Betty star's exit 'makes sense'

Becki Newton says she's hopeful that Jensen will return

Ugly Betty actress Becki Newton, who plays bitchy receptionist Amanda Tanen in the show, has said that Ashley Jensen's departure "makes sense".

Jensen plays Christina McKinney and joined the series from the beginning.

Newton says her departure reflects a growing confidence in main character Betty Suarez.

Newton told Newsbeat: "Character-wise, what was so necessary about Christina in the beginning was that Betty needed an ally."

"We've seen it for three seasons that Betty can actually handle herself and doesn't necessarily need that ally that Christina provided. Betty's even found allies in her enemies.

Celebrity appearances

"Ashley's departure, it makes sense for Ashley and it makes sense for the show and I'm pretty sure she'll be back because we just love her."

The third series of the show returns to British TV screens on 24 June and promises even more celebrity guest stars including Lindsay Lohan and Adele.

Jensen appeared in Extras with Ricky Gervais before Ugly Betty

Newton says the cast and crew always welcome the new additions, who often get in touch with the show about making an appearance.

She said: "It's great that these people want to do our show, that they watch it.

"Most of the people who are celebrity guest stars have actually sought us out and they want to be part of the show and that's very flattering.

"We don't have slumber parties and braid each other's hair or anything when there's new guest stars but in general it's a very welcoming set."

Apart from the celebrity guests, there's another distraction on set in the form of Newton's character's dog Halston, which makes life interesting.

Steak waving

Newton said: "Here's what people don't realise about filming with an animal, I'll be sitting there with the dog and there's an animal trainer behind the camera waving a huge piece of chicken.

"So I'm trying to act and have some sort of dramatic moment and there's a woman waving a full-on steak, making little animal noises.

When we started doing this show three years ago we thought: 'Lets just make one really good episode'. Becki Newton

"It's so hard because I start staring at the steak because often I'm hungry and it's very distracting.

"The priority isn't necessarily getting my best performance, it's getting the one where the dog wasn't licking his own private parts.

"The standard of what ends up being in the final cut is a little strange."

As for the future of the show, Newton isn't too concerned about the Friday night timeslot given to the third series in the US - which has often signalled the end for a show before now.

She said: "We don't know what it means. We can just focus on making the best show we can. That's all we've ever done from the beginning.

"We have such loyal fans both in the States and abroad and it will evolve the way it's supposed to.

"When we started doing this show three years ago we thought: 'Lets just make one really good episode'.

"If we can just keep focussing on that we can't go wrong."