Recently, Netflix premiered a series featuring Vergara in the role of Griselda Blanco, a Colombian drug lord who created an empire during the Miami drug wars of the 70s and 80s.
Preparing for this role was challenging for Vergara, as she had to transition from a cheerful, comedic persona to a notorious drug dealer, known as the “Cocaine Godmother” and “The Black Widow”.
Vergara recognized the power of makeup in aiding her transformation. She stated, “A realistic look was crucial for me to fully immerse myself in the character. I didn’t want the audience to see me or my previous character, Gloria Pritchett.” Netflix’s statement revealed Vergara’s appreciation for the hair and makeup team that helped to create this character.
The Vision of Andrés Baiz: Reinventing Vergara’s Image
The director and executive producer of “Griselda,” Andrés Baiz, aimed to help Vergara feel like a completely different person. Baiz stated that any changes that boosted Sofia’s confidence were paramount, whether it was in the eyebrows, nose, or hair. However, he stressed that these changes shouldn’t overshadow her performance, but subtly enhance it.
The in-charge of the hair and makeup department of “Griselda,” Angela Nogaro and Dennis Parker, collaborated with Vergara’s personal beauty team — makeup artist Todd McIntosh and hairstylist Kelly Kline — to bring the character to life.
The art of transforming beauty into Average-looking person
McIntosh describes the entire process of converting Sofía’s remarkably unique features into those of an average-looking person. Sofía, known for her striking eyebrows, desired a thinned-out, late-’70s style for them. This was achieved by applying prosthetic covers to her natural brows and gluing on falsies.
Additionally, she donned a prosthetic nose, which toned down her naturally attractive nose, and a teeth plate that was slightly misaligned and discolored. To heighten the effect, they further yellowed her bottom teeth to reflect her character’s smoking habit.
This extensive makeup transformation required approximately an hour and a half every day on set, as per McIntosh.
Vergara’s transformation surprises cast and crew
Renowned for her charm and beauty, Sofía Vergara underwent a significant makeover for her role in “Griselda,” and the results were nothing short of impressive. The goal was to bring authenticity to her character, with less emphasis on hair and glamour, and more focus on the narrative.
According to Kline, the stylist, each hairstyle was designed deliberately understated to make Vergara’s character appear more realistic. Showrunner Ingrid Escajeda noted that when Vergara first stepped onto the set post-transformation, she was utterly convincing as Griselda, her natural charm effortlessly shining through the prosthetics.
Behind the scenes of Vergara’s makeover
The intriguing behind-the-scenes process of Vergara’s transformation was a hot topic during the promotional tour of “Griselda.” On “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” Vergara shared the painstaking details of the process.
The transformation included enhancements to her nose, teeth, and involved meticulous prosthetics around her face. Despite the painstaking effort, Clarkson noted that the subtle changes completely altered Vergara’s persona and praised the seamless outcome.
In addition to Sofía Vergara, “Griselda,” produced by the makers of “Narcos,” boasts a cast that includes Karol G, Alberto Guerra, Christian Tappan, Martín Rodríguez, Juliana Aidén Martinez, and Vanessa Ferlito. The show is now available for streaming on Netflix.