Who is Becki Newton?
American actress Rebecca Sara ‘Becki’ Newton was born in New Haven, Connecticut USA, on 4 July 1978, making Cancer her zodiac sign. She’s appeared in 25 TV series and movies, but is probably known best for playing Amanda Tanen in all the 85 episodes of the romantic comedy series “Ugly Betty”, which Fernando Gaitan and Silvio Horta created, and which starred Tony Plana, Eric Mabius and America Ferrera. It follows ‘Ugly’ Betty who’s begun working at a large fashion company, the series aired from 2006 through 2010, and won 54 of its 176 award nominations.
Education and early life
Becki was raised in New Haven by her mother Jennifer Newton (nee Chase), who’s probably known best for being the daughter of the late American composer and music arranger Robert Bruce Chase, and father Thomas Newton; Becki’s brother Matthew’s an actor, moviemaker and acting coach.
Becki studied at a local high school in New Haven, appearing in a couple of plays performed at the school, while she was also passionate about sports, playing both softball and soccer for school teams. She matriculated in 1996, and then enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania, from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000.
While attending college, as well as at the start of her acting career, Becki worked as a waitress to financially support herself; she moved to New York City in 2000, and attended several auditions prior to winning her first role.
Roles in TV series
Becki launched her career in 2001, when she appeared in the comedy “Burly TV”, while she was then cast to appear in the 2003 episode “Look Again” of the crime mystery “Cold Case” and several episodes of the soap opera “Guiding Light” in 2003 and 2004.
In 2008 and 2009, she played Amanda Tanen in 12 episodes of the comedy “Mode After Hours”, while the year 2011 saw her cast as the main character Annie Matopoulos in all the nine episodes of the romantic comedy “Love Bites”, created by Cindy Chupack, and which also starred Greg Grunberg and Constance Zimmer. The series follows the life of a young woman who’s all about love, and it was nominated for two awards.
In 2012 and 2013, Becki played Quinn in 10 episodes of the hit romantic comedy “How I Met Your Mother”, while the year 2013 also saw her star as Chloe Goodwin in all the eight episodes of the comedy “The Goodwin Games”; it was created by Carter Bays and Chris Harris, also starred Scott Foley and Melissa Tang, and follows three estranged siblings who’ve met at their father’s funeral, and who won’t be able to inherit his $23 million unless they bond through several games invented by their father.
Becki’s three most recent roles in TV series have been in seven episodes of the 2019 thriller “Tell Me a Story”, 12 episodes of the 2019 comedy “Divorce”, and 11 episodes of the 2022 crime mystery “The Lincoln Lawyer”.
Roles in movies
Becki made her debut film appearance in the popular 2004 fantasy comedy “P. S.”, written and directed by Dylan Kidd, and which starred Laura Linney, Topher Grace and Marcia Gay Harden. It follows a divorced woman who’s fallen for a young man who highly resembles her high school sweetheart, and the series won three of its seven award nominations.
Becki’s following film role came in 2007, when cast to play Jennifer in the critically acclaimed musical “August Rush”, directed by Kirsten Sheridan, and which starred Freddie Highmore, Keri Russell and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. It follows a musical prodigy who’s using his talent to find his biological parents, and the movie won four of its 16 award nominations, including an Oscar nomination for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song.
Becki’s since appeared in only three movies: the 2011 drama “The Chamberland Sisters”, the 2016 comedy “Winning Ugly” and the 2019 comedy “Otherhood”.
Posted by Becki Newton on Saturday, August 1, 2015
Other credits
Becki sang the song “Gene Simmons is My Daddy” in the 2007 episode “A Nice Day for a Posh Wedding”, and the song “Milkshake” in the 2008 episode “A Thousand Words by Friday” of the series “Ugly Betty”.
Some of her recent talk-show appearances have been in “Entertainment Tonight”, “Live with Kelly and Mark” and “All About”.
Awards and nominations
Becki was nominated for a 2007 Gold Derby Award for Ensemble of the Year and two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2007 and 2008, all three for her and her colleagues’ performance in “Ugly Betty”.
She was also nominated for a 2009 The Webby Award for Best Performance – Webisodes, for “Mode After Hours”.
Love life and marriage
Becki’s quite open when it comes to speaking about her marriage with Canadian actor Chris Diamantopoulos, but hasn’t mentioned other men whom she’s perhaps dated.
She and Chris met while waiting for a train at a New York City subway station; Chris has more than 110 acting credits to his name, and is perhaps known best for starring as Savvas in the 2021 crime thriller mini-series “True Story”. Becki revealed on 1 July 2010 that she and Chris were expecting their first child together, and Becki gave birth to their son in November; their daughter followed sometime in the first half of the 2014.
Becki’s married to Chris Diamantopoulos as of April 2023, and they have two children together.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Becki’s a huge fan of American actor and singer Patrick Swayze, and some of her favorite movies include “Dirty Dancing”, “Ghost”, and “Jump!”
She’s an avid salsa dancer.
Becki can speak Greek, German and Spanish.
Her aunt Stephanie Chase is a famous American classical violinist.
Becki isn’t active on Instagram, as she dislikes social media networks.
She’s passionate about fashion, and reads a number of fashion magazines on a daily basis.
Becki’s a philanthropist, and has worked with charity organizations which aim to help underprivileged children and abandoned animals.
Height, eyes and wealth
Becki’s age is 44. She has green eyes and blonde hair, is 5ft 3ins (1.6m) tall and weighs around 120lbs (54kgs).
Becki’s net worth’s been estimated at over $2 million, as of April 2023.