Rebecca Romijn has explained why she was cast as transgender character Alexis Meade in Ugly Betty, and the reality is…ugly.
Ugly Betty featured Betty Suarez (played by America Ferrera), who secured a job at a fashion magazine despite her apparent lack of style, surrounded by comically shallow coworkers.
Rebecca originally appeared in the first season as the villain Alexis, who was imprisoned in the basement of a fashion company dressed in bandages after faking her own death in order to have gender transition surgery.
The X-Men actor, 50, has stated that she would not portray a trans character today, but she has also explained why a trans woman was not the first option.
‘The executives at the time didn’t love the idea of the character,’ she told The Independent.
‘There was a real boys’ club running the show behind the scenes at that point. So to try and make it palatable to the boys’ club… they pitched me. And I jumped at the chance.’
Rebecca noted that, even though she wouldn’t accept the post now, she believed it ‘helped open doors’ for the trans community.
‘I’d like to think that, anyway. I don’t want to pat myself on the back too much,’ she said.
Ugly Betty ran from 2006 to 2010, when series was discontinued, much to the chagrin of its devoted fans.
However, in 2021, Eric Mabius, who played Daniel Meade in the comic drama, indicated a possible return for Betty.
Eric told TV Tonight that “something is being explored.”
‘We had an abrupt ending and I think that we all felt that we didn’t have enough time to finish telling the stories that needed to be told,’ he said.
‘I think Ugly Betty was ahead of its time and I think that it would be more timely right now than ever,’ he continued.
‘I continue to be proud of that, to be a part of such talent. It was probably the truest work family I’ve ever had.’
Ugly Betty is available to stream on Disney+ in the UK.
