Names and faces
Sofia Vergara is debuting a new lingerie line, but she says it’s about more than sexy underwear — it’s also about empowering women in business. The Modern
Family star promoted her EBY line in New
York. It’s a subscription-based service that also sets aside part of the profits for woman entrepreneurs via small loans. “It’s a fun mission, you know. It’s very exciting to be able to find something so interesting for me,” Vergara said of EBY, the initials for Empowerment By You. On Tuesday, Forbes named Vergara the highest-paid television actress in the 12-month period ending June 1. She brought in $41.5 million for her Modern Family duties, and that’s only part of her income. The idea behind the EBY business plan came from her partner in the project, Renata Black. Ten percent of the net profit will go to the Seven Bar Foundation, which allots funds through microfinance loans for business ventures, large and small, as low as $100. At launch, the project will aid women in Colombia but will expand to help those affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in the United States. “I really feel that it’s so important to give women a little chance, a little help, because I lived through it when I was young and I needed that one push, that one thing to be able to start in the entertainment business,” Vergara said. “I know what it feels to have your own money, your independence, so it is super important.”
The star of Veep and Seinfeld, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, says she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Dreyfus posted word of her illness Thursday on social media. A spokesman for Louis-Dreyfus confirmed the posts were authentic. On her Twitter account, the actress wrote that one in eight women get breast cancer. “The good news is that I have the most glorious group of supportive and caring family and friends, and fantastic insurance through my union. The bad news is that not all women are so lucky, so let’s fight all cancers and make universal health care a reality,” she tweeted. Louis-Dreyfus’ publicist said no further details about her condition would be provided at this time, adding that the actress “is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support and well wishes.” The actress won her sixth Emmy Award this month for Veep. Louis-Dreyfus received the diagnosis the day after the Emmys aired, and it played no part in the previously announced decision to end the show after next season, HBO said. Veep writers will continue working on scripts and production will be adjusted as needed, HBO said.