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3-peat! Sofia Vergara again TV’s highest-paid actress, Forbes says

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Jaaaay! Sofia Vergara is TV’s highest-paid actress for the third year in a row.

It’s like Emmy-night deja vu all over again...

The heavily accented “Modern Family” star topped Forbes’ list of female small-screen performers by bringing home an estimated $37 million in so-called bacon between June 2013 and June 2014, the financial mag said.

Vergara’s annual take is up from last year’s high of $30 million and her $19-million estimate in 2012.

The 42-year-old out-earned her next-closest competition by $24 million. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” star Mariska Hargitay landed the No. 2 spot by earning a comparatively paltry $13 million.

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Forbes bases its rankings on stars’ entertainment-related projects through conversations with managers, producers, lawyers and other in-the-know folks. The estimates also don’t deduct taxes, management fees and other expenses that come with being a celebrity.

The TV matriarch trampled her most recent male counterparts, Ashton Kutcher and Jon Cryer of “Two and a Half Men,” who’d reportedly made $24 million and $21 million, respectively, for the year ended June 2013. Forbes’ television-actor list typically comes out in October.

Meanwhile, musicians, film stars, supermodels and athletes still earn the industry’s highest paychecks. “Iron Man 3” star Robert Downey Jr. and “Gravity” star Sandra Bullock were named the highest-paid male and female film actors, earning an estimated $75 million and $51 million over the past year, respectively. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen walked away with an estimated $47 million between 2013 and 2014.

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But back to Vergara: She also clocked in at No. 54 on the mag’s Celebrity 100 list. (Pop diva Beyonce earned the No. 1 spot by earning an estimated $115 million.)

Her monetary success can’t be attributed solely to her role on ABC’s Emmy-winning laugher. Yes, she reportedly gets $325,000 per episode, but Forbes said most of her cash comes from endorsement and licensing deals with Diet Pepsi, CoverGirl, Head & Shoulders, AT&T and Synthroid, a drug that treats hypothyroidism.

The Colombian-born star is also the co-founder of Latin World Entertainment and makes a little more cash on the side thanks to her 12-year deal with Kmart. The partnership started off as an intimates line but has expanded its wares to apparel.

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It’s been a busy year for Vergara: In winning its fifth Emmy in a row for comedy series, “Modern Family” last month tied the record previously set by “Frasier.” That same night, she also made headlines thanks to a pedestal gag that put her in social media’s crosshairs.

The brunet bombshell returned to the big screen in the critically acclaimed “Chef” and wrapped up filming Simon West’s “Wild Card” and Anne Fletcher’s “Don’t Mess With Texas.” The mother of one also called off her engagement to fiance Nick Loeb , then broke everyone’s hot-o-meter by sparking up a romance with “True Blood” star Joe Manganiello.

Behind Vergara on the Forbes list are a bevy of prime-time leading ladies who claim their fame on network television. And despite earning smaller paychecks, a couple of premium-cable stars still edged their way onto 2014’s top 10 list. Here’s the reasoning behind each actress’ earnings.

1.”Modern Family’s” Sofia Vergara, $37 million

2. “Law & Order: SVU’s” Mariska Hargitay, $13 million

3. “The Big Bang Theory’s” Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, $11 million

4. “The Good Wife’s” Julianna Margulies, “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Ellen Pompeo, “How I Met Your Mother’s” Cobie Smulders, $10 million

5. “How I Met Your Mother’s” Alyson Hannigan, $9.5 million

6. “Parks & Recreation’s” Amy Poehler, $7 million

7. “The Mindy Project’s” Mindy Kaling, $6.5 million

8. “Scandal’s” Kerry Washington, “New Girl’s” Zooey Deschanel, “Cougar Town’s” Courteney Cox, $6 million

9. “Homeland’s” Claire Danes, $5 million

10. “Girls” star and creator Lena Dunham, $3.5 million

I’m in the wrong business but follow me on Twitter anyway @NardineSaad.

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