Griselda Cast and Character Guide

Summary

• Sofia Vergara gives a commanding performance as Griselda Blanco, the powerful and ruthless druglord who rises to prominence in Miami.
• The supporting cast of characters, including Alberto Guerra as Dario Sepulveda and Martin Rodriguez as Jorge “Rivi” Ayala-Rivera, bring depth and authenticity to the miniseries.
• Griselda is a gripping tale of domestic survival, as Griselda’s illegal business puts her family and loved ones in danger while her cocaine empire grows.

Created by the same team behind Narcos, Griselda is a Netflix miniseries that debuted on Jan. 25, 2024, and instantly shot to the top of the most viewed TV shows. The six-part TV event traces the criminal exploits of Griselda Blanco (Sofia Vergara), a powerful self-made druglord who moves from Medellín, Colombia to Miami, Florida, and launches one of the most successful cocaine empires known to man.

Equal parts a ruthless gangster story and a tale of domestic survival, Griselda’s family members and loved ones become endangered as her illegal business becomes more lucrative. While Vergara has been lauded for her transformation as the titular crime boss, her performance is elevated by the supporting cast of characters and outstanding actors who bring them to life.

Sofia Vergara as Griselda Blanco

Dubbed the “Godmother of Cocaine,” Sofia Vergara gives a commanding turn as Griselda Blanco. The ambitious, self-made businesswoman will do anything to protect her three children, including rising to the top of the Colombian drug cartel in Medellín. When the series begins, Griselda relocates to Miami, Florida, in the 1980s and sets up her drug empire. In her new environment, Griselda rises to prominence in Miami before her fear, paranoia, and betrayal lead to her downfall.

In a perfectly cast role, Vergara brings an unmatched authenticity to Griselda Blanco. While the Colombian actor is most famous for playing Gloria Delgado-Pritchett in 250 episodes of Modern Family from 2009 to 2020, Vergara is also known for appearing in Chef, The Smurfs, Machete Kills, Lords of Dogtown, and more. Following Griselda, Vergara will voice a role in Despicable Me 4 in 2024.

Alberto Guerra as Dario Sepulveda

Alberto Guerra brings tremendous heart to Griselda as Dario Sepulveda. When Griselda relocates to Miami, Dario is hired to find her in the U.S. and bring her back to Colombia. Alas, Dario ends up falling in love with Griselda and eventually becomes her third husband. Torn between his loyalties back home and his new bride, Dario is caught in a moralistic bind that informs his arc in the miniseries.

Guerra is a talented Cuban actor with a balanced movie and TV resume. After getting his start on the telenovela Ladron de Corazones, Guerra has given standout turns in such projects as Narcos: Mexico, Crime Diaries: The Candidate, El Refugio, Don’t Open the Door, Guerra de Idolos, and most recently, the acclaimed Prime Video wrestling biopic Cassandro.

Martin Rodriguez as Jorge “Rivi” Ayala-Rivera

Played by Martin Rodriguez on the stellar Netflix crime show, Jorge Ayala-Rivera is a ruthless yet charming assassin hired by Griselda to eliminate her assailants and competitors. Better known as Rivi, Griselda’s chief hitman lures victims in with his good looks and natural charisma, only to dispatch them when least expected. The more successful Griselda’s drug empire becomes in Miami, the more Rivi is tasked with completing deadly assignments.

Rodriguez’s acting career has been on and off since his screen debut in 1995. Although Griselda marks the actor’s only TV series to date, Rodriguez’s previous credits include feature films Zanahoria, Time and the Wind, San Martin: El cruce de la Andes, and El cuarto de Leo. Considering his high-profile performance in the Netflix miniseries Griselda, more opportunities surely abound for Rodriguez in the future.

Vanessa Ferlito as Carmen Gutierrez

Portrayed by Vanessa Ferlito, Carmen Gutierrez is Griselda’s friend and former associate. Carmen used to work for Griselda’s drug cartel in Colombia but has since relocated to Miami to clean up her life and leave the drug business behind. However, once Carmen extends Griselda a place to stay in Miami, Carmen is torn between her past and the promise of a brighter future.

Ferlito made her screen debut in 2002 and has since amassed over 30 movie and TV credits. Her most prominent roles include playing Claudia Hernandez in 24, Tina Francesco in The Sopranos, Louise in Spider-Man 2, and Arlene in Quentin Tarantino’s Deathproof. Other notable TV credits for Ferlito include CSI: NY, CSI: New Orleans, Graceland, Bookie, and more.

