UGLY BETTY's Vanessa Williams to Larry King: 'My Favorite is Broadway'

Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams guested on CNN's The Larry King Show and spoke on a variety of subjects, including her passion for Broadway.

See a theatre related excerpt of the chat below;

KING: Of everything you do, choreograph, write, dance, act, what do you like best?

WILLIAMS: My favorite is Broadway, because I get a chance to do it every night, sing, dance, act, play a role, work with a fantastic ensemble, and make it new and fresh and different each night. And also I live in New York. I drive down the Westside Highway. I'm there. I'm finished. I have a little dinner afterwards. I'm home.

KING: You're telling me you really like the new version of "Westside Story."

WILLIAMS: I have seen it twice. It's one of my favorite shows, but I love Bernstein. I love the music. It is the one thing that takes my breath away. Seeing Robbins, his choreography is just magical.

KING: You watch it then differently than I watch it, right?

WILLIAMS: I watch it, you know -- because I never got a chance to play any of that. That was one of the roles I would have loved to sink my teeth into.

KING: Are you saying you're too old now?

WILLIAMS: I'm too old. I'm 46.

KING: You always admit your age, right?

WILLIAMS: Yes. Well, it's documented. Who are we fooling?

KING: Always admit their age. You look young.

WILLIAMS: Well, thank you.

KING: What happens after "Ugly Betty?" Nothing is forever.

WILLIAMS: What happens? I would love to go back to Broadway. There's been a lot of interest. The last thing I did was "Into the Woods" which was in 2002.

KING: Sondheim, right?

WILLIAMS: Sonheim and Lapine both recreated and did this production. So that was a joy to work with both of them. So I'd love to do -- go back to Broadway and do something.

KING: Because you like to sing and dance and do it all and act and get audience reaction, right?

WILLIAMS: Exactly. There's nothing like doing it live and making it different every night.

KING: Is every night different?

WILLIAMS: Every night is different. And when you work with an ensemble, you never know what's going to happen. And it is live theater, so something could happen.

KING: And then that night when they see you will never be repeated again in their lives.

WILLIAMS: Exactly. Exactly.

Ugly Betty is a Golden Globe and Emmy winning comedy starring America Ferrera in the title role, along with Eric Mabius, Judith Light, Rebecca Romijn and Vanessa Williams. The series premiered on September 28, 2006, on ABC in the United States.

Representing New York in the Miss America contest, Williams became the first African-American ever to be crowned the winner. MS. Williams became a major sensation as a recording artist hitting the top of the R&B charts with such hit albums as "The Right Stuff," "The Comfort Zone," "The Sweetest Days," and the smash singles "Dreamin'," "Save the Best for Last," and "Love Is." Williams starred in her first Broadway role when she took over the lead in "Kiss of the Spider Woman" whose cast album was re-recorded to accommodate her applauded performance. Soon after, Williams recorded the commercial version of "Colors of the Wind," the theme to the Disney film "Pocahontas" which was a huge hit winning the Academy Award. Films to follow were starring roles opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Eraser," "Soul Food," "Dance With Me," "Light it Up," and the remake of "Shaft." In the interim, Williams continued to record such hit albums as "Next," and "Greatest Hits: The First Ten Years." She was nominated for Broadway's 2002 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for the revival of "Into The Woods".

"Larry King Live" is CNN's longest-running interview program. Premiering in June 1985 with its now-famous mix of interviews and topical discussions, the show features guests from across the gamut of business, entertainment and politics. Across the nation and around the world, viewers have made "Larry King Live" a part of their nightly television routine. Telecast each weeknight at 9 p.m. ET, the program also features phone calls, e-mails and web cam questions from viewers around the globe. CNN's "Larry King Weekend" airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9 p.m. ET.

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