LOS ANGELES (TNA) – Siblings have argued from the beginning of time, and “Ugly Betty” co-stars – and fake sisters – America Ferrera and Ana Ortiz are no exception, especially when it comes to sharing clothes.

“We’re like a family,” says Ortiz, who plays Betty’s older, but not necessarily wiser, on-screen sister Hilda. “We do stuff all the time together.”

But like all families, real or imaginary, the two do have their differences. Ortiz insists it’s nothing personal.

`Ugly Betty' cast member Ana Ortiz

“Betty is supposed to be frumpy,” she explains, “but I’ll be going through Hilda’s wardrobe and sneak a peak at Betty’s, and suddenly I’ll see an expensive Stella McCartney blouse in her closet!

“I just want to pick it up and sneak it into Hilda’s collection!”

Nevertheless, Ortiz has resigned herself to the fact that Hilda’s style is planted firmly in Queens, N.Y., with an extra-large attitude to match her loud, over-the-top outfits.

“I went home to New York during the hiatus and took a bunch of pictures of girls in Queens … It was very paparazzi style,” she says with a grin. “I was literally trying to incorporate New York style – there’s such an opportunity for New York to come through in the wardrobe without it being unrealistic.

“I was literally tearing out pages from urban magazines,” she continues. “I mean, [Hilda] just graduated from beauty school, so she has to step it up a notch. She reads magazines – she’s not totally clueless.”

However, Ortiz says she’s excited the costume designers have allowed her to wear a tacky gold “Hilda” necklace and earrings for the upcoming season.

Meanwhile, Ferrera says Betty’s style is evolving as well, although some of her signature pieces will remain firmly intact – despite the designer clothes.

“The braces are staying,” she says with a laugh. “I don’t know how long someone could technically wear braces, but we might have to stretch the truth a little on that one.”

And while she admits Betty’s wardrobe does contain some real Gucci pieces, that doesn’t mean she’ll become a glamour-puss anytime soon.

“Every once in a while you’ll see her wearing a $2,000 outfit,” says the award-winning actress, “but it just goes to show, it’s not what you’re wearing, but how you wear it. She’s still awkward.”

Aside from the wardrobe war, Ferrera says everything is great with her TV family, which includes Tony Plana, who plays father Ignacio, and Mark Indelicato, who plays Hilda’s teenage son Jason.

“We do stuff away from the set often – birthdays and celebrations and stuff,” Ferrera adds. “It’s a very fun set to work on – lots of laughing.”

In fact, Ortiz says she sometimes forgets Indelicato isn’t her real son once the cameras stop rolling.
“His mom is always on set because he’s a minor, so we’ve become very close,” Ortiz explains. “The other day we were sitting there talking and he was off like 20 feet stuffing his face with doughnuts, and all of a sudden he goes, ‘Mom!’ and we both turn and go, ‘What?’”

Although her parental duties sometimes spill off-camera, Ortiz says Indelicato’s real mother hasn’t become jealous of the bond between her son and his TV mom – she just chalks it up as good practice for the recently hitched Ortiz.

“I’m doing it backwards,” she says. “If I can handle a teenager then I’m good to go.”

“I keep Mark in check,” she adds. “As soon as he starts getting cocky we’re like, ‘No little man.’”

But that’s not the only ego left at the door; the girls say the entire cast supports each other’s achievements, and nobody pretends they’re better than anyone else.

Even Ferrera, who has been honored with Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards, among others, for her role as Betty, remains humble despite her success.

“I keep my statues right on the mantle-place at my house,” she says. “They get a little dusty because I work so much, but they’re fun to look at. They look fake because they’re in my house – it’s like I got them on accident!”

Ortiz says the cast still can’t believe how warmly the show has been embraced by audiences across the board.

“We went to the SAG awards, and the whole time I was like, ‘I can’t believe I’m here!’” she gushes. “It was so surreal – it’s still surreal!”

Indeed, these actors haven’t let fame and accolades get to their heads.

“I’m the worst to have to work with because when something is funny, I don’t hold it back,” Ferrera says. “If their close-up is facing me off-camera, I always feel really bad because once I start laughing, it’s all over – we don’t take ourselves too seriously.”

Season two of “Ugly Betty” premieres Sept. 29 on ABC.

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