AceShowbiz - Julie Bowen, known for her role as Claire Dunphy on "Modern Family", recently recounted her experience with Sofia Vergara on the popular sitcom. During an appearance on the "I Choose Me With Jennie Garth" podcast, Bowen discussed how the press often attempted to create a rivalry between her and Sofia Vergara, who played Gloria Delgado-Pritchett.

"The press kept trying to make me and Sofia, sort of Betty and Veronica," Bowen shared, referring to the classic rivalry characters from the "Archie Comics" series. "I mean, I remember it so clearly. ... I was like, 'Oh, they're friends!' We're not getting real life in the press."

Bowen recalled seeing headlines and stories that depicted her and Vergara as enemies, despite their close friendship off-screen. "They were just determined to pit us against each other, like we hated each other," she said. "It's this scarcity mindset that only one woman can be happy at a time."

Bowen dismissed the idea that successful women could not coexist, saying, "I love Sofía, and I love how different we are. ... I learned so much from being around her about what it means to be a really powerful, completely in-herself woman."

Despite the media's attempts to create drama, Bowen emphasized that her relationship with Vergara remained strong throughout their time on "Modern Family". She praised Vergara's humor, self-effacing nature and zest for life.

The actress also noted that the cast of "Modern Family" had a close bond that extended beyond the set. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to have been part of the show and shared that she is set to appear in a new series, "Hysteria!", which premieres on Peacock on October 18.