Connect with us

CELEBRITY

Sofia Vergara (‘Griselda’) on learning from her director: ‘He taught me how to smoke, how to snort cocaine – fake, wait, fake cocaine!’ [Exclusive Video Interview]

Published

on

Sofia Vergara is hardly the first person you would think of when deciding to cast the role of a real-life cartel boss (or “queenpin”). The actress who co-starred for 11 seasons as the feisty Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on “Modern Family” – a role that earned her four consecutiveEmmy nominations – certainly had comedy chops to spare. But after watching the 2006 documentary “Cocaine Cowboys” and seeing a profile of Griselda Blanco, Vergara felt an odd kinship with the kidnapping, murdering drug lord who wreaked untold misery while bringing cocaine to Miami in the 1980s. “I wanted to do more acting and was looking for someone that I felt I could (portray) because I don’t have any acting training,” Vergara explains. “That’s how I found Griselda. Not that I would kill anyone, or sell drugs, of course. But like her, I am Colombian, I’m a woman, a mother, I’m an immigrant. I had many things in common with her. There were also many things I found very, very unique and special in this woman.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.

The six-part Netflix limited series “Griselda” stars Vergara in the role of the notorious Blanco, a portrayal that required not merely an acting transformation but a physical one too. She had to go into makeup for three hours daily to don a wig, fake teeth, a prosthetic nose, plastic to cover her thick eyebrows and pads to flatten out her figure. She even adopted a distinctive walk to more fully distance people’s thoughts from Gloria – and Sofia. “It was hard getting used to the teeth,” she maintains. “I’d be screaming at someone and the teeth would come out. It takes a lot of practice not to sound funny, because I’d have to sound like a horrific person, a killer, so I can’t have a lisp.”

It wasn’t that Vergara had necessarily set out to stretch her acting muscles in drama. It was all about this character. It was actually 2015 when she pitched Eric Newman, the showrunner for the series “Narcos,” about her desire to play Griselda. Newman ultimately signed on and said yes to Vergara. Netflix was also onboard. “I’m like, ‘Oh my God, this is happening’,” she recalls. “There was so much about doing this that was new to me. I’d never been a lead character with so many lines. I thought, ‘I’m crazy. Why did I think I could do this?’”

Having director Andres Baiz (also born in Colombia) to work with throughout all six installments helped calm many of Vergara’s fears. She calls their collaboration “a dream,” adding, “He taught me how to smoke, how to snort cocaine…fake, wait, fake cocaine! Andres would come to my house before we started shooting and we would sit in my backyard or in my living room, and he taught me how to smoke. I was 50 years old and I had never smoked – never never never never – and he was like, ‘Sofia, you’re going to be in every single scene with a cigarette, it has to look like you’ve been doing this.’ So it was hard. I was like, ‘I don’t want to learn how to smoke.’ But I did.”

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CELEBRITY3 hours ago

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Make a Majestic, Picture-Perfect Appearance in New York as the Sweet Couple Hit the Runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show

CELEBRITY1 day ago

BREAKING NEWS: Jimmy Kimmel has shocked audiences nationwide by announcing the end of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and bidding farewell to America. On live television, he choked up as he declared: “I’m moving to Canada and will NEVER come back!”His statement immediately ignited a firestorm of debate: some applauded Kimmel’s decisive move, while others insisted he was sending a hidden message. But what left the public truly stunned… was the real reason behind this dramatic exit  a secret Kimmel has kept until the very last moment.” Details in the comments

CELEBRITY2 days ago

WORLD SHOCK!! After leaving a secret event, Elon Musk drunkenly hit and killed an old man and his subsequent drug onfession left everyone speechless…

CELEBRITY3 days ago

‘OBSTACLE TO PEACE’: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Bernie Sanders dodged giving President Trump credit for the ceasefire after they were pressed on whether or not he should be commended for the release of hostages. Here’s what they said.

CELEBRITY3 days ago

‘UNACCEPTABLE THREAT’: President Trump orders troops to keep getting paid in an effort to protect “military readiness” as the government shutdown continues to grip Capitol Hill.

CELEBRITY3 days ago

SAD NEWS: Elon Musk Fans in Tears and Prayer After Heartbreaking Update About His Son “Lil X” Read more

CELEBRITY4 days ago

TOUCHDOWN IN LOVE! — Brittany Mahomes shares a rare, romantic look at her date night with Patrick before the Chiefs-Giants showdown, from candlelit dinners to sideline kisses — the calm before the NFL storm has never looked this perfect Read more

CELEBRITY4 days ago

CARTEL CRACKDOWN: The Trump administration has reportedly revoked visas for at least 50 Mexican politicians and officials tied to drug cartels and their political allies. Most are members of the ruling Morena Party, led by President Sheinbaum, according to two Mexican officials.

CELEBRITY4 days ago

FIRST ON FOX: White House unveils criminal illegal migrants on Medicaid as shutdown over healthcare continues. Full report and details from the White House announcement

CELEBRITY4 days ago

“TURN OFF THE MONEY MACHINE, JEFF.” — In a stunning live broadcast, Neil Young announced he would pull all of his music off Amazon, citing Jeff Bezos’ open support for the Trump administration. The declaration hit like a thunderclap across the entertainment world. Within seconds, Donald Trump fired back on Truth Social, calling Young “a washed-up rebel looking for relevance.” SEE MORE

Copyright © 2024 USAenquire