result. The three of them together is comedy-gold on the show, and they have as fun filming (if not more) as we have laughing. Becki and Michael became instant “besties” (as they like to put it) and have been inseparable both on-and off screen ever since. The pair often attend events together, and almost always share at least one scene in every episode of Ugly Betty.

In May of 2007, the first season finale aired (with some great cliffhangers) and left many fans longing for the next season. Luckily, it all resumed on September 27, when we were given answers to many of the questions that were asked in the finale. New episodes of Ugly Betty was released on a weekly basis (Thursday nights), until the production was shut down due to the Writers Strike that lasted for almost three long months. The show left the air, once again, with some exciting cliffhangers and Becki’s character Amanda finally got to meet her father, which turned out to be none other than Kiss‘s Gene Simmons! Not until February of 2008, the cast and crew could get back to work on 5 all-new episodes to air in the spring. Due to the strike, the second season only contained 18 episodes (though great ones!), as opposed to the first season which had 23.

In the spring of 2008, it was announced that the production of Ugly Betty was being moved from Los Angeles to New York City. Seeing as the show takes place in NYC, the move makes sense. This brought Becki to her home town for many years, as well as gave the show a more authentic feel. The third season of Ugly Betty premieres on September 25th at 8PM on ABC!

Not only were we able to see Becki sparkle on the small screen in the fall of 2007, but in the theaters as well. She portrayed Jennifer in a small role in the romantic musical drama August Rush, alongside Robin Williams, Terrence Howard, Keri Russell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Freddie Highmore, as well. The movie hit cinemas on November 21, 2007, and is about a charismatic young Irish guitarist (Meyers) and a sheltered young cellist (Russell) who have a chance encounter one magical night above New York’s Washington Square, but are soon torn apart, leaving in their wake an infant, August Rush, orphaned by circumstance. Now performing on the streets of New York and cared for by a mysterious stranger (Williams), August (Highmore) uses his remarkable musical talent to seek the parents from whom he was separated at birth.

In 2003, Becki met her now-husband Chris Diamantopoulos, which she married on May 12 in 2005. Becki herself said that this is how they met: “We walked by each other and I started laughing because he was cute and he busted me checking him out. About 30 seconds later I felt a little tap on my shoulder, and he said ‘Excuse me, I think I might be lost. This area’s very confusing, maybe we should just figure this out together’.” Now isn’t that a story to tell the grandchildren?

Last updated on August 27, 2008.

Starting Out

Becki goes Ugly

Becki Newton – Movie star?

Love in New York City