Sofia Vergara beats Kim Kardashian in TV earnings list

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The Modern Family actress was paid $19m (拢12.1m) last year
  • Author, Emma Brant
  • Role, Newsbeat reporter

Sofia Vergara was the highest paid US television actress over the past 12 months.

The Modern Family star is thought to have earned around $19m (拢12.1m) in the last year.

The Colombian-born actress took the number one spot thanks to her Emmy award-winning show, which is shown on Sky1.

Lucrative endorsement deals for Diet Pepsi and Cover Girl also helped her top the Forbes magazine list.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Number two: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West in Paris this month

The 40-year-old actress also has a partnership role in Latin World Entertainment, an entertainment company that Forbes said "was poised to become a new media powerhouse".

Reality TV star Kim Kardashian landed the number two spot with $18 million (拢11.4m) which was helped by her guest appearance on Drop Dead Diva and her wedding to Kris Humphries.

Kim Kardashian's younger sister Khloe was ranked at number five in the list for earnings of $11m (拢7m) from May 2011 to May 2012.

The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star jointly held the place with 30 Rock creator Tina Fey.

Desperate Housewives stars Eva Longoria came in third place with $13 million (拢8.2m) and Bethenny Frankel was in fourth position with $12m (拢7.6m).

Other Desperate Housewives Felicity Huffman, Teri Hatcher and Marcia Cross also came in the top 20.

To compile the list, Forbes took into account pay, endorsement deals and advertising work.

Forbes Highest paid US TV actress list

1. Sofia Vergara, Modern Family - $19m (拢12.4m)

2. Kim Kardashian, Keeping up with the Kardashians, Khloe & Lamar - $18m (拢11.4m)

3. Eva Longoria, Desperate Housewives - $15m (拢9.5m)

4. Bethenny Frankel, Desperate Housewives, Bethenny Ever After - $12m (拢7.6m)

5. Khloe Kardashian Odom, Keeping up with the Kardashians - $11m (拢7m)

5. Tina Fey, 30 Rock - $11 million (拢7m)

7. Mariska Hargitay, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit - $10m (拢4.4m)

8. Zooey Deschanel, New Girl - $9 million (拢5.7m)

8. Felicity Huffman, Desperate Housewives - $9 million (拢5.7m)

8. Ellen Pompeo, Grey's Anatomy - $9 million (拢5.7m)

11. Kate Walsh, Private Practice- $8 million (拢5.1m)

11. Teri Hatcher, Desperate Housewives - $8 million (拢5.1m)

11. Marcia Cross, Desperate Housewives - $8 million (拢5.1m)

11. Kaley Cuoco, The Big Bang Theory - $8 million (拢5.1m)