Sofia Vergara

Sofia Vergara is a Colombian and American actress, television personality, and producer who became one of the highest-paid performers on American television through her long-running role on the sitcom Modern Family. Known for her comedic timing and her work as a businesswoman, she has built a career that spans Spanish-language and English-language media as well as endorsement and product ventures.

Early life

Sofia Margarita Vergara was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, in 1972. She initially studied dentistry before pursuing a career in media. She was discovered while still young and began working in modeling and television in Latin America, co-hosting programs broadcast across Spanish-language networks. She later moved to the United States to expand her career.

Career

Vergara began appearing in American film and television in the early 2000s, with roles in films such as Chasing Papi and Four Brothers, and parts on series including Hot Properties. She gradually built recognition in Hollywood while continuing to work in Spanish-language media, and she became known for her comedic presence and her accent, which she often incorporated into her performances. Her major breakthrough came in 2009 when she was cast as Gloria Pritchett on the ABC mockumentary sitcom Modern Family. The series became a major critical and commercial success, running for eleven seasons until 2020 and winning numerous Emmy Awards as an ensemble. Vergara herself received multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for the role and became, for several years, among the top earners in television.

During and after Modern Family, she appeared in films including The Smurfs franchise, Machete Kills, Hot Pursuit, and Chef, balancing screen work with a growing portfolio of commercial endeavors. She also built substantial business interests, including a furniture line, fragrances, a clothing collaboration, and other consumer products, and was frequently cited in rankings of the highest-paid television actresses, reflecting both her on-screen earnings and her endorsement deals.

Recent work

Vergara joined the judging panel of America's Got Talent, becoming a prominent face of the long-running competition program. In 2024 she earned strong reviews for her dramatic transformation in the Netflix limited series Griselda, in which she played the Colombian drug trafficker Griselda Blanco; she also served as a producer on the project, and the role marked a notable departure from her comedic work and earned awards-season recognition. She continues to work across acting, producing, and her business ventures, and remains one of the most recognizable Latina figures in American entertainment.