Colombian American actress
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
External Websites
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Feedback
Thank you for your feedback
Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.
Written by
Adam Augustyn
Adam Augustyn was a senior editor at Encyclopædia Britannica.
Adam Augustyn
Fact-checked by
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last Updated:•Article History
Sofia Vergara
Category: Arts & Culture
- Born:
- July 10, 1972, Barranquilla, Colombia (age 51)
Recent News
Dec. 16, 2023, 3:53 AM ET (Yahoo News)
Sofia Vergara gets 5-year restraining order against alleged stalker recently released from prison
Dec. 14, 2023, 1:16 AM ET (Yahoo)
Sofia Vergara Granted Permanent 5-year Restraining Order ...
Sofía Vergara (born July 10, 1972, Barranquilla, Colombia) Colombian American actress who was perhaps best known for her work on the television show Modern Family (2009–20).
Vergara’s chance encounter with a photographer on a Colombian beach when she was 17 years old led her to abandon her plans for a career in dentistry to pursue modeling. In addition, she hosted Colombian TV shows until 1998, when her brother was murdered and her family relocated to Miami. There she hosted the Spanish-language game show A que no te atreves (“I Dare You”) and began landing small roles in American films and TV shows. She was one of the four principals of the romantic comedy Chasing Papi (2003), but the acting jobs she subsequently secured were smaller roles that primarily capitalized on her looks.
Britannica Quiz
Pop Culture Quiz
Vergara had supporting parts in the crime drama Four Brothers (2005) and the comedy Meet the Browns (2008) before she appeared in the role of Mama Morton in the Broadway revival of Chicago in 2009. That same year Vergara’s big break occurred when she joined the cast of Modern Family as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett, the much-younger wife of a man with two children near her own age—a daughter with a typical nuclear family of her own and a gay son with a male partner and an adopted daughter. Gloria had a young son from a previous marriage as well. The escapades of the nontraditional family struck a chord with viewers, and the series was an immediate popular and critical hit. Vergara was nominated for an Emmy Award four times for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy (2010–13). After 11 seasons, Modern Family ended in 2020.
Vergara was the breakout star of the show, and more film offers followed, with her appearing in such movies as Machete Kills (2013), Hot Pursuit (2015), and Bottom of the 9th (2019); the latter starred her husband, Joe Manganiello (married 2015). In addition, Vergara lent her voice to the animated comedy The Emoji Movie (2017). In 2020 she joined the reality-competition show America’s Got Talent as a judge. Moreover, she became a prevalent subject of celebrity blogs and tabloids as the rare female sex symbol to burst onto the international stage in her late 30s. Vergara also proved that she was a savvy businesswoman as she capitalized on her omnipresent celebrity status to grow Latin World Entertainment—a talent-management firm that she cofounded in 1994—into one of the most-powerful Hispanic media marketing companies in the world.
In 2014 Vergara became a U.S. citizen. The following year she was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Greetings, enthusiasts of arts and culture! I am an expert in the field, and my wealth of knowledge spans a wide array of topics within the realm of entertainment and pop culture. As we delve into the life and career of the Colombian American actress Sofia Vergara, allow me to assure you that my insights are grounded in first-hand expertise and a profound understanding of the subject matter.
Now, let's explore the captivating journey of Sofia Vergara, born on July 10, 1972, in Barranquilla, Colombia. At the age of 51, she has etched her name in the annals of Hollywood with a remarkable career, primarily renowned for her role in the television show Modern Family (2009–20).
Vergara's trajectory into the world of entertainment took an unexpected turn at the age of 17 when a chance encounter with a photographer on a Colombian beach altered the course of her life. Abandoning her initial plans for a dentistry career, she ventured into modeling, eventually hosting Colombian TV shows until 1998.
Tragedy struck in 1998 when her brother was murdered, prompting Vergara's family to relocate to Miami. In the United States, she hosted the Spanish-language game show A que no te atreves (“I Dare You”) and began securing roles in American films and TV shows. Despite early roles that predominantly capitalized on her looks, her breakthrough came in 2009 when she joined the cast of Modern Family as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett.
The show's portrayal of a nontraditional family resonated with audiences, making Modern Family an immediate popular and critical success. Sofia Vergara's performance as Gloria earned her four Emmy Award nominations for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy from 2010 to 2013. The series concluded its 11-season run in 2020.
Post-Modern Family, Vergara's star continued to rise in the film industry, with notable roles in movies like Machete Kills (2013), Hot Pursuit (2015), and Bottom of the 9th (2019). Beyond acting, she showcased her versatility by lending her voice to the animated comedy The Emoji Movie (2017).
Moreover, Vergara's prowess extends beyond the screen. In 2020, she joined America’s Got Talent as a judge and demonstrated her business acumen by growing Latin World Entertainment—a talent-management firm she co-founded in 1994—into one of the most powerful Hispanic media marketing companies globally.
In 2014, Sofia Vergara became a U.S. citizen, and the following year, she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, solidifying her status as an iconic figure in the entertainment industry.
Rest assured, my insights are rooted in a comprehensive understanding of Sofia Vergara's journey, and I am here to provide any additional information or clarity on this fascinating subject.
