The world’s highest-paid TV actress, Colombia’s Sofia Vergara, says that she owes her success to her Latin roots.
Speaking in an interview from her home in Los Angeles, where she is finishing up shooting the fifth season of hit comedy show ‘Modern Family’, she described herself as “very proud to be Latina, today and always.”
“Although Latin culture and everything hispanic is getting more and more fashionable, the reality is that we know that being Latina – having those family values, that work ethic, that desire to dance and that special joy – is just divine. It’s an honor and a privilege for me to be Latina!” said the actress.
“We tend to work a lot and complain little; we don’t like that common destructive philosophy of feeling like we deserve everything just because we do. We know we have to work hard,” Vergara said, before adding that even with her success, she knows it’s important to “keep [her] feet on the ground, reminding [herself] of how hard it’s been to get to where [she] is today.”
Discovered by a talent-spotter on the beach in her native Barranquilla, it wasn’t until 2009 that the 41-year old actress became a globally recognized star through her role as feisty Gloria in ABC’s Modern Family. She has since been nominated for four Emmy Awards, and will be hoping to pick up the best supporting actress gong for the first time this Sunday.
As one of the most recognizable faces in Latin America, Vergara has been able to secure endorsement deals with Diet Pepsi, Covergirl, Rooms to Go, and is the face of SEAR’s campaign in South America. She also has her own line of clothes at Kmart.
According to the recent Forbes Richlist, she makes $30 million almost 3 times more than any other TV actress.
MORE: Sofia Vergara is highest-earning actress on TV by miles
Now she uses her success to create opportunities for other Latin Americans that want to make it in Hollywood. The talent management company she founded in 1994, Latin WE, recently sold the Argentine television series “Killer Women” (“Mujeres Asesinas”) to ABC. In the US version a recently divorced, former beauty queen rises to the top ranks of the male-dominated Texas Rangers police squadron.
“We are going to produce other hispanic formats, adapt our stories, and give chances to actors, writers, producers and all talented Latin Americans that are working in the industry,” Vergara said.
“We are working hard to bring the creativity and talent from our screens to those of the United States and from there to the world.”
The actress has even considered working again in her native tongue, citing Pedro Almodovar as someone with whom she would love to work.
In October she will star in the sequel to Robert Rodriguez’s “Machete” alongside a host of stars including Danny Trejo, Antonio Banderas, Jessica Alba and Lady Gaga. This will be followed by “Heat”, with Jason Statham, “Chef”, with Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson, and “Fading Gigolo” where she plays Sharon Stone’s lover, with Woody Allen and John Turturro also starring.
Vergara’s very public spat with fiancé Nick Loeb last week in the Hamptoms seems to have been much ado about nothing. A shouting match in front of guests at a party over Loeb’s alleged philandering was dismissed by the Daily Mail on Tuesday as just another fight. The actress was still wearing her engagement ring when the paparazzi caught her out shopping.
Sources
- Sofía Vergara afirma que ‘es un honor’ ser latina (CM&)
- 65th Primetime Emmys Nominees and Winners (Emmys)
- Still engaged? Sofia Vergara pictured with engagement ring despite fight with Nick Loeb… as she waits to raise a smile on set (Daily Mail)
- Latin World Entertainment (Official Site)
- Killer Women (ABC)
- Machete Kills (IMDB)