America Ferrara at the 64th Golden Globe awards 2007. (15 Jan 2007). Photo Credit: TV Grab18 Jan 2007 (BANG Showbiz) - 'Ugly Betty' star America Ferrera claims she was a real-life Ugly Betty when she first tried to get work in Hollywood.
The Golden Globe winner admits she felt attractive and happy with her appearance until she started going to auditions and realized all the other actresses were skinny and perfect.
Ferrera told Hello magazine: "I didn't know how fat and ugly I was until I started going to auditions. I don't feel that way inside.
"To me, it seems like the roles that mean something, the roles that really delve in and make people feel connected to it and make me feel connected to it, are roles that are flawed and the roles that nobody else wants to play."
The 22-year-old actress insists she never wants to be considered good looking in Hollywood, because it's not something that she aspires to be.
She said: "I never wanted to be a model. I never wanted to do ads for skincare.
"If I'm in the spotlight for something like 'Top Sexiest Girls Between 21 and 22', that's a little uncomfortable because it's not based on who I really am."
Talk back: Email your opinion on the subject for publication here to talkback@sawf.org