Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/555596
32 SAG-AFTRA | Summer 2015 | SAGAFTRA.org English. Living in California, where there is a huge Hispanic population, it makes sense that the SAG Foundation literacy program would also have a Spanish-language element. SA: You've been recognized by The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard as one of the most influential Latinas in Hollywood. How important is it to you to see diversity in the entertainment and media industries? SV: Diversity is super important to me. I was so grateful to Chris Lloyd and Steve Levitan for creating the role of Gloria for me, because there isn't a ton of roles that I'm right for. I think diversity in Hollywood has come a long way. Don't get me wrong, we still have a long way to go, but with new hit shows such as Empire, Scandal and Jane the Virgin, we are seeing more and more roles for diverse actors. SA: What does being a SAG-AFTRA member mean to you? SV: SAG-AFTRA is a wonderful organization that really takes care of me and my family. They offer incredible benefits, including SAG Foundation workshops and exercises for us actors to participate in. I'm grateful for all they do. SA: What advice can you give to other Spanish-language actors hoping to cross over and work in Hollywood? SV: My advice is to never give up. Like most people, I've had some negative moments in my life, but I've always kept my head up and gotten through them. So my advice to any actor is to just keep trying and never give up. Oh, and for Spanish-language actors looking to lose their accent, my advice is to keep it! It makes you unique. SA: You've said how much you admire Sophia Loren and her career; how does it feel that other performers are now saying the same thing about you? SV: Oh, wow. That is really flattering. I don't think anyone is necessarily looking up to me, but I hope I can offer some sort of [example] that you can accomplish what you set out to do. SA: In addition to being a talented actress, you are also a savvy businessperson. What do you think has been the best business decision of your career? SV: Going into business with my business partner Luis Balaguer. He was my manager and we went into business together to form Latin World Entertainment over 20 years ago. We are each other's eyes and ears and have been able to find new ventures to get involved with, all the while still representing a large market of Hispanic talent. AG-AFTRA member Sofía Vergara has taken America by storm as one of the stars of the hit TV series Modern Family, now entering its seventh season. When she is not tickling our funny bone as Gloria Pritchett, a feisty fun-loving Colombian, she is staying busy as a performer in film and television and, along with business partner Luis Balaguer, as a producer. The Colombian, who is one of the most high-profile Latinas in the entertainment industry, has received four Screen Actors Guild Awards and amassed plenty of other accolades, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But, despite her many commitments, she makes time to give back. She has signed on to read for the Screen Actors Guild Foundation's children's literacy website Storyline Online (storylineonline.net), breaking new ground for the program by recording the first children's book in both English and Spanish. On June 8, the Foundation presented Vergara with its inaugural SAG Foundation Actors Inspiration Award in honor of her commitment to giving back. SAG-AFTRA recently caught up with Vergara, who earned her union card for her role in 2002's Big Trouble, to discuss her work with the Foundation, her success and diversity in the industry. SAG-AFTRA: You've had quite a spring, with the opening of your film Hot Pursuit, your star on the Walk of Fame and receiving the first Actors Inspiration Award from the SAG Foundation. Sofía Vergara: Yes, it's been a really fun spring. Getting to promote Hot Pursuit was more play than work, mainly because of [co-star] Reese [Witherspoon]. We have a lot of fun together, so it was just a good time. Getting my star was really special to me. I've always seen the stars on the Walk of Fame and getting to have my own is truly a dream come true. And getting honored by the SAG Foundation was really great. I feel lucky to be part of such an incredible organization and to get an award from them was really such an honor. SA: What does the SAG Foundation honor mean to you? SV: I've been involved with SAG-AFTRA for a long time, so to have its nonprofit foundation recognize me and honor me with something of such strong importance is really humbling. I have admired all the SAG Foundation does, especially for children, so to get to be a part of the literacy program means a lot to me. SA: You're taking the Foundation's Storyline Online in a new direction with its first bilingual reading. SV: Being a mother of a bilingual son, I think it's important for kids to get to enjoy books in their native language as well as Vergara's contribution to the SAG Foundation's Storyline Online will be posted at storylineonline.net. AG-AFTRA member Sofía Vergara has taken America by storm as one of the stars of the hit TV series now entering its seventh season. When she is not tickling our funny bone as Gloria Pritchett, a feisty fun-loving Colombian, sheisstaying television and, along with business partner Luis Vergara at the 6th Annual SAG Foundation L.A. Golf Classic. MARK DAVIS/GETTY IMAGES