On Modern Family, Jay Pritchett’s devotion to his French bulldog Stella was a running joke, and Gloria’s frustration with the dog was just as famous. As it turns out, life imitated art behind the scenes.
O’Neill Was Smitten
Stella was played by a French bulldog named Beatrice. Ed O’Neill, who played Jay, absolutely loved her and reportedly enjoyed having her around on set. That affection came through on screen, where Jay often seemed to prefer Stella’s company to anyone else’s.
Vergara Was Less Keen
Sofía Vergara, on the other hand, didn’t share the same enthusiasm. Gloria’s complicated relationship with Stella, from jealousy over Jay’s attention to chaos around the house, apparently wasn’t far from how Vergara felt about the dog in real life.
Stella quickly became one of the show’s most popular supporting characters, and her scenes with Jay were a fan favourite.
It’s a perfect example of how Modern Family‘s cast sometimes brought a little of themselves to their roles. In this case, the dog lover and the reluctant pet owner weren’t acting all that much.