Sofia Vergara’s gripping transformation into notorious drug lord Griselda Blanco for the new Netflix series Griselda has been earning rave reviews, even as it stirs some controversy over glamorizing the real-life criminal.
Glowing Reviews for Vergara’s Powerful Performance
Critics have been wowed by Vergara’s “stellar” and “unnerving” performance as the ruthless Colombian drug queenpin known as the Cocaine Godmother.
“Vergara conveys the character’s relentless ambition and hunger for power with sinister charisma,” writes The Hollywood Reporter. “Her transformation is so complete you forget you’re watching the actress who played sweet Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on Modern Family.”
The 50-year-old actress is almost unrecognizable behind facial prosthetics and frumpy costumes, barking orders in her native Spanish. The Atlantic calls her acting “a revelation,” while Variety deems the series “compulsively watchable” thanks chiefly to Vergara’s “standout dramatic performance.”
High Praise from Critics
| Publication | Quote |
|---|---|
| The Hollywood Reporter | “Vergara conveys the character’s relentless ambition and hunger for power with sinister charisma. Her transformation is so complete you forget you’re watching the actress who played sweet Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on Modern Family.” |
| Variety | “Compulsively watchable, chiefly due to Sofia Vergara’s standout dramatic performance.” |
| The Atlantic | “As Griselda Blanco, Sofia Vergara gives a performance that’s a revelation.” |
Many critics have noted that Griselda marks a major departure for Vergara from her usual glamorous persona. “Vergara bravely sheds her signature persona to play the Black Widow of the drug trade,” writes USA Today.
Controversy Over Glamorizing a Criminal
However, some have argued that the series goes too far in glamorizing the exploits of a reallife murderer and trafficker responsible for thousands of deaths.
Griselda Blanco’s son Michael Corleone Sepúlveda has been particularly vocal, slamming Vergara and the show for turning his mother “into a heroine rather than the murderous drug dealer she was.” He argues the series whitewashes her crimes.
“She destroyed our family and thousands of other families in her pursuit of money and power through the distribution of drugs,” says Sepúlveda.
Critics counter that the show does not shy away from depicting Blanco’s violence and ruthlessness. “Just because Blanco is played by a likable star does not mean the series overlooks her villainy,” argues Dana Schwartz in Entertainment Weekly. “The show is clear-eyed, not glorifying, about her monstrous behavior.”
What’s Next
The debate over Griselda comes as Vergara continues a publicity blitz that has occasionally made headlines. Her recent appearance on The Tonight Show raised eyebrows when she seemed to imply she actually did cocaine to prepare for the role before awkwardly backtracking.
All the attention caps Vergara’s quest to be taken seriously as a dramatic actress after years of fame on the sitcom Modern Family. Whether her gripping performance is enough to finally earn her more substantive roles remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: audiences cannot take their eyes off Vergara when she taps into her dark side.
So while controversy continues to swirl, Sofia Vergara is winning rave reviews for her chilling transformation into the Cocaine Godmother. Griselda cements her as a force to be reckoned with, on screen and off.
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