Sofía Vergara reveals her brother was killed by a cartel and reflects on her role as Griselda Blanco

Sofía Vergara opens up about her brother's tragic death and her challenging role as Griselda Blanco in Netflix series

Sofía Vergara, known for her comedic role as Gloria Pritchett in “Modern Family,” has opened up about her challenging journey to portraying the infamous Colombian drug lord Griselda Blanco in Netflix's “Griselda.” Vergara, who also serves as an executive producer for the series, revealed that her passion for the project was deeply personal, stemming from the murder of her brother, Rafael, by a Colombian cartel in 1996.

Reflecting on her brother's death, Vergara stated, “It destroyed my family. It destroyed my mom. It changed our lives completely.” Despite the tragedy, she was drawn to the story of Blanco, who she described as “one of the most ruthless narco traffic people in history.” However, it wasn’t until Blanco's death in 2012 that Vergara felt safe enough to pursue the project.

Vergara initially worried about being taken seriously in a dramatic role, especially after spending 11 years playing a comedic character on “Modern Family.” She sought guidance from acting coach Nancy Banks, who helped her tap into the dark emotions required for the role. Vergara admitted that the intense nature of the character took a toll on her, saying, “I was anxious… I had to start taking a little bit of Xanax at night to calm down.”

Eric Newman, showrunner of Netflix’s “Narcos” franchise, expressed confidence in Vergara’s ability to take on the role. He noted the similarities between Vergara and Blanco, highlighting the “unlikely rise of a single mother” who made her mark in America.

Vergara also shared her challenges in transforming physically for the role, including altering her natural curves to better fit Blanco’s appearance. She emphasized the importance of not romanticizing the character, reminding herself that Blanco was ultimately “a psychopath.”

“Griselda” has been a success, spending six consecutive weeks in Netflix’s Top 10, and Vergara has received a nomination in the limited series lead actress category. Despite the dark subject matter, Vergara expressed a desire to revisit her comedic roots, mentioning that she would love to return to “Modern Family” in the future.