'Ugly is the new beautiful,' says Angela Tong Ying-ying on TVB Pearl, as she promotes the station's latest hit, American TV comedy Ugly Betty. 'I've just watched three episodes - it just gets to your heart,' said Tong, 31 (above), who is a fan of the series. 'Betty stands up for the ugly people. I'm very proud of representing her for Pearl because it sends a good message.'
Tong's acting career has seen her take on mostly gritty roles such as mistresses, showgirls and prostitutes.
Tong made her name playing Lee Siu-ho in the TVB drama series Life Made Simple, for which she won best supporting actress at the 2005 TVB Anniversary Awards.
Not unlike Betty, played by America Ferrera, Lee was an unattractive, timid girl with a heart of gold and a wonderful singing voice. 'If it wasn't for that role, I probably wouldn't be doing the Ugly Betty promotion,' Tong said.
Since landing the promotion job Tong has been asked to play the lead - her first - in a TV comedy, which will also star Bobby Au Yeung Chun-wah. 'There have been a lot of 'firsts' for me recently - I have my own first song, a children's cartoon theme song, and I've also sung at some annual dinners lately,' Tong said.
Tong's character Lee may have a lot in common with Betty, but Tong herself won the Miss Chinese Montreal Pageant in 1994 and represented the city in the Miss Chinese International Pageant 1995. She didn't win, but was offered an acting contract with organiser TVB.