Christina McKinney

Christina McKinney
Ugly Bettycharacter
Ashley Jensenas Christina McKinney
First appearance	"Pilot" (episode 1.01)
Last appearance	"London Calling" (episode 4.18)
Created by	Silvio Horta
Portrayed by	Ashley Jensen
In-universe information
Gender	Female
Occupation	Fashion designer Former Designerandseamstress (atMode Magazine)
Family	9 unnamed siblings
Spouse	Stuart McKinney (husband; 2002-present; 1 child)
Children	William Stuart "Will" McKinney (son, with Stuart; born February 19, 2009)
Nationality	British

Christina McKinneyis a fictional character on the AmericandramedyUgly Betty,which aired onABCbetween 2006 and 2010. Christina was portrayed byAshley Jensen.Introduced as aseamstressfor thefashion magazineMODE,she is a close friend to the series protagonistBetty Suarez.She became increasingly involved increative directorWilhelmina Slater's schemes over the course of the show. Jensen leftUgly Bettyat the end of itsthird seasonto pursue other projects, though she returned theseason fourepisode "London Calling".Response to the character was primarily positive.

Role

ScotswomanChristina McKinney immigrated from the United Kingdom to the United States to leave her husband, Stuart, and pursue her dream to become a fashion designer. She was a seamstress atfashion magazineMODE,and worked closely with its then-editor-in-chiefFey Sommersandcreative directorWilhelmina Slater.She is a close friend toBetty Suarez,the assistant to the new editor-in-chiefDaniel Meade,and provides advice for her personal and professional life. Wilhelmina offers Christina a featured spot atNew York Fashion Weekif she anonymously leaves a package at a police station. Christina accepts the deal and is recognized as a promising new designer by the fashion community. She feels increasingly uncomfortable with her new career after learning the package contained evidence to frame publishing mogulBradford Meadefor Fey's murder. Wilhelmina was working with Daniel'stransgendersisterAlexis Meade,believed to have died in a skiing accident, to take overMODEas its editor-in-chief. Bradford is arrested at New York Fashion Week, and Alexis takes his place as the head of the publishing company. Christina refuses to participate further in Wilhelmina's schemes, but Wilhelmina threatens to destroy her potential career as a designer. In one instance, Wilhelmina prevents Christina from sending a custom dress forSarah Jessica Parker.When Christina tells Betty about her role in Bradford's arrest, their friendship is temporarily ended, though Betty later apologizes to her. Christina continues to help Betty with her love life, including telling her crushHenry Grubstickthat his girlfriend Charlie cheated on him and may be pregnant with another man's child.

Christina joins anonline dating service,and accidentally reconnects with Stuart. He comes to New York City to see Christina, and they have sex in Fey's "love dungeon", a room built in theMODEfor her daily trysts with Bradford. After Christina finds a needle in his rucksack, Stuart explains that he hasliver failure,and has six months to live. He believe that an experimental treatment could save him, but it is too expensive. Christina promises to help Stuart with the money, but she later realizes that her insurance would not cover the procedure. Wilhelmina offers Christina the money for Stuart's operation on the condition that she becomes hersurrogate.She is uncertain about the offer after discovering that Wilhelmina is using Bradford's sperm, which she procured after his death during their wedding ceremony. However, Christina agrees to the deal, and Betty acts as her confidant. Wilhelmina forces Christina to live in her apartment to monitor her pregnancy.

When Christina suspects that Stuart is using drugs again, she sends his hair to a lab for testing. After the results are positive, Christina breaks up with him after threatening to call immigration services. Alexis pushes Christina down a flight of stars in a blind rage because the baby she is carrying represent Wilhelmina's opportunity to take overMODE.Christina is briefly hospitalized for her injuries. While Wilhelmina initially plays up the incident to gain attention from the press, she later sympathizes with Christina and takes better care of her. Christina learns that Stuart's medical procedures were unsuccessful, though his health gradually improves over time. Christina gives birth to a boy, William, during the New York Fashion Week. Christina believes that the baby may actually be hers; since Wilhelmina is using the child to claim a stake in the Meade fortune and a place atMODE,she fabricates DNA results that show her as the biological mother. She also bans Christina from seeing the child. Christina kidnaps William, but is eventually caught by Wilhelmina. Betty convinces Wilhelmina to admit the truth about the child's parentage, though she also does so to appeal to the magazine's new partnerCalvin Hartleyas a ruthless businesswoman. Now that William has brought them together as a family, Christina and Stuart decide to go back to Edinburgh with their son. Betty reunites with Christina during abachelorette partyfor her sisterHilda Suarezin London.

Development

While vacationing in the United States,Ashley Jensenauditioned for multiple television projects as part of thepilot seasonat the suggestion of her talent agent.She was attracted toUgly Bettyfor its comedy and treatment of more serious subject matters such as body issues.Since Christina was developed as "a fast-talking New Yorker", Jenson mimicked aNew York accentfor her audition.However, the casting agents encouraged Jensen to use her naturalScottish accentinstead, leading to the character being rewritten as a British immigrant.Before receiving the part, Jensen did ascreen testand met with the show's producerSalma Hayek.According toThe Independent,Jensen's performance asMaggie Jacobson the British sitcomExtrashelped her to secure the role onUgly Betty.Jensen moved to Los Angeles after thepilot episodewas filmed,though her husbandTerence Beesleywas unable to come with her until later.

According to Robert Lloyd of theLos Angeles Times,Christina had fewer lines than the other main characters during the show'sfirst season.Lloyd described Jensen as taking on the "difficult and thankless role [of] the best friend", who is frequently relegated to providingexpositionand advice.Jensen leftUgly Bettyat the end of itsthird season,despite denying reports in January 2009.After the show moved to New York City for its fourth season, Jensen chose to remain in Los Angeles.When discussing her departure, Jensen explained "they didn't quite know what to do with my character", and she wanted to pursue other projects.The show's executive producerSilvio Hortasaid Jensen would return for future episodes.

Reception

Christina McKinney was praised by critics. During his review of the pilot episode, Matthew Gilbert ofThe Boston Globefelt that Christina had potential, but required more screen time.While reviewing the first season,DVD Talk's Jeffrey Robinson cited Christina, along withMarc St. James,as underdeveloped, but wrote "they still bring quite a lot to the table in drama and comedy".Melanie McFarland of theSeattle Post-Intelligencerwrote that Christina "grants a necessary warm contrast to all the hideous behavior".In a 2009 article, a reviewer forAfterEllenpraised Christina as the "most consistently funny character", and was critical of her removal from the show.