Sofía Vergara facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sofía Vergara
Vergara in 2019
Born	Sofía Margarita Vergara Vergara (1972-07-10) July 10, 1972 (age 52) Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
Citizenship	Colombia (by birthplace) United States (naturalized)
Occupation	Actress television personality
Years active	1995–present
Spouse(s)	Joe Gonzalez ​ ​ (m. 1991; div. 1993)​ Joe Manganiello ​ ​ (m. 2015; div. 2024)​
Children	1
Relatives	Sandra Vergara (cousin, adopted sister)

Sofía Margarita Vergara Vergara (born July 10, 1972) is a famous actress and TV personality from Colombia and the United States. She is best known for playing Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in the popular TV show Modern Family (2009–2020). She also starred as Griselda Blanco in the Netflix series Griselda (2024).

Sofía has been nominated many times for big awards like the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. Her success on Modern Family made her one of the highest-paid actresses in the United States. In the late 1990s, she became well-known by hosting two TV shows for the Spanish-language network Univision.

She has appeared in many movies, including Chasing Papi (2003), Four Brothers (2005), and Hot Pursuit (2015). Sofía has also lent her voice to animated films like Happy Feet Two (2011), The Emoji Movie (2017), and Despicable Me 4 (2024). Since 2020, she has been a judge on the TV talent show America's Got Talent. Besides acting, Sofía is a successful businesswoman and a brand ambassador for various products.

Early Life and First Steps

Sofía Vergara was born in Barranquilla, Colombia. Her family was Roman Catholic. Her mother, Margarita, was a homemaker, and her father, Julio, was a cattle rancher. Her five siblings and many cousins called her "Toti."

Sofía first studied dentistry at the National University of Colombia. She left her studies just two semesters before finishing to follow her dreams in modeling and show business. In 1998, Sofía moved to the United States and settled in Miami, Florida. Her cousin, Sandra Vergara, who is also her adopted sister, is an actress in the U.S.

How Sofía Started Her Career

Sofía was discovered by a photographer while walking on a beach in Colombia. Soon after, she received offers for modeling and TV work. She was a bit nervous about doing her first TV commercial. However, her Catholic school teachers gave her permission, so she took the job. She was 17 years old when she first appeared in a Pepsi commercial that aired in Latin America. After this, she began studying acting at the Creative Workshops School of Acting.

Sofía Vergara in 2009

In 2009, Sofía performed on Broadway in the musical Chicago for six weeks. In July 2011, she finished filming The Three Stooges. This was her first main role in a big movie. In April 2012, she appeared in her son Manolo's YouTube web series called Vida con Toty.

Becoming a Star on Modern Family

Sofía became very famous for her role as Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in the ABC sitcom Modern Family. For this role, she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series multiple times.

In 2012, Forbes.com reported that Sofía was the highest-earning woman in U.S. television. She earned $19 million in just 12 months. People magazine named her one of the "50 most beautiful people." Both The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard recognized her as one of the most influential Latin women in Hollywood. On May 7, 2015, Sofía received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. By September 2016, Forbes reported that she was the highest-paid actress on television, earning $43 million that year.

In February 2020, it was announced that Sofía would join America's Got Talent as a judge. She has been a judge on the show for several seasons since then. In 2024, Sofía made history by becoming the first Latina born in a Latin American country to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. This nomination was for her role as Griselda Blanco in the miniseries Griselda.

Sofía's Business Ventures

Sofía Vergara in 2017

Sofía is also a smart businesswoman. In 2011, she announced that she was designing a clothing line for Kmart. That same year, she became the face of CoverGirl makeup. She also appeared in commercials for Diet Pepsi with David Beckham, and for Comcast's Xfinity and State Farm. In 2013, she signed more deals with Diet Pepsi and Rooms To Go.

Sofía launched her own furniture line with Rooms To Go in 2013. She wanted to create furniture that was both well-made and affordable. She said, "Everyone should be able to make their home look amazing and be proud of their home." In 2014, Sofía became a brand ambassador for Head & Shoulders shampoo.

She launched her first fragrance called "Sofia by Sofia Vergara" in 2014. Since then, she has released four more perfumes. In June 2023, Sofía launched her own beauty brand called Toty. The brand's name comes from her childhood nickname. In 2024, Sofía also started Dios Mios Coffee, a coffee brand that supports female coffee growers in Colombia.

Sofía's Personal Life

Sofía Vergara naturally has blonde hair. However, for many of her movie and TV roles, she is asked to color her hair dark brown or black. This is often done to make her look more like a typical Hispanic person.

Sofía married her high-school sweetheart, Joe Gonzalez, when she was 18. They had a son named Manolo, who was born in Colombia in 1991. They divorced in 1993. Later, Sofía was engaged to Nick Loeb in 2012, but they called off their engagement in 2014.

In 2014, Sofía became engaged to actor Joe Manganiello. They got married in Palm Beach, Florida, on November 21, 2015. After seven years of marriage, they announced their separation in July 2023, and their divorce was finalized in February 2024. She later dated orthopedic surgeon Justin Saliman.

In 2000, when she was 28 years old, Sofía was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She had her thyroid removed and received treatment. She made a full recovery and takes medication to stay healthy. In 2014, Sofía proudly announced that she had become a United States citizen. She even got a perfect score on her citizenship test! Sofía also has Italian family roots.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music Video Appearances

Theatre

• 2009 Chicago as Matron "Mama" Morton

Awards and Nominations

Sofía Vergara at the 77th Golden Globe Awards in January 2020

Sofía Vergara has received many awards and nominations throughout her career. In 2014, Forbes magazine listed her as the 32nd most powerful woman in the world.

Images for kids

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  Sofía Vergara in 2009