The outspoken Columbian actress was discovered to have a tumour in 2002 but knew she had to overcome the disease for the sake of her family, including her child Manolo, now 18.
She said: "It was a tough thing for me, but it made me much stronger. I have family and I`m a mother, and I knew I could get through it."
After recovering from the disease, 38-year-old Sofia - who is divorced from Manolo`s father - went on to land the role of Gloria on TV show `Modern Family` and she is delighted to have gotten the opportunity to play a strong Latina character - although she admits she sometimes goes overboard and doesn`t even understand her own accent.
She told Ocean Drive magazine: "One of the things I`m very proud of is the fact that I am representing Latin culture with an accent so strong that I don`t understand half the things I say myself, but it`s good that there can be a loud Latina woman acting crazy on American television. America is ready for more Latin culture mixed in with its own."
sections: Celebrities |