Sofia Vergara loves it when she gets mistaken for her son's sister.

The youthful looking 40-year-old actress often goes out with her 19-year-old son Manolo and she refuses to correct people when they refer to her as his girlfriend or sibling, despite his embarrassment.

When asked how she feels about being mistaken for Manolo's girlfriend or sister, she said: "I love that! Especially when they say he's my brother. But he hates it if I'm with him and someone says, 'Oh tell your sister to come,' and I don't correct them. He's like, 'Tell them you're my mom!' But I don't."

Sofia had Manolo with her ex-husband Joe Gonzalez - who she married when she was 18 - and she admits when she and Joe split she and her son developed an incredibly close bond which still exists now.

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The Columbian star - who is now engaged to Nick Loeb - added to the UK edition of OK! magazine: "I am very close to my son. My son has always been very mature. He's like an old soul."

One thing that always annoys Manolo when the pair go out together in public is if Sofia is recognised.

The sex symbol plays Gloria Pritchett in the hugely popular comedy series 'Modern Family' and she admits her son groans if she is spotted by fans because she always stops to give autographs and pose for photos.

She said: "In person I look a little smaller than on TV. So people just stare and stare, like, 'Is that her or not?' The moment I open my mouth, they're like, 'I knew it!'

"When I go out with my son, he'll say, 'Mom, don't talk now or we're going to be here for an hour with people taking pictures. We need to go.' "