Ever wonder how much work does it take America to turn into Betty? ABC posts their secrets in how much effort to turn actress into the homely, ill-fitted main character of the new ABC comedy. Here’s how it’s done:
The makeup
To create Betty’s unruly eyebrows, makeup department chief Beverly Jo Pryor designed a special brush that she uses to apply a chocolate-colored cream eyeliner that gives the appearance of individual hairs. She doesn’t use a heavy foundation on Ferrera’s face, just a moisturizer that’s slightly lighter than Ferrera’s “beautiful skin,” because, Pryor says, “Betty doesn’t get a lot of sun.”
CLOSE-UP: Adorable America is gawky Betty
A little blush to the cheeks and lip moisturizer complete the look.
The hair
“We (made) a hairpiece to create the Betty look,” says Roddy Stayton, who runs the show’s hair department. “The look is supposed to be that she got up, shampooed her hair and just let it dry.”
The dark brown wig, made of real hair that’s a shade darker than Ferrera’s, has to be comfortable for long shooting days, he says.
The wardrobe
Betty has a fashion sense — you just won’t see it in Vogue. Much of her clothing is custom-made using bold colors and patterns, because it needs to “pop” on screen, and store-bought office attire has too-conservative colors, costume designer Eduardo Castro says. He also dresses her in vintage fabrics in style in the ’80s. Betty’s basic work outfit consists of blouse, vest and pencil skirt, fitted loosely to avoid accentuating Ferrera’s figure, he says.
Betty’s most memorable garment to date was a garish poncho, but not all her clothes lack style. “The skirt might be fine, but then we pair it with an outrageous blouse,” he says. Upcoming Betty outfits include a butterfly costume for Halloween and a reworked prom dress for a four-star restaurant.
The accessories
After a long search, producers found just the right pair of glasses — on Patricia Field, the costume designer for Betty’s pilot. Field donated the Alain Mikli red reading glasses, which looked good on her but have a cat-eyed shape that draws attention to Betty’s bushy brows and hard-to-manage hair, prop master Bryan Rodgers says. Another Betty prop, an odd-looking, pink-and-green stuffed bunny, appears tonight.
Betty’s braces are actually a clear plastic piece that fits over her teeth like a retainer, makeup artist Pryor says. Ferrera went to a dentist, who made a mold from her teeth so that the brace piece would fit properly. They “were customized so she can take them in and out. They clamp onto the teeth,” Pryor says.
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