Memories from the Set: Eric Mabius on "Ugly Betty"
4/20/14


Upon first reading the pilot script for the adapted telenovela that would become Mabius' biggest credit, "I really knew that it had a chance of becoming something," he says.

So he postponed his honeymoon to test for the part of publishing playboy Daniel Meade… though he didn't think he had much of a shot. "I just thought that they were going to cast someone who was more overtly smarmy or not very likable, which usually happens," he recalls.

So he went on to test for a little supernatural show called "Heroes", where the decision was down to him and Milo Ventimiglia for the lead. But "Betty's" siren call was strong. "So I went and shook hands, and the job was mine."






"I think everyone was shocked when the show was cancelled, not the least of which were the cast members," Mabius adds with a rueful chuckle. "We tackled a lot in the course of the series but I feel we still had a few directions to go."

"Betty" fans will be happy to know that the cast still keeps in touch and recently held a reunion. "That's rare," Mabius says. "That doesn't happen on any other show, I think."

And just in case you weren't already in serious Mode-nostalgia mode: "Judith Light will always be my surrogate mom," he adds. "I just love her so much."

http://tvline.com/2014/04/20/eric-mabius-signed-sealed-delivered-oliver-memories-from-the-set/#!9/eric-mabius-ugly-betty-memories-from-the-set/