LOS ANGELES – Ariel Winter, a Greek-American 17 year-old who plays Alex, the brainy middle child of the Dunphys on the hit ABC sitcom Modern Family, successfully won emancipation from her estranged mother, Chrisoula (Crystal) Batistas Workman, the New York Daily News reported, after the court found evidence that Workman emotionally abused Winter.

The young actress, whose Greek name is Eleftheria, Tweeted: “I’m really lucky I have an amazing support system and lovely people in my life who have given me the support and guidance to have been given this wonderful opportunity.” Previous to her court-determined status as an “emancipated minor,” Winter was under the legal guardianship of her older sister, Shanelle Gray, also an actress and best role for having starred on the soap opera One Live to Live, and also put her finances in the hands of her father, Glenn Workman. Winter thanked her sister and her father for their support, and also thanked her fans: “Thank you to all of my family, friends, and fans who have supported me through all of my endeavors in life, and have encouraged me. Thank you for making my life so special! I can’t wait to embark on my new adventures.”