Reese Witherspoon thinks Sofia Vergara is a ''strong woman.''

The 'Hot Pursuit' actress formed a friendship with her Colombian co-star on the set of the new comedy and says she has a huge amount of respect for the 'Modern Family' actress, who is currently embroiled in a legal battle with ex-fiancé Nick Loeb over the fate of two embryos they created in 2013.

Asked about their close bond, the Oscar winner said: ''I like to hang out with other strong women. I only really know strong women. I grew up with strong women in the South and so she's just the same.

''When I got the chance to meet her and work with her, I was so blown away by her just as an actress, a comedienne and also as a business woman - she has got an incredible career and she's a real inspiration for me.''

Reese thinks the brunette beauty, who is engaged to 'Magic Mike' star Joe Manganiello and has 23-year-old son Manolo from a previous marriage, treats those close to her really well.

She told PEOPLE.com: ''She's also a wonderful mom, a wonderful girlfriend, she really loves her family and I love that about her.''

Sofia's former partner Nick is suing her in a bid to win the right to use a surrogate to bring their embryos to life and claims she wants to destroy them.

But her lawyer recently insisted: ''[Sofia] has always maintained that they be kept frozen, a fact of which Loeb and his counsel have always been aware, despite Loeb's statements to the contrary.''