Wilhelmina Slater may be the only Ugly Betty character on EW’s list of TV’s Best Bitches (do check it out in the issue on newsstands right now), but for Vanessa Williams, who’s scored an Emmy nomination in each of the show’s first three seasons, bringing the ferocious editrix to life is hardly a solo effort. “The comedy comes from what’s on the page for sure,” she says. “Our writers are brilliant. I never know what’s going to come out of my mouth. And the people I get to play with are amazing!”
Williams says she especially enjoys when Willy is bantering with loyal sidekick Marc (Michael Urie) or baring her claws at rival Claire (Judith Light). “This season we’ve had some great stuff with Wilhelmina and Claire going back and forth, which is always tasty, because it’s two women of a certain age. Willy is basically calling Claire a corpse on a daily basis, and Claire retorts with ‘You scheming, conniving bitch,’ which is the reality,” Williams says with a hearty chuckle. And although the show’s writers have allowed us to see the softer side of Wilhelmina — through her failed romances, her rocky relationship with her father, her struggles to connect with her daughter — the woman never loses her beastly edge. “We’re about to shoot a scene, I think it’s for episode 11, and I’m tempting Becki Newton’s character with all this couture, luring her like the evil queen in Snow White,” says Williams. “I say to her, ‘Amanda, Amanda…it is Amanda right?’ After four years, she still doesn’t realize it’s her name!”
Of course, four seasons into Ugly Betty’s run, Wilhelmina often doesn’t need to say a single word to strike terror into the hearts of her underlings. “A lot of the stance, the carriage, and the facial expressions are where the real power lies. That’s what makes Wilhelmina great,” says Williams.”Sometimes it’s just a look or a sigh or a roll of the eyes or a turn of the back, and that’s weighted enough. It’s been my favorite role of a lifetime, and I truly enjoy coming to work every day.”
Check out bonus footage below of Williams during her photo shoot with Glee’s Jane Lynch and The Good Wife’s Christine Baranski to learn about the actress’s favorite Ugly Betty zinger, the reaction shot she most enjoys delivering, and the secret to surviving in Wilhelmina’s super-pointy, spike-heeled shoes. And for more on Ugly Betty and TV’s best bitches, check out Michael Ausiello’s latest Betty scoopfest, Tanner Stransky’s weekly rundown of the show’s best dialog, and bonus quotes from Mandi Bierly’s interview with The Vampire Diaries‘ Ian Somerhalder. (Yep, we’ve placed his deliciously evil Damon Salvatore right alongside Wilhelmina in the TV Bitch Hall of Fame.)
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I’m amazed Vanessa hasn’t yet won an Emmy for this role. She’s brilliant, and I can’t see anyone else doing a better job.
Agreed, Lorie. Although I’m still upset that none of the other standouts in the cast have even been recognized with nominations (Michael Urie, Becki Newton, Ana Ortiz), it’s almost a travesty that Vanessa has yet to win. I hope that she will triumph before the show’s end, whenever that may be.
I soooo agree. The whole cast is really quite talented, but Vanessa does SUCH a wonderful job as Wilhelmina – definitely the most “delicious” character on primetime TV today!
Have you realized that Vanessa Williams has lost all those Emmy’s to actresses on shows that are no longer on the air???
Yeah I have to agree! Vanessa williams OWNS this character and no one could do it better. She deserves an Emmy, especially since this might be Ugly Betty’s last season =(
REMEMBER EVERYONE – WATCH UGKY BETTY FRIDAYS ON ABC
The best role for her. Did anybody see her in Let’s dance?
I also think that several of the supporting characters deserve Emmys – Ana Ortiz, Mark Delicato both have never been nominated. I get frustrated with the Emmys because they see to award the same actors year after year. I didn’t watch this year – just waited for Internet reports later in the evening.
WHERE CAN WE FIND THE PICS! VANESSA AND CHRISTINE!
I am stunned every single episode at how beautiful Vanessa Williams is — in any color, any wacky outfit, anything. She is maybe the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and she’s only getting better as she gets older. She’s amazing.
Wow im glad to hear the kwanzaa line was her favorite because it was mine too. The other on i really like is “what is it white people and taye diggs” because its so true.
*one
she’s black? i thought she was mulatto?
What is it with network television, rather than keeping great shows like Ugle Betty on the air, they insist on canceling them and bringing on more more reality TV, which is why we watch more videos and PBS than network TV. Shame on them and bravo to Vanessa Williams and the cast you all deserve Emmy’s and no one else could have played Willy as brillantly as Ms. Williams!!!