I genuinely like Sofia Vergara, but maybe that’s because I take her in small doses. Like, I enjoy the fact that the highest-paid woman on television is a Colombian woman in her 40s who speaks with a thick accent. I think that’s great for America. I’m pleased with the way Sofia has “gotten hers” decades into her career, and that she’s finally found a guy (Joe Manganiello) who seems to take her as she is, without trying to dim her star power. But of course, some people are over Sofia. Her Charo-esque shtick is wearing a bit thin, especially when that’s the same bit they get her to do for every awards show. So, in Sofia’s new HOLA interview, she addresses the idea that she plays into the stereotype. Keep in mind though – this is for Hola, and she’s speaking to a mostly Hispanic and Spanish-speaking audience, right?
Whether she’s playing a stereotype: “What’s wrong with being a stereotype? Gloria’s character is inspired by my mom and my aunt. They are both Latin women who grew up in Colombia, like me. They love color, prints and shoes … It upsets me when Latinos complain about Gloria. I am grateful for the opportunity because the gringos have let me in with this strong accent I have. Eight years ago nobody had an accent like this on television.”
Why she did the Hola cover: “We wanted to show our fans what they wanted to see. That’s why it’s so special for us to do this cover and that’s why I convinced Joe. Because this is a really special time for us in our relationship and we enjoy our privacy, but we have the best fans in the world and we know it makes them happy to see us happy and in love.”
Joe on knowing Sofia is the one: “We realized very early on that we each had to put the other person’s happiness and well-being ahead of our own. Once you realize that kind of trust has manifested, you hang on for dear life. Or in my case, you go and buy a ring.”
Yeah, I laughed at “the gringos have let me in with this strong accent I have.” Again, she’s talking to a specific audience. She’s not talking TO the gringos. She’s talking to Spanish-speakers ABOUT the gringos. And she’s right, a little bit. I mean, she’s right that she’s the centerpiece of a mainstream ensemble TV show and they “let” her speak with her natural Charo-accent, which is unique on network television. But I think she’s wrong that “nobody had an accent like this.” Actors did have those accents, but just not on this kind of show.
Photos courtesy of WENN, cover courtesy of HOLA.
Gloria has an accent, but I don’t really think she’s a caricature. Her character does seem to be multi-dimensional like the other characters on the show. I think it’s a pretty good comedic role for an actor to get.
Someone on a message board that I use once posted that years ago, she had had lunch at a table next to Sofia years ago. Sofia was with her agent-type and barely had an accent.
She fakes that accent. She has been working for decades and she admitted she dyed her hair black and put on that accent to help her land jobs to seem “latin” enough.
Ive only been saying that here for YEARS, I came to the US at 16 and im 36 now, so 20 years ago in Fuera de serie or one of them saturday t&a review shows in Univision (my people favor those!) her MAIN job was be the liasion/translator to English speaking guest and just be chatty she was perfectly fluent and such barely an accent, and Mind you I GET accents as I Have a pretty strong one which Gringos nevermiss a chance to say “Oh Like the Lady in Modern Family” 🙄🙄🙄and THAT Is the disservice that sh!t does to us all
I like them as a couple and hope they stay together.
Quickly skimming through the comments and I read this as “I like them as a couple as long as they stay home together”. I thought wow that was harsh. LOL
I like them as a couple too.
Except that her accent isn’t actually that strong anymore. I have a friend who works in casting (she used to post here) and she said yes, she has an accent. But it’s not nearly the accent she has when she’s in her “public persona.”
But it IS wonderful that she can get a solid television role in her 40’s in the Hollywood world of youth and botox. And they are a striking couple. He seems so different with her.
But it IS wonderful that she can get a solid television role in her 40′s in the Hollywood world of youth and botox. — YES, this is the amazing part.
Her public persona’s accent is the issue with us latinos, not her character’s.
I really like what he said. Boils it down well. That’s all.
Ok but Desi Arnez??
I mean, I like her and love that she’s not cookie cutter. But never forget Lucy and Desi!!!!
Yeah, between Salma thinking she’s “the first” and this, what is up with these Latina divas?? Maybe not being from America is the reason they aren’t up on their Hollywood history. You’d think they’d care enough to learn and acknowledge the Latinx performers who paved the way though.
I watched Modern Family a lot with my own family and one day I noticed that the women didn’t work, the only clever one is a bit neurotic (Alex) and yes, it is a very conservative society where even the gay couple has an equivalent to the woman who doesn’t work or works sometimes (Cameron). I still find it hilarious but it put me off a bit.
Sofia is the same thing. I like her but she seems very conservative. With a regular accent (even if hers is not as strong I am pretty sure it’s there) and without the caricatural portrayal of a latina woman would she have had any roles? Doubt it.
So, for me, she is feeding the predjudiced, conservative idea of the Latina and not the modern Latina. She could be a character from the 50’s.
But a lot of our society is still, and more and more so, grounded in the 50’s.
Claire now runs the closet business for Jay, and Cam is/was a football coach in a school. Gloria doesn’t work because she’s a stereotypical trophy wife.
I like her character, but a lot of people really hate Gloria. For that reason, I’m a little surprised she’s the highest paid woman on TV. For quite a while it was Mariska Hargitay, who’s also a producer on that show. I would have guessed that Viola Davis, Ellen Pompeo, and Kerry Washington would be raking it in. They are the stars of their shows.
Gloria doesn’t have a job outside the home now, but they have talked about her life before she met Jay, and it sounded like she was very hard-working, multiple jobs.
I like the character a lot in the beginning of the series, but I think the show as a whole has dipped in quality. If you see old reruns though, her accent is much stronger now than it was back then.
Be kind now, SlowSnow Darlin’…..the women don’t work ….OUTSIDE THE HOME (don’t mean to shout , but wanted the words emphasized and there’s no ‘bold’ or ‘italics’ option). Stay at home Moms work hard, and honestly? I wished I could have enjoyed the luxury for myself and my baby. As it happened though, my son’s Dad chose not to stay or even support his sperm donation, so I had no choice but to work outside the home to support us both. Gloria doesn’t work….OUTSIDE THE HOME. Staying at home with your children is still a vital and important contribution to society, and must never, not ever be allowed to be made smaller or less important than it is. Thank you ~
@Shirleygail My sister-in-law has never worked. My husband and I – we have 4 kids – put our careers on hold intermittently to stay at home with the children when they were little. Please don’t tell me about hard work at home.
But in the series ALL the couples have a person not working.
@mayamae Cameron sarted working, I think, because Mitchell quit his job. Claire started working because the kids were all taken care of.
Point is: it’s very conservative, not very balanced. That’s all. Just an opinion.
We take issue with your public persona, not with your character. She is a stereotype and stereotypes are harmful.
Diego Luna is doing more for us than Sofia and I actually like her and Modern Family.
I noticed that Sofia has been covering up a bit more since she’s been married to Joe. She doesn’t show as much cleavage as she used to. It must be real love!