Sofía Vergara transforms herself in 'Griselda' and leaves self-doubt behind

The idea began tugging at Sofía Vergara about 15 years ago.

On the cusp of taking on a role that would eventually put her in the vanguard of the highest paid TV actors — as Gloria Pritchett, a hilarious spin on the trophy-wife trope, in ABC's long-running sitcom "Modern Family" — Vergara wasn't yet a star fielding desirable offers.

Griselda Blanco, a Colombian drug lord who may not have been as well known as some of her more famous male counterparts like Pablo Escobar or the Ochoa brothers, despite being just as ruthless and ambitious, first caught Vergara's attention in passing when she watched the 2006 documentary "Cocaine Cowboys." Some time later, Vergara read an article detailing Blanco's rise and blood-soaked reign, and the female crime boss suddenly became a figure the actor was determined to play.

"I'm always looking for characters because there's not much that I can play with this stupid accent," she says, playfully poking fun at herself. "I can't play a scientist or be in 'Schindler's List.' My acting jobs are kind of limited."

At the time, she was in a holding deal with ABC, and two of the shows she was cast in were canceled after one season. With her creative career still in bloom, Vergara took a measured approach with her pet project, keeping it on the back burner as she signed onto "Modern Family" in 2009, a career-defining gig that would stretch 11 seasons, earn her four Emmy nominations and set her star power into orbit.

In the midst of it all, Blanco was the character she was reaching for. She read about Blanco obsessively, figuring all the knowledge would serve her well eventually: "I read every single book, every single article, every new note on the internet that came out. For many years, I read and read and read."

It's easy to understand the intrigue. Known by a number of in Miami in the '70s and '80s.