Julie Bowen graced the "90210MG" podcast recently, taking the opportunity to address the media's relentless efforts to pit her against her beloved co-star, Sofía Vergara, during their illustrious tenure on the beloved ABC sitcom, "Modern Family." Spanning an impressive 11-season run from 2009 to 2020, Bowen herself was honored with two Emmy Awards for her portrayal of the endearing Claire Dunphy.
"I couldn't help but feel it on 'Modern Family,'" Bowen reminisced, referring to the contrived rivalry the tabloids concocted between her and Vergara, likening them to the iconic comic duo of Betty and Veronica. "The press seemed hellbent on forcing a wedge between us, as if we harbored some deep-seated animosity towards each other."
She continued, "It's this misguided scarcity mindset that suggests only one woman can thrive at a time. But the truth is, I adore Sofía. I cherish our differences; her wit, her humility, her unapologetic exuberance—her love for life, dancing, indulging in cake, and all the joys that come with it. It's all so infectious."
As the media relentlessly sought to divide them, Bowen confessed that she was actually thriving in Vergara's presence, learning invaluable lessons about what it means to be a powerful woman, unapologetically herself. "It was truly disheartening to witness the press perpetuate such a false narrative," she lamented, emphasizing that she never once contributed to fueling those fires.
"I'd catch myself thinking, 'This is insane, utterly ridiculous,'" Bowen recalled, as she stumbled upon headlines hyping up a non-existent feud between the two. Over the years, whispers of jealousy towards Vergara's financial success and subsequent frosty behavior on set found their way into the press, but nothing could be further from the truth. To this day, their bond remains unshaken.
In a heartwarming turn of events, Vergara recently shared with Variety that Bowen had sent her a video of herself casting a vote for the Colombian actress on this year's Emmy ballot, in support of Vergara's nomination for her role in "Griselda." The fact that Vergara, despite her iconic portrayal of Gloria in "Modern Family," has yet to bring home an Emmy award often serves as a playful banter between the two friends.
"That's my go-to line with Julie," Vergara quipped. "I've been nominated four times, and so has she. But I never fail to remind her, 'One of those wins belongs to me, but I'm letting you keep it in your trophy cabinet for now.'"
