Everybody at that timegood families, families with moneywere part of the business at some point.
Even, unfortunately, my brother.
Vergaras brother was killed by a drug cartel in the 1990s, when he was just 28 years old.
Sofia Vergara as Griselda Blanco.Netflix
There are things that happen in life that push you in the wrong direction, she says.
My brother had nothing to do really in this business, and for some reason he ended up there.
He was very charismatic, very generous, very handsome.
Sofía Vergara with Jeremy Maguire onModern Family.Jessica Chou
You wouldve never thought.
But people are not just one thing.
That doesnt make you a horrific person.
But when she first came across Blanco, in the documentaryCocaine Cowboys, Vergara knew nothing about her.
Im like, Who is this woman?
Im like, I know this character.
When I saw Griseldanot that I killed husbands or anything like thatI knew who she was.
But not everybody does horrific things.
I was the Latin wife, 26 years younger than this wealthy American guy.
So, I always thought, Theyre going to hate me because shes a gold digger.
What else is this woman coming from nowhere?
And it worked, she says.
In some ways, she thought someone would eventually dissuade her.
How is Gloria Pritchett going to play this character?
He didnt tell me that.
Hes like, Yes, its going to be amazing, she recalls.
And Netflix was like, Yes, Gloria Pritchett can do this.
So, I was like, OK, I can do this.
Right before production started, the magnitude of it hit her.
I was like, What the f*ck am I doing?
How am I supposed to play this?
What did I do?
Vergara credits acting coach Nancy Banks, whoalso helped Jennifer Aniston transition into drama, for building her confidence.
Thats what I did, she says.
Her meticulous preparation came in handy when, during Covid, schedules would rapidly shift.
I knew everything, she says.
She made me understand, in a more technical way, the process of actors.
What no one could prepare Vergara for was how her body would respond to the violent and emotional material.
Here, the first two weeks, I didnt understand what was happening to me, she says.
I thought, Im either going to die or lose my mind.
And then somebody told me, Just bite on a little bit of Xanax and see what happens.
And it was amazing, because I would calm down and fall asleep.
The thought of the months she embodied Blanco still gives Vergara the chills.
I did get a little bit traumatized, she says.
I dont think I can do it again.
I had no life for seven months.
On the other hand, proving to herself what she is capable of has been life-changing.
It gave me the confidence that I can do something that is not comedy.
Its great that I know that I could do a role like that, she says.
It makes me think, I can have a longer career now.
And Vergara is not the only one seeing the future potential from this performance.
I mean,Iwas surprised.
Griselda did things in that era that, for a woman that looked like her, was unheard of.
She was able to get to a level that not even many men get.
It was kind of impressive.
To the point that, from time to time, Vergara still has to check herself.
Like, Sofia, calm down.
You cannot be wowed by what this woman did, she says.
She was a monster.
