Sofia Vergara is worlds away from Modern Family as she becomes ‘godmother of cocaine’ in bloody Netflix series Griselda
MODERN Family star Sofia Vergara is completely unrecognisable as she becomes Columbian drug lord for the upcoming Netflix series Griselda.
First look photos released by Netflix show Sofia playing the real-life drug kingpin Griselda Blanco, who created one of the most profitable cartels in history.
Sofia, 50, looks worlds away from being her usual glamorous, put-together self, the way she’s normally seen while judging America’s Got Talent.
This is her first leading TV role since ABC’s Modern Family ended in 2020 after 11 years on screens. However, Sofia’s new character is a far cry from her sitcom character, the glamorous, kind-hearted Gloria Delgado-Pritchett.
Sofia marks her return to the small screen with bigger involvement behind the screen, too. She teamed up with Narcos, producer Eric Newman, to create Griselda. The pair will also executive produce the new drama, while Andrés Baiz takes the helm as director.
The series, coming in January 2024, will tell the true story of Colombian drug lord Griselda, who rose through the ranks of Miami’s criminal underworld in the 1970s and ‘80s and is now remembered as the godmother of cocaine.
An official synopsis for the six episode limited series explains: “Griselda is inspired by the life of the savvy and ambitious Colombian businesswoman Griselda Blanco, a devoted mother who created one of the most profitable cartels in history.
“Blanco’s lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm helped her expertly navigate between business and family, leading her to become widely known as ‘the Godmother.’”
Speaking about the series, Director and Executive Producer Andrés Baiz said: “When we meet Griselda, she is a woman overrun by the male-dominated world around her. We also see her evolution as she makes use of her oppression as a means of terror — these images provide just a peek into the duality. The duplicity is what I find so fascinating about Griselda, and Sofía Vergara captures her essence fiercely.”
Co-Creator and Executive Producer, Eric Newman agreed that Sofia is the perfect person for this role: ‘’As a Colombian immigrant and single mother who came to America and built an empire, Sofía shares that personal aspect of this character and her passion for telling her story was undeniably the driving force behind this project.
“What will really surprise viewers is how she encompasses this complete darkness in her performance — a far cry from the beloved comedic star she’s known as.
“Finding her way to that place was her great challenge on this show, and seeing the successful transformation was a privilege.”
A series of first look pictures reveal Sofia looks completely different as she transforms into the role.
Her shoulder-length blonde hair is styled in curls, and her makeup is very natural. However, she still looks pretty chic in the first image that shows her standing in front of a car.
In another picture, where she’s standing behind a desk, it’s clear Sofia’s character is the boss.
However, in the next snap she’s holding a bat, so Griselda is obviously not afraid of doing her own dirty work when the need arises. And, in another, Sofia’s character has cuts and bruises all over her face.
Griselda will have a similar vibe to Narcos and although the two series aren’t related, fans of the crime drama will enjoy this upcoming limited series.
Griselda will be released in January 2024 on Netflix.