A sneak peak has been given into Sofia Vergara's latest role and it's quite the departure from her Modern Family roots.
Inspired by the life of Griselda Blanco, who created one of the most profitable drug cartels in history, Vergara stars as the title role in Netflix's six-part limited series, Griselda, alongside the likes of Alberto Guerra and Christian Tappan.
The queenpin of the cocaine industry was a top player in the drug wars that tore through Miami in the 1980s.
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At the height of her scheme, the cartel leader used a 'lethal blend of unsuspected savagery and charm' which helped her 'expertly navigate between business and family,' a synopsis for the upcoming series explains.
As a result, Griselda became widely known as 'the Godmother'.
Griselda is produced by Narcos and Narcos: Mexico showrunner and directing team Eric Newman and Andrés Baiz.
Speaking about the series and the woman that inspired it, Newman says: "I have always endeavoured to humanise complicated people, many of whom have been considered evil, and Griselda offered both the greatest challenge and opportunity.
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“There has never been a woman who came close to achieving the power, wealth, and respect that Griselda did. And no trafficker, woman or man, ever elicited the same level of fear."
Rather ironically, Griselda also invented the shocking method of murder — coined drive-by motorcycle murders — that eventually led to her own death in September 2012.
After being deported from the US to Colombia in 2004, she was standing on the street in her hometown of Medellin when two hitmen racing past on motorbikes gunned her down.
They shot her twice in the head and she died instantly.
Newman continued: "Griselda is a rise-and-fall story like none we have ever seen before. It’s thrilling, emotional, funny, scary, and tragic. Griselda is an antihero of the highest order and a series of contradictions at odds with herself.”
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Although Vergara is best-known for comedic roles such as Modern Family's Gloria, Newman has described her as a 'force of nature' in the more serious role.
He said: "She was perfect for the role not only because she, like Griselda, is a single mother who came to America from Colombia with nothing and built an empire, but because it was unexpected of her to do.
"Sofia has been thought of one way, a beautiful and brilliant comedic actress, and she is so much more than that.”
Griselda will be available to stream on Netflix from 25 January.
Topics: Netflix, TV and Film
Bec Oakes