‘He Will Laugh in My Face’

Sofía Vergara’s journey with the Netflix crime drama “Griselda” has been a long and passionate one, culminating in an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. In a video interview with IndieWire, Vergara revealed her deep connection to Griselda Blanco’s story. “I just love that character because she was Colombian. I’m a mother, I’m Colombian. Of course, I have not killed any of my husbands, but I would understand why she had to do it,” she said, laughing.

Though celebrated for her role in the hit sitcom “Modern Family,” Vergara initially felt the success of her comedic role might hinder her pitch for “Griselda.” She recounted feeling apprehensive before meeting with “Griselda” showrunner Eric Newman. “He’s going to laugh in my face. Why is Gloria Pritchett now thinking that she can be the most brutal drug dealer in the world,” Vergara remembered thinking. However, the meeting went well, and they hit it off.

Vergara and her fellow producers not only sold the series to Netflix but also ensured it preserved its authenticity by primarily using Spanish. “There was no way that you’re in a room full of only Colombians and they’re speaking in English that was not going to work,” she noted. Vergara’s involvement as a producer was crucial, particularly because she wanted to work with a diverse range of Latin talents. “I wanted maybe for one of these actors, ‘Griselda’ to become what ‘Modern Family’ became for me — to open doors here in LA, in Hollywood,” she explained.

To embody the notorious Griselda Blanco, Vergara underwent a significant transformation, employing prosthetics and altering her posture. She knew capturing an exact replica of Blanco was impractical. “Griselda was known, but it was not like Jackie Kennedy, that everybody knows her mannerisms, the way she talks and looks,” she said. Instead, Vergara aimed to create a new persona reflective of Blanco’s era, distinct from her own image.

Collaborating with acting coach Nancy Banks, known for her work with Jennifer Aniston, and working closely with “Griselda” director Andrés Baiz, Vergara meticulously honed her character’s appearance and demeanor. “I couldn’t find her. We had tests and different noses, different hairs, different eyebrows, and it was not just, ‘Oh, an ugly woman,’ or ‘Oh, a beautiful woman.’ It was someone that was not that beautiful, but had some kind of sex appeal because it was a woman that had men all over her all the time, manipulated men,” she said.

The creation of Griselda Blanco’s character was an exhaustive process, but it paid off. “Three weeks, I think before we started shooting, we had our last test and I saw her and I’m like, Andy looked at me and we knew immediately that that was Griselda,” Vergara remembered.

The experience of working on “Griselda” has been intense for Vergara, particularly as she drew from her own painful past, including the loss of her brother to the Narco wars of the ’80s and ’90s. Portraying such a complex and dark figure required Vergara to dive into unfamiliar emotional depths, a stark contrast from her usual comedic roles. “I used to go to set and laugh and have fun [with] lines that are amazing. I was not used to going to my house, exhausted from crying, from cutting heads, from shooting, from screaming,” the Emmy nominee shared. Nevertheless, Vergara believes the challenging experience was ultimately worthwhile.

Watch the full IndieWire interview with Sofía Vergara discussing her Emmy nominated work in Netflix’s “Griselda” above.