America Ferrera Announced as New Host of Independent Lens

BTB is thrilled to announce that America Ferrera will guide viewers through the 2010/2011 season of Independent Lens, premiering Tuesday, October 19^th. She joins the distinguished company of former Independent Lens presenters, including: Susan Sarandon, Terrence Howard, Edie Falco, Angela Bassett, Don Cheadle, and most recently Maggie Gyllenhaal.

“We’re so pleased to welcome America Ferrera as the host for the ninth season of Independent Lens,” said series producer Lois Vossen. “America is one of the most vibrant young talents working in film today. The characters she has played — from Betty Suarez in Ugly Betty to Ana Garcia in Real Women Have Curves — are fully human, risk-taking women who inspire us with their ability to embrace life and all its challenges. It is in that spirit we embrace America’s new role as the host of Independent Lens, a diverse and fiercely independent film series.”

“I'm honored to be hosting this wonderful series of independent documentaries,” said America Ferrera. “ I love independent film

and I think it's exciting that PBS is making these thought provoking stories accessible to a wide audience.” America Ferrera is perhaps best known for her fearless portrayal of Betty Suarez on ABC's hit comedy Ugly Betty. This breakthrough role has earned Ferrera an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, as well as ALMA and Imagen Awards. 

Ferrera secured her place as one of Hollywood's most vibrant young talents with her starring role in the Patricia Cardoso film Real Women Have Curves. Her performance earned her a Sundance Jury Award for Best Actress, an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Debut Performance, and a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Performance for a Leading Young Actress. Ferrera was last seen in Rick Famuyiwa's Our Family Wedding opposite Forest Whitaker and Carlos Mencia. She also voiced the role of Astrid, a Viking teenager in the Dreamworks hit animated feature How to Train Your Dragon.  

Ferrera will next be seen in Ryan Piers Williams's The Dry Land opposite Melissa Leo and Jason Ritter.  Ferrera also executive produced the film, which premiered at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and won Best International Film at the 2010 Edinburgh Film Festival. The film will be released this summer by Maya Entertainment.  Ferrera also recently signed on to executive produce “Pedro & Maria,” the first ever interactive telenovela for MTV.