After spending 11 seasons in Modern Family portraying the iconic Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, Sofia Vergara is now set to take on a new role.
The 51-year-old actress is slated to portray Griselda Blanco in the upcoming Netflix crime drama Griselda, which is based on the life of the Colombian drug queenpin of Miami.
Known as the Black Widow or the Cocaine Godmother, Griselda Blanco was a notorious Colombian drug lord who was prominent in the cocaine-based drug trade and underworld of Miami, Florida, from the 1970s until the early 2000s.
Netflix’s Griselda: The True Story of the Cocaine Godmother
The Netflix series tells the story of Griselda as “a devoted mother who created one of the most profitable cartels in history.” According to Tudum, the series will show how Griselda’s “lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm helped her expertly navigate between business and family.”
The miniseries, inspired by real events, is set to premiere on Netflix on January 25. It was directed by Colombian filmmaker Andrés Baiz, written by Doug Miro and Ingrid Escajeda, and produced by Eric Newman and Sofia Vergara.
Sofia is said to be the perfect actress for the role. As per Newman, “She is a force of nature, and there is no doubt in my mind that whatever she sets her mind to she can accomplish.”
“She was perfect for the role not only because she, like Griselda, is a single mother who came to America from Colombia with nothing and built an empire, but because it was unexpected of her to do. Sofia has been thought of one way, a beautiful and brilliant comedic actress, and she is so much more than that.”
While Griselda Blanco was allegedly responsible for hundreds of drug-related violence and murders during the Miami Drug War or the Cocaine Cowboy Wars in the 1970s and 1980s, Vergara wanted her character to be one that people “didn’t hate.”
“When I thought of Griselda, I wanted her to be like Tony Soprano. I wanted her to be a character that people didn’t hate, even though it was a bad guy,” she told CBS News.
Behind the Scenes: Creating the Character of Griselda
To fully embrace the role, Sofia Vergara had to wear prosthetics and change her way of walking and talking.
“All of my focus was that people were not going to see Gloria Pritchett. That’s what I wanted people not to see,” Vergara told the outlet. “I wanted me to disappear,” she added.
Looking unrecognizable, Vergara transformed into Griselda by wearing a prosthetic nose, dental prosthesis, and a wig. She had her chin modified and her thick eyebrows concealed with makeup to make them look thinner.
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Challenges and Sacrifices: Sofia Vergara’s Dedication to the Role
In an interview with Digital Spy, Vergara shared she suffered from a back injury while filming Griselda.
“I was trying to change as much as I could without looking like I was in a Halloween costume.”
She went on to say that she “would wear a bra that was minimizing me and holding my butt so that it wouldn’t move like a Latin girl.”
Explaining how she got her back injury, Vergara said, “I put myself in a body position for six months that, the only time that I didn’t go to work was because I got up in the morning and my back, I couldn’t get up because I was at 50 doing this weird position walking and smoking.”
“Now I think I have a problem with a disk from walking like that.”
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She also told Spanish program El Hormiguero that transforming her figure “has been most difficult” for her as she was “accustomed to looking pretty.”
“I had never acted in Spanish, nor performed anything dramatic. I went home from the set of Modern Family happy in life. But in Griselda, I had to kill, do cocaine, learn to smoke, wear a plastic nose, teeth, a wig… I mean, everything was a nightmare.”
During her appearance on The Graham Norton Show, Vergara said she had to undergo hours of makeup.
“The hardest thing was that I had to wear a wig, fake teeth, fake nose, and have a plastic forehead. I also had to wear uncomfortable bras that pushed me down to make me look less Latin.”
Griselda Press Tour Looks: Sofia Vergara Embraces Timeless Glamour in Black Outfits
Sofia Vergara has been busy making the rounds on the press circuit to promote her upcoming Netflix series, Griselda.
The Colombian beauty looked nothing like her new character, radiating classic glamour in a string of black ensembles that mostly highlighted her famous hourglass figure.
Sofia Vergara’s Elevates Winter Outfit with Versace Heels
Sofia dressed down for her appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on Monday, wearing a dark gray top and loose-fitting jeans with frayed hems.
She stayed warm by layering the relaxed ‘fit underneath a thick black double-breasted fleece coat with a waist-tie closure.
Sofia Vergara promotes Griselda in loose-fitting jeans and a black fleece coat at Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen on January 15, 2024 (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Hiding her eyes behind a pair of oversized ombre sunglasses, Sofia elevated her casual look with gold teardrop-shaped earrings, and a pair of black pointed-toe pumps with slits, and silver metal heels.
She wore a pair from Versace, now on sale for $797 (from $1,450) at Luisaviaroma.
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Sofia Vergara Is Effortlessly Ladylike in an Alaia Dress and Black Choker
Vergara was earlier seen embracing her enviable curves in a form-fitting black maxi dress by Alaia on her way to the Live with Kelly & Michael studios.