Juliana Aiden Martinez as June Hawkins

Juliana Aiden Martinez portrays June Hawkins in Griselda. June represents the first female intelligence agent in the Miami Police Department. When Griselda comes to Florida to launch her cocaine empire, June is determined to stop the drug lord from poisoning her community. While Griselda has illegal drug rivals, June is the primary legal antagonist in the Netflix miniseries.

Griselda marks the first recurring TV character Martinez has played thus far in her young career. Apart from movie appearances in Tar Pit and Boundary, Martinez has done single episodic work in such TV shows as The Bodega, The Mysteries of Laura, and Prodigal Son. Martinez also played a character on The Blacklist. Fans can expect to see a lot more of Martinez following her remarkable arc in Griselda.

Cristian Tappan as Arturo Mesa

Played by Cristian Tappan, Arturo Mesa is a Colombian accountant from Medellin. When Griselda takes her business from Medellin to Miami, Mesa follows in her steps and helps her maintain her financial books while keeping the law away from their operation. Mesa is also a well-connected man in Miami who uses his resources to prop Griselda up as the “Godmother of Cocaine.”

Tappan is a veteran Mexican-Colombian actor whom Griselda fans have surely seen in such past projects as Narcos, It Was Always Me, The Five Juanas, The Great Heist, La Reina Del Sur, and many more. Tappan’s big screen credits include Dogwashers, Running with the Devil, Days of the Whale, and La Boda de Valentine.

Fredy Yate as Chucho Castro

Depicted by Fredy Yate, Chucho Castro serves as Griselda’s personal bodyguard in the Narcos spin-off. Griselda meets Chucho in a diner in Miami and is so impressed by his physical prowess and ability to handle dangerous situations that she hires him to be her employee. The more time they spend together, the more loyal Chucho becomes to Griselda, which has consequences for all involved.

Yate is a terrific Colombian actor who, despite amassing just a handful of credits in his career, often brings a smoldering intensity to his performances. After playing a trapped miner in The 33 to begin his career, Yate has starred in pertinent drug movies such as American Made and Loving Pablo, the latter of which stars Javier Bardem as Pablo Escobar. Chucho can also be seen in such TV shows as The Queen of Flow, El Testamento de un Gallo, Edificio 51, and Alias J.J.

Carolina Giraldo as Carla

Also known as Karol G, Carolina Giraldo plays Carla in the Netflix true-crime series. Carla is a young sex worker from Medellin who is befriended by Griselda before moving to Miami. Griselda offers Carla a job smuggling drugs in the U.S. As the two grow closer, Griselda takes Carla under her wing and the young woman becomes one of Griselda’s closest and most trusted friends.

Karol G is a famous Colombian reggaeton singer and musical performer who has developed a natural onscreen command after appearing in several music videos. She contributed music to The Queen of Flow and voiced the role of Chima in the 2021 animated movie Koati. While Griselda marks Karol G’s first recurring TV role, she’s bound to see a lot more opportunities in the future.

Jose Zuniga as Amilcar

Played by Jose Zuniga, Amilcar is a wealthy and well-connected drug runner in Miami with several connections on both sides of the law. Radiating an air of elegance and sophistication, Amilcar extends graciousness to Griselda so long as she doesn’t overstep her boundaries and interfere with his business operations. Alas, when Griselda rises to the top of the Miami cocaine scene, Amilcar considers taking action.

Arguably the most experienced cast member, Zuniga is an outstanding character with over 140 credits. Prominent movie credits include Con Air, Constantine, Mission: Impossible III, and Twilight. Zuniga has also appeared in such TV shows as Physical, True Lies, Quantum Leap, Narcos: Mexico, and more.

Camilo Jimenez Varon as Rafa Salazar

Camilo Jimenez Varon plays Rafa Salazar in Griselda. Rafa is a terrifying enforcer for the Ochoa Brothers, the most prominent drug suppliers in Colombia. Rafa looks after Griselda and teaches the tricks of the cocaine trade, including how to successfully smuggle drugs across the U.S. border. When Griselds starts to become more successful than the Ochoas, Rafa is forced to make difficult decisions.

Varon is a talented Colombian actor, writer, and director with a few crossover credits with his Griselda co-stars. His previous work includes Spanish-language TV shows like Alias J.J., Wild District, Garzon vive, The Queen and the Conqueror, and more. On the big screen, Varon can be seen in Rebel Pope, Colera Morbo, and Echoes.

Stream on Netflix