Sofia Vergara unrecognisable as tough cartel leader in Netflix’s Griselda

02 December 2023 , 16:00

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Sofia Vergara unrecognisable as tough cartel leader in Netflix’s Griselda

You can be forgiven for doing a double take - as Sofia Vergara is practically unrecognisable in the first trailer for Netflix's hotly-anticipated series, Griselda!

The actress, renowned for her roles in Modern Family and America’s Got Talent, takes centre stage as Colombian drug cartel leader Griselda Blanco, also known as the Cocaine Godmother.

Dialling back the glam in favour of a more subdued, downbeat look, the 51-year-old swans around the trailer with her trademark brown hair all frizzy and curly, with some strands of grey creeping through. Her make-up is minimal, with a light natural colour on her lips, dark circles of eye make-up surrounding her eyes, and slightly unkempt eyebrows.

Griselda is produced by the creators of popular crime series Narcos and Narcos: Mexico, with the teaser - which you can watch above - heavily hinting at the return of Colombian drug lord Hélmer Herrera (Alberto Amman). The clip also offered a sneak peek of Sofia as the hardened drug boss, as law enforcement officers discussed how her 'deadly' business is 'incredibly successful'.

As the narrative unfolds, Griselda encounters fierce opposition in the male-dominated US drug market, where existing players perceive her as a threat. One man even attempts to take her life. Sofia's incredible transformation and willingness to depart from her familiar roles attracted a lot of praise on YouTube.

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'I think this is a breakthrough work for Sofia - heads will turn'

Fans on YouTube were full of praise for Sofia's performance in the trailer.

@millionsofmarks2266: "Damn, I was a bit skeptical at first whether Sofia can pull off a serious character in a drama series like Griselda but this trailer just proved me wrong. Not only is she gonna nail this character but I think she's gonna win some big awards for it. You go girl."

@papl20: "I hope this role is able to break Sofia out of sitcoms and funny characters. She's a good actress and should be seen as such."

@felinegroovey8627: "I've followed Sofia's career on TV and in movies and knew she could pull this off. She is very underrated as an actress."

@funkallectual: "I think this is a breakthrough work for Sofia - heads will turn, an award-worthy performance."

@najhoant: “Looks great, nice to see Sofia Vergara flex her acting skills beyond what she did in Modern Family.”

@DrofflicYaj: “Nothing more awesome than Sofia being in her natural element.”

As @02leda: “Wow kudos to the makeup/prosthetics department because I did NOT recognise Sofia Vergara at all!!!! Incredible.”

Griselda premieres on Netflixon Thursday, January 25.

Paul Speed