Sofia Vergara Connects with Griselda Role

Sofía Vergara has shared how the tragic murder of her brother Rafael in 1996 influenced her portrayal of infamous drug lord Griselda Blanco in the Netflix miniseries "Griselda." Rafael was killed by the Colombian cartel during a failed kidnapping, an event that profoundly affected Vergara's family, particularly her mother. In a recent interview with Variety, Vergara described the devastation caused by her brother's death, which altered their lives forever. Years later, Vergara learned about Blanco's notorious history as a cocaine trafficker in Miami during the 1980s after her mother watched the documentary "Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami." Initially skeptical about Blanco's story—an unlikely narrative of a Colombian woman with four children becoming a ruthless drug lord—Vergara felt compelled to take on the role. Her journey to conceptualize the character began in 2015 after she connected with showrunner Ed Newman following her viewing of "Narcos." In crafting her portrayal, Vergara aimed to present Blanco as a complex character, one that audiences could empathize with despite her violent past. She acknowledged the challenge of not romanticizing Blanco, recognizing the gravity of her actions, including the deaths of many. Since its release in February, "Griselda" has become Vergara's highest-rated project, currently holding an 87 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting both the critical acclaim and the emotional weight of the role for the actress.