Sofia Vergara's Catholic family concerned she would look like a 'hooker' in Hollywood

LOS ANGELES – True to form, Sofia Vergara, 40, was busy perfecting her "I am so silly sexy" persona during Sunday evening's Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards, drawing attention to her "assets" as a means to inform the world of how she got her start in Hollywood, even though her father strongly advised her against it.

However, it was not because he was concerned that she didn't have what it took to "make it."

"My father told me if I did anything artistic, I would look like a hooker," the "Modern Family" actress, who grew up in Barracuda, Colombia, told the amused crowd early in the telecast. "I told him, 'with these huge boobs that I inherited from your mother, I already look like a hooker!'"

Vergara, who showed off her cleavage and curves in a long Donna Karen gown, later elaborated on her Tinseltown start after the cast of her hit ABC show took home the honors for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.

"I grew up in a Catholic, very traditional home," she explained backstage, adding that one simply didn't go into that type of industry. "But I did whatever I wanted to do!"

Speaking of concerns about entering the entertainment industry, Bryan Cranston, winner of outstanding male actor in a drama series for "Breaking Bad," told us that one of his great passions is lecturing young people desiring a Hollywood career in front of the camera.

"I like to encourage them, but I like to discourage them too," Cranston said. "I tell them, 'if you can be happy doing something else, do that instead.'"