Sofía Vergara's Astonishing Transformation into the Fierce "Griselda"

For 11 seasons, we came to know Sofía Vergara as the feisty, funny Gloria Pritchett in the ABC sitcom "Modern Family." Three years after the series ended, Vergara is back with something completely different. In her new role, the 51-year-old is a chain-smoking, bat-swinging, gun-wielding killer. "All of my focus was that people were not going to see Gloria Pritchett," Vergara said. "That's what I wanted people not to see."

"Griselda," the Netflix series out later this month, tells the story of Griselda Blanco, a single mother of four and a notorious cartel leader. "She was this Colombian woman in the '70s and the '80s that actually took over the drug dealing business, not only in Colombia, [but] here in the United States, too," Vergara said. "I mean, for me as a woman, I was fascinated: How did she become even more ruthless, more horrific than any man?"

To watch a trailer for "Griselda" click on the video player below:

Blanco was among the first drug lords to bring cocaine to the American masses. Called the Black Widow, she was rumored to have ordered the deaths of hundreds of people.

Vergara revealed that she drew inspiration from Tony Soprano when creating her character Griselda. She wanted Griselda to be a character that people didn't hate, despite being a bad guy. To achieve this, Vergara changed her appearance by using prosthetics on her nose, teeth, and eyebrows. She wanted to disappear and fully embody the character.

The journey to bring "Griselda" to life began in 2012 when Vergara was introduced to director Andrés Baiz and creator Eric Newman, known for their work on "Narcos" on Netflix.

Baiz admitted feeling nervous as a director when casting a comic TV star like Vergara to play the role of a murderous cartel leader. He described Vergara as a national treasure in Colombia and expressed his admiration for her bravery in taking on a dramatic role. Newman praised Vergara's determination and referred to her as an empire-builder, believing that she can achieve anything she sets her mind to.

The result is a gritty portrayal, and a cautionary tale of the true toll of narcotics, which hits close to home for Vergara. "Unfortunately, I grew up in Colombia during the '70s, '80s, and '90s, where narco trafficking was booming," she said. "I know those people. I was surrounded by them. I know what they did. I know what that kind of business can do to a family, to a person, to a country."

An estimated quarter of a million people were killed during Colombia's decades-long drug war. Among the casualties: Vergara's own brother, Rafael. "My brother was killed during that time. My brother was part of that business. I know what it feels like. I know what that world is."

Vergara grew up in Baranquilla, Colombia. Her father was a cattle rancher and her mother was a homemaker. At 17 she was discovered on the beach and cast for a Pepsi commercial. "They wanted me to do it, but I was in a Catholic school. I was very, very worried that the nuns were gonna get super-upset, because it was in a bathing suit on the beach."

That commercial was the launching pad to stardom, but for a time Vergara thought success meant losing her accent. Moving to L.A., she thought, "I'm going to fix it." But it didn't happen. "When I would go to auditions all I was thinking about was my pronunciation and not about the accent."

She decided, she said, to "just be myself."

And she continues to do so, as an actress, producer, entrepreneur, and judge on "America's Got Talent."

When she first arrived in the United States, she never could have imagined the kind of career she would build. She expresses her happiness and gratitude, stating that it has exceeded her expectations.

However, along with her success, there have also been challenges. Last year, she made the announcement that she and Joe Manganiello, her husband of seven years, were getting a divorce. This news garnered attention from the world, but she admits that she anticipated it due to her celebrity status. She acknowledges that it is impossible to hide such personal matters, but she was pleasantly surprised by the respectful and kind treatment she received from the press. She expected them to invent more stories, but they simply reported the truth and she has been able to move on.

Vergara reflects on her life and describes it as wonderful. She acknowledges the hard work she has put in, especially due to her accent and being a minority. She believes that she has had to prove herself more and be more serious in order to seize opportunities. Despite the challenges, she expresses that her journey has been amazing.

      
For more info: