Her voice is as bubbly and full of life as it is when she plays the vivacious Gloria on the TV hit "Modern Family."
But with that show's second season wrapping up next week, Sofia Vergara is lining up a lot of things to keep her busy during the summer.
work She's promoting Skinny Can Pepsi, a line of clothing for Kmart in the fall, and she's been chosen spokeswoman for Comcast's launch of Xfinity TV in Spanish, which delivers Spanish-language TV shows, movies, music videos and sports, on demand and online, free to Comcast digital customers.
"I'm very excited," Veraga says by phone. "I think it's great that they're carrying all this programming. And I can relate it to the Spanish-speaking community."
There hasn't always been a lot of attention to the Spanish-speaking television audience. "The truth is there are only two national stations. Now on cable there will be more than 700 movie titles available in Spanish."
Veraga, discovered by a photographer while walking on a beach in her native Colombia, had her first North American TV exposure co-hosting a travel show from Bogota that was carried on Univision for three years in the late '90s.
After stints in the short-lived U.S. comedies "Hot Properties" and "The Knights of Prosperity," she broke out with her role on "Modern Family," which earned her Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
And while the success of "Modern Family" has been credited with a revival of comedies in general on TV, Vergara says it's really boosted her visibility (not that the former model was ever really overlooked).
"I've been in the business for 20 years. I know what it's like to be recognized," she says. "Now, kids and grandmothers are stopping me to say it's their favorite show."
Vergara is a frequent visitor to Connecticut. Her 18-year-old son, Manolo, is a student at the Gunnery in Washington.
"I love it there, especially coming up in the fall; it's so pretty," she says, with the same effusiveness as Gloria.
Sofia Vergara Pictures
Sofia Vergara Pictures
Sofia Vergara Pictures
Sofia Vergara Pictures
Sofia Vergara Pictures
Sofia Vergara Pictures