The “Vienne” dress, $2,540 at Mytheresa, has the brand’s signature flattering, sculpted fit. It also features a contemporary off-the-shoulder neckline designed with the Tunisian designer’s iconic Vienne motif—an openwork laser-cut pattern inspired by lace and architecture.
Sofia Vergara turns heads in a black Alaia dress with a Vienne laser-cut motif and a quilted brown coat as she arrives back from Live With Kelly & Michael on January 15, 2024 (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
The dress also has detachable long sleeves with the same Vienne motif, but Vergara’s long brown quilted coat covered them up.
She added a black choker to the look for a ladylike vibe, finished with the same black Versace patent pointy pumps with cutouts and metal heels.
Romantic and Sophisticated in a Black Lace Dolce & Gabbana Outfit
Exuding a romantic yet sophisticated vibe, Sofia Vergara arrived on the set of Good Morning America early Monday morning wearing a black lace top and a pencil skirt by Dolce & Gabbana.
Showing a glimpse of her 32F bust, Vergara donned a black floral lace sleeveless top with a high neck finished with scalloped edges.
Sofia Vergara exudes a romantic yet sophisticated vibe in a see-through floral lace top by Dolce & Gabbana, a midi pencil skirt, and a black blazer during her appearance on Good Morning America on January 15, 2024 (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)
Sofia wore a black lace bra underneath the see-through top, which she tucked into a midi-length pencil skirt with side slits to show a glimpse of her toned legs.
Keeping things sophisticated, she completed her head-to-toe black ensemble with a black jacket suit and her Versace pumps.
Sofia Vergara Dazzles in a Sequin Minidress
Once again showcasing her hourglass figure, Sofia Vergara dazzled in a minidress for The Graham Norton Show, recorded at the BBC Studioworks 6 Television Centre on Thursday.
She put on a busty display in the tiny number, covered in glittering black micro sequins. It featured a fitted bodice with a sweetheart neckline held in place by thin shoulder straps and a flowy skirt that hung above her knees.
Sofia Vergara puts on a busty display in a black sequin-embellished mini dress with a sweetheart neckline at The Graham Norton Show on January 11, 2024 (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)
Sofia decided to forgo the jewelry, letting her already shiny minidress take center stage.
Her honey tresses were straightened and parted in the middle, and her striking features were highlighted with her signature smokey eyeshadow, mascara, rosy blush, and mauve lip color.
A Goddess in Schiaparelli Kaftan and Laura Basci Coat
Vergara channeled her inner goddess at the Griselda screening held at the Mayfair Hotel in London on Wednesday evening.
The America’s Got Talent judge made a glamorous arrival in a long, black kaftan gown by Italian fashion designer Schiaparelli, known for fusing innovativeness with simplicity.
Sofia Vergara attends the screening of Griselda in a black Schiaparelli kaftan at the Mayfair Hotel in London on January 10, 2024 (Credit: INSTARimages)
This flowy kaftan dress is made of fluid black viscose, featuring a loose asymmetrical cut with a one-shoulder long-sleeved design and a tonal calfskin cuff adorned with the label’s signature anatomy snaps.
The left side revealed a slit, which allowed Vergara to parade her toned pins and showcase her strappy black suede open-toe heels.
At one point outside the hotel, Vergara was pictured wearing a double-breasted floor-length coat by Los Angeles-based Swiss fashion designer Laura Basci.
Sofia Vergara wears a Laura Basci coat over her kaftan dress and styles her look with a chunky pair of ear-shaped earrings (Credit: INSTARimages)
Vergara kept the goddess look going by accessorizing with a chunky pair of gold ear-shaped dangling earrings and a few rings curated by her stylist, Charlene Roxborough Konsker.
She then styled her long hair in gorgeous curls cascading on one shoulder and wore copper smokey eyeshadow and mascara to accentuate her hazel eyes. Her heavy pink blush and signature matte mauve lipstick rounded out her glam.
Sofia Vergara Looks Regal in Alexander McQueen
At Tuesday’s Madrid premiere of Griselda, Sofia Vergara channeled her inner royal in an elegant long black off-the-shoulder gown by Alexander McQueen.
The four-time Golden Globe Awards nominee made a dramatic entrance in the black dress with a fitted ruched bodice, highlighting her curves. It also had a flattering off-the-shoulder sweetheart neckline and long sleeves with gold baroque embroidery encrusted with shimmering crystals.
Sofia Vergara looks regal in a black off-the-shoulder gown with crystal-encrusted baroque embroideries at the Madrid premiere of Griselda on January 9, 2024 (Credit: Cordon Press / INSTARimages)
Her trusted stylist, Charlene Roxborough Konsker, accessorized her stunning look with statement diamond earrings and rings, leaving her neck bare.
She then wore her hair down with a center parting, flowing freely over her shoulders, and opted for her signature glam.