Sofia Vergara‘s portrayal of the notorious drug lord Griselda Blanco in the Netflix miniseries ‘Griselda’ is a testament to her skills. Despite rising to fame through her wholesome role in ‘Modern Family‘, she proved that she could do it all.
The Colombian actress has now revealed that her brother’s tragic murder played a pivotal role in her ability to connect with the complex character.
Sofia Vergara’s Heartbreaking Journey Helped Her Portray Griselda Blanco
Vergara’s older brother, Rafael, was killed in a botched kidnapping attempt by the Colombian cartel in 1998. The loss had devastated her and her family and they were all left traumatized and clueless. “It destroyed my mom. It changed our lives completely. We didn’t know what was happening, why he had been killed,” she stated while speaking to Variety.
She further talked about being introduced to Griselda’s character in 2008 through ‘Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami’. The story of a Colombian woman rising to power in the drug trade resonated with her on a personal level. Moreover, despite the stark contrast between her own life and Blanco’s, Vergara felt a deep connection to the character.
“There are some real similarities between Griselda and Sofía, and not just their place of birth but their path: the unlikely rise of a single mother showing up in America going, ‘All right, here I am,’” explained showrunner Ed Newman. Sofia resonated with Griselda being alone in a foreign country and navigating her life.
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Sofia Vergara Did Not Want To Romanticize ‘Griselda’ In Any Way
Vergara was acutely aware of the dangers of romanticizing Blanco’s story. “I had to check myself, like, ‘Sofía, this woman just killed hundreds of people and kids.’ It was very difficult not to romanticize her or to make it seem like she was the hero,” she admitted. It’s not rare for people to romanticize serial killers.
Whether it’s serial killer Ted Bundy or Jack the Ripper, despite the horrible crimes, they had a lot of fans. Additionally, the actress was determined to portray Blanco with unflinching honesty. She wanted to capture both the ruthlessness and vulnerability of the complex woman.
Moreover, Vergara’s personal connection to the story resulted in the immaculate portrayal that fans got to see. ‘Griselda’ is more than just a crime drama for the actress as she deeply resonates with the character. Additionally, it has also undoubtedly left an indelible mark on her career.
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