Sofia Vergara On Her New Series, Her Divorce With Joe, Her Boobs

[RAMROD 104,901]

Known for playing the unforgettable Gloria Pritchett on ‘Modern Family,’ the 51-year-old Colombian actress produced the series ‘Griselda,’ in which she portrays a bloodthirsty drug trafficker and mother who fled Colombia and created a cartel in Miami. ‘Women are not perfect,’ she says.

 

Q. In ‘Griselda,’ you play Griselda Blanco, a drug trafficking boss. How much respect did she command?

A. Empowered women are trendy now, but 12 years ago when I was drawn to the story and wanted to produce it, not so much. That was precisely what appealed to me: that the boss was a woman who had to become worse than any man to be the best of them all.

Q. Is that empowerment?

A. Griselda was a very badass woman… Women are not saints, [they’re not] perfect. The interesting and complex thing is that this woman had children, friends, employees. She was loyal to some and implacable with others. She degenerated [as a result of] power, fear, ambition and insecurities. Just like a man. No more, no less.

Q. Did you prepare for the evil Griselda while playing the hilarious Gloria Pritchett on Modern Family?

A. Yes. I had a huge hit with Modern Family. After the first episode, I became famous all over the world, but I’m a Latina who doesn’t look so Latina, and I don’t have the same opportunities as American actors. I’m not complaining, that would be ungrateful, I’ve done much more than I ever dreamed, but it’s harder for me to find roles. The way I look, I can’t play a scientist, or a judge. So, I decided to seek a life for myself.

Q. You can’t play a scientist?

A. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with being realistic. When I started on Modern Family, 15 years ago, I still looked a lot more exaggerated than what you see now. I’m not saying there aren’t female scientists like that. But those roles are not for someone like me. When I heard about Griselda, I wanted to play her. Because she was Colombian, because she was a woman, because I experienced the drama of drug trafficking, because my brother Rafael was part of that business and they killed him in 1996. Because of all that, I knew I could do it. And I did do it when I got them to trust me to do it. I got them to give me the money because I had already been Gloria Pritchett; I was always Sofia Vergara.

Q. Aren’t you worried that the series will be interpreted as trivializing the violence of drug trafficking?

A. We aren’t making anything up. That is my country’s history. All that happened. We Colombians are survivors. We lived through terrible times and circumstances. No one is laughing at anyone or justifying anything.

Q. In Griselda, the men allude to the character’s “tits and ass” as the key to her success. Does that sound familiar to you, Sofía?

A. Of course it does. It would be absurd to deny it or for that to make me feel bad. On the contrary, I’m grateful for [my] life. My giant boobs and my body opened doors for me; they were my passport to the world when I was 20 years old, when I started as a model, but today I’m 51 years old and I’m still here.

Q. When did you realize the effect your appearance had on others?

A. When I was very young, since high school, the boys have all wanted to be with me. Not that it made me feel any better, but you realize that they treat you differently. From a very young age, I’ve known my strengths and I’ve played to them. But if you only see my boobs, then that’s your problem.

Q. You’re 51, in full middle age. Where do you feel you are in life?

A. Oh, that sounds so horrible. No: I feel very fulfilled. I’ve done much more in my career than I ever dreamed of. I never dreamed of being an actress. It was an accident. I’ve been hosting America’s Got Talent for four years, a show where I have a lot of fun, I’m hosting this series all over the world, I have my own clothing and beauty brand. I can’t even think of complaining about anything.

Q. And personally?

A. Well, I’m newly divorced from my second husband [actor Joe Manganiello], who I was with for 10 years. My marriage broke up because my husband was younger; he wanted to have kids and I didn’t want to be an old mom. I feel it’s not fair to the baby. I respect whoever does it, but that’s not for me anymore. I had a son at 19, who is now 32, and I’m ready to be a grandmother, not a mother. So, if love comes along, he has to come with [his own] children. I’m almost in menopause; it’s the natural way of things. When my son becomes a dad, let him bring the baby to me for a while and then I’ll give it back to him and go on with my life; that’s what I have to do.

 

https://english.elpais.com/people/2024-01-15/sofia-vergara-my-boobs-opened-a-lot-of-doors-for-me-but-im-still-here-because-im-not-afraid-of-taking-a-risk-and-i-work-harder-than-anyone.html

[dimitristhe 1,553]

I love this woman. Such an icon! 

[Hyoha 1,610]

Is it just me or is this interviewer kinda shady?

[monstertoronto 8,779]

1 hour ago, Hyoha said:

Is it just me or is this interviewer kinda shady?

I got the same feeling. Like he seems to challenge her use of empowerment. Keeps referring to her looks being a reason for her success, says she’s middle aged.  I can’t imagine any of these questions being asked of a male actor of the same age.