America Ferrera
Ugly Betty

America Ferrera endures almost an hour's worth of makeup to transform herself into the dowdy (though not quite ugly) Betty. Yet, ''surprisingly, I do get recognized,'' says the 22-year-old Golden Globe nominee, who notes half-seriously, ''It is a little upsetting.'' That ability to laugh off cringe-worthy moments is a big part of what makes Ugly Betty so appealing — and popular: The ABC dramedy averages 13.2 million viewers a week. ''The greatest female characters are the ones you love because they're quirky,'' she says, citing Bridget Jones as a favorite. ''It's channeling all the isolating and embarrassing moments, coupled with this sense of self-dignity that [Betty] has.''

For Ferrera, the dignity comes more naturally than the embarrassment, which requires tricky physical comedy. ''That's scary — I've never done it before,'' says Ferrera, who first gained notice in 2002's Real Women Have Curves. ''It's all about being able to let go of any nerves and make a complete ass out of yourself.'' — Tim Stack