Netflix’s latest series, Griselda, takes a look into the life of Griselda Blanco, one of Miami’s most notorious drug lords in the 1970s and ’80s. The six-episode series was released on January 25, 2024, and has already received widespread acclaim from critics and audiences. Sofia Vergara stars in the titular role, taking a major step away from the comedy background she’s most well-known for. Audiences may know her as the iconic Gloria Delgado-Pritchett from Modern Family, but she completely transforms into Griselda for the series, carving out a new pathway for her as a dramatic actress. Other than taking on a career-transforming role, Sofia Vergara also had to undergo a physical transformation to resemble the “godmother of cocaine.” From costuming and hair to makeup and prosthetics, here’s what Sofia Vergara went through to become Griselda.
Styling
Set in the ’70s and ’80s, the styling for Griselda needed to nail the authenticity and accuracy of Griselda’s looks to immerse viewers into the time period. Costume designers Safowa Bright Bitzelberger and Sarah Evelyn didn’t have many references of a young Griselda to work with, so they took cues from popular styles for women of the era, events of the time in Colombia, cultural icons, and more. Sofia Vergara was dressed in synthetic blouses, bold prints, flared pants, and pantsuits, evoking a sense of power and style fit for an entrepreneurial woman working her way up to the top of the drug war. Accessories weren’t overlooked either; oversized ’70s sunglasses were essential for giving Griselda a touch of feminine glam. Eyewear brand Foster Grant curated a collection for the show, drawing inspiration from top styles and brands of the time. Aviator-style shades, huge round glasses, and chic cat-eye shades help shape the characters and amp up the drama while staying true to the trends of the time. As time progresses in the show, Griselda takes advantage of her femininity and showcases her wealth, donning animal prints, shoulder pads, lace, bold jewelry, and more.
Makeup
Other than her costuming, Sofia Vergara went through hours of makeup, prosthetics, and other cosmetic changes to capture the vibe of Griselda. She and her team wanted to find a balance between depicting the nuances of who Griselda was as a woman and drug lord while also ensuring that the makeup and prosthetics weren’t overshadowing the performance. Makeup artist Todd McIntosh and makeup and hair department head Angela Nogaro gave Sofia Vergara a prosthetic nose, a set of yellow and slightly crooked fake teeth, and fake eyebrows. The process took around three hours and went through various iterations to get it right. The goal wasn’t to match Griselda exactly but to ensure that people could separate the recognizable actress from the character and get more engaged with the show and its events.
Hair
Big hair was everything in the ’70s and ’80s, with women paying close attention to their volume and curls. However, this proved to be a problem for the hair department, which struggled with Griselda’s hair for a while. Hairstylist Kelly Kline and the hair department’s Dennis Parker found that big, period-accurate hair made Sofia Vergara look “too beautiful” and made the wigs look too apparent. They eventually settled on flatter and smaller versions of popular hairstyle trends to make them look more realistic and grounded. Her hair and makeup team didn’t want to lean too much into the glam aspects of Grsielda’s style or character but aimed to wield these elements to bring viewers into the world and showcase Grsielda’s complexities. By curating hairstyles that suited the time and character, Sofia Vergara was able to shed her iconic look and step into the role to tell Griselda’s story.
Published By: Aize Perez
