In a press release sent out earlier today, ABC announced that legendary actress Rita Moreno will guest star in the Ugly Betty season finale as Aunt Mirta, a Suarez family member. Moreno, who won countless of awards along the years including an Oscar, has starred in numerous TV series and movies. Recently, she was seen as Frances Goran in two episodes of Law & Order: Criminal Intent and on George Lopez as Luisa Diaz.
Joining Moreno in the Ugly Betty finale are Six Feet Under's Justina Machado, as Cousin Clara, and Vanished's Rebecca Gayheart, set to play someone from Alex(is)'s past.
TV fans may also remember that Justina Machado played Sunny Estrada on 1-800-Missing and recently guest starred in episodes of Ghost Whisperer and Grey's Anatomy. Aside from Vanished, Rebecca Gayheart starred in TV shows such as Earth 2, Beverly Hills 90210, Wasteland, and Dead Like Me and also played a blind character who undergoes surgery and has a fling with Christian Troy in a few episodes of Nip/Tuck.
Moreno, Machado and Gayheart will join America Ferrera, Eric Mabius, Rebecca Romjin, Vanessa Williams and the other Ugly Betty cast members in an episode titled "A Tree Grows in Guadalajara" that will air sometime in May.
Ugly Betty airs on Thursdays at 8 p.m. on ABC.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-11-2007 @ 9:48PM
Michelle said...
Oh No! I hope this isn't going to become another pointless celebrity fest like "Will and Grace." Totally unnecessary celebrity parades (Lucy Liu, anyone?) do nothing for a show with great characters already.
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4-11-2007 @ 11:29PM
Porchland said...
Star studded? Mmm, hyperbole meter is pitching up.
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4-12-2007 @ 8:26AM
Michael said...
Michelle, I actually enjoyed Lucy Liu's guest stint on the show. She's a terrific asset to virtually everything I've seen her in. She's at her best when she plays it to the hilt the way she did on Betty.
Your point about the show turning into a celebrity parade is a good one though. When Will and Grace did it, they were struggling for ratings and it really WAS pointless to have these stars show up. Betty has some of the best writing on TV right now. The show doesn't need anything to prop it up in the ratings. Besides, none of the guest stars are showing up as themselves!
I suppose my point is as long as these special guests don't detract from the story line and become the focus of the show then it will be fine. Someone has to play these roles, they might as well give them to those who has earned it. I haven't had a single complaint in casting for this show yet. Casting Rebecca Romijn as Alex/is could very well been seen as celebrity stuntcasting however I think she is simply BRILLIANT in the role. The same goes for Vanessa Williams - she's deliciously evil in her role as Wilhelmina. Salma Hayek knows what she's doing... keep up the great work!
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