Sofía Vergara found success in the American market at the age of 37 with Modern Family. She had broken many stones, first in the world of soap operas in Mexico and then on US television, but her self-confidence in playing Gloria helped her gain public recognition. Now, at 51, she is in another phase: showing her versatility and changing the image she has of her talent with the role of Griselda Blanco, the so-called Godmother of Cocaine.
The incorporation of Vergara in the Netflix project titled Griselda is not a simple signing. The actress has taken the reins of her career with this six-episode series: she herself created the series with Eric Newman, known for his work as the creator of Narcos, in addition to serving as the leading actress and executive producer.
In Griselda, she is inspired by the life of the cunning Colombian criminal, with an innate talent for illegal trade and organized crime. At the age of 18, she fled her home after being raped by her stepfather and, over the years, she accumulated power in the drug cartel, joining the leadership of the Medellín Cartel and being a pioneer in cocaine trafficking in Miami in the 1970s and the 80s, forging business relations with Pablo Escobar. And, in parallel, she had four children with two of her three husbands, who also allowed her to earn the nickname of the Black Widow.
“As a Colombian immigrant and single mother who came to America and built an empire, Sofía shares that personal aspect of this character; her passion for telling her story was undeniably the driving force behind this project,” said Newman, her creative partner on this adventure to redefine herself as a dramatic actress. “What will really surprise viewers is how she encompasses this complete darkness in her performance, a far cry from the beloved comedy star for which she is known,” she anticipates.
For direction, Vergara and Newman have Andrés Baiz, a director who worked on Narcos and Narcos México, in addition to the recent Sandman. “When we meet Griselda, she is a woman invaded by the male-dominated world around her,” Baiz explained about the production, in which he is also executive producer. “We also see her evolution as she uses her oppression as a means “of horror: these images are just a glimpse of duality. Duplicity is what I find so fascinating about Griselda, and Sofía Vergara captures its essence incredibly,”
At the moment, the public has a first teaser available. And when will Sofía Vergara as Griselda arrive on television? On January 25, 2024.
