Sofia makes her TV debut aged 17 in a Pepsi commercial, after she was spotted by a modelling scout on a beach in Colombia.

A year later she married her childhood sweetheart Joe Gonzalez and the couple had a son, Manolo (now 22 years old).

In 1993, Sofia and Joe divorced and by the mid-1990s the actress had emigrated with her son, sister and mother to Miami, to head up the travel series Fuera de Serie (" Out of the Ordinary") for Spanish-language channel Univision.

She also found fame among Latino audiences co-hosting the game show A Que No Te Atreves ("I Dare You").

By 2002, Sofia was scooping up minor movie roles.

Here she is opposite Jason Lee in comedy thriller Big Trouble.

Displaying an early talent to wow on the red carpet, at the premiere for the movie.

At the MTV Latin America Music Awards in Miami, 2002.

Around this time, Sofia battled and overcame thyroid cancer. "When they tell you that you have cancer, you panic," she later recalled. "Now I'm in remission, and the scar doesn't bother me. After the surgery in 2003, I had my son Photoshop a Frankenstein scar on my neck and sent it to my friends and said, 'I'm fine, I look perfect!' It was really funny."

In a casual get up at an FHM party in 2003.

Beautiful.

Sofia's publicity shot for 2003 comedy drama Chasing Papi.

The film saw Sofia in this unusual get-up.

In 2004, Sofia appeared in the comedy Soul Plane.

A year later Sofia was linked to Tom Cruise after the pair were spotted exiting a restaurant in Studio City, LA, together.

But they downplayed their relationship and Tom went onto date, and marry, Katie Holmes soon after.

Sofia poses for the TV series Hot Property in 2005.

She's pictured on the streets of New York with her teenage son Manolo in 2006.

Out and about indulging in one of her favourite past times - shopping - in New York, 2007.

Sofia gets kitted out in a form-fitting dress for a party to celebrate 45 years of Valentino in Rome.

Sofia shows off her enviable assets at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party (her attendance there proof of her steadily blossoming status in Hollywood).

Perfectly turned out at the Montainebleau Miami Beach Resort Grand Opening Gala on Miami Beach.

In 2009, Sofia turned her hand to theatre with a role as Mama Morton in Chicago on Broadway.

And finally, after years of plugging away on the outskirts of stardom, Sofia finally hit the big-time playing Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in the hit ABC show Modern Family.

She's pictured here with her on-screen husband and son, Ed O'Neill (Jay) and Rico Rodriguez (Manny).

From the out, the role of temperamental, passionate Gloria gave Sofia plenty of fun material to get her teeth into.

And she quickly became a feature on the red carpet too, in a series of jaw-dropping gowns.

Here she is at the 2009 American Music Awards in LA.

Flaunting a show-stopping silk blue gown by Caroline Herrera at the Golden Globes in 2010.

Looking fab at the film screening for The Twilight Saga: Eclipse in June 2010.

Around this time, Sofia started dating Florida-based businessman Nick Loeb, heir to the New York Loeb banking fortune.

Nick was badly injured in a car accident soon after they began dating, in an incident that Sofia later credited for bringing them closer together very quickly.

Meanwhile, the Modern Family awards started flowing, as the offbeat comedy show struck a chord with critics and audiences alike.

Here's Sofia with co-star Ed O'Neill at the 62nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in 2010.

... And cosying up for a photo with c0-stars Julie Bowen and Sarah Hyland in 2011, at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

"Manny" gets a kiss from Sofia as the cast pick up the gong for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the 2011 SAGs.

Wowing the crowds in a silk satin Vera Wang number at the Golden Globes Instyle magazine after-party in 2011.

This Zuhair Murad number makes the most of Sofia's beautiful figure at the 2011 Oscars.

By this stage, the endorsement offers were flowing for Sofia and her Modern Family co-stars.

The actress is pictured here filming a commercial for Pepsi on the beach in Santa Monica (she co-starred with David Beckham in the ads).

Naturally, she looked incredible.

Behind the scenes with Sofia, as shoots the campaign for her Kmart clothing line in June 2011.

Creating a stir in a strapless Carolina Herrera gown at the 2011 Costume Institute Gala Benefit in New York.

Sofia joins her on-screen son Rico to celebrate their colleague Ed O'Neill being honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in August 2011.

Coral is a colour that sits beautifully on Sofia, who wore Vera Wang to the 2011 Emmys in LA.

And it's Vera Wang once again as Sofia hits the 2012 Golden Globes, looking pitch-perfect in a blue mermaid tail creation.

She chooses vibrant Marchesa for the 2012 SAG awards.

Marchesa is once again the flavour of the moment as Sofia hits the Costume Institute Gala Benefit in May 2012, in a beautiful beaded peplum affair.

Sofia out and about with her son Manolo in New York in June 2012.

Showcasing the Zuhair Murad signature mermaid silhouette at the 2012 Emmys.

Once again, the Modern Family cast celebrate a series of wins, including the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Sofia toasts in the New Year at a frankly brilliant-looking party on Delano South Beach, Miami.

January 2013 brought with it yet more success for the Modern Family crew.

Here they are celebrating their win for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the SAGs.

Sofia wearing Herve Leroux at the CFDA Fashion Awards in June 2013.

She's apparently not so impressed with her waxwork incarnation...

Wearing Vera Wang at the 2013 Emmys.

The cast look happy on the back of yet more Emmy wins (their mantelpieces are no doubt groaning with awards by this point).

Sofia cuddles up to her man Nick Loeb at a Golden Globes afterparty in Los Angeles in January this year.

The couple dated for four years but split up in May. "We have [been] having too many problems with figuring out how to spend time together and [because] of my work and now his, it's been getting worse and worse, not fun anymore,"Sofia said at the time.

Looking sensational in a nude Roberto Cavalli number for the 2014 Oscars.

Sofia pictured with her son Manolo and his girlfriend outside Good Morning Americain New York (imagine having Sofia as your boyfriend's mum!)

Sofia wears Romona Keveza for the White House Correspondent's Association Gala Dinner in May.

Sofia with her new love interest, American actor Joe Manganiello, at a pre-Emmys party in Beverly Hills last month.

Sofia chose Roberto Cavalli for last month's Emmys appearance.

And again, the cast gathered together to celebrate a win for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Long may Sofia and co. reign on the red carpet - and our TV screens... !