Biography

Paula Garces was born in Medellin, Colombia. Her father was a fisherman, and her mother was a schoolteacher. At age 7 she relocated with her parents to New York City, where she resided primarily in Harlem. She started acting in commercials hired by agent Diego Santiago, her father's best friend. She made her film debut in Hollywood in Paramount's teen sci-fi adventure Top chronos (2002), starring opposite Jesse Bradford. She later was cast in Richard Benjamin's hip-hop comedy Marci X (2003) opposite Lisa Kudrow and Damon Wayans.

Garces was next seen opposite Academy Award-winner Tommy Lee Jones in the Revolution Studios feature Garde rapprochée (2005) and as "Maria" in New Line's hit comedy Harold & Kumar chassent le burger (2004) and reprised her role as "Maria" in the hit sequel Harold et Kumar s'évadent de Guantanamo (2008), which has grossed close to $40 million domestically. Garces was also featured on Jerry Bruckheimer's hit show Les Experts : Miami (2002). She starred in a six-episode arc on NBC's New York - Unité spéciale (1999) as well as doing guest spots on HBO's hit series Les Soprano (1999) and Oz (1997). While filming "Law & Order: SVU", Garces was offered a role she could not refuse: a new cast member on FX's hit television series The Shield (2002). Paula's character, Officer Tina Hallon, brought new story lines and high ratings. Her contract was extended for three more seasons, once again securing her position as a rising Latina star.

In one of her first films she nabbed a starring role opposite James Van Der Beek and Mary McCormick, in the 1997 indie drama Harvest (1998) (aka "Cash Crop"). Other film credits include James Redford's directorial debut, Spin (2003), opposite Rubén Blades, Stanley Tucci, Dana Delany and Ryan Merriman; the critically-acclaimed Hangin' with the Homeboys (1991); Michael J. Fox's comedy Graine de star (1993); and Jerry Bruckheimer's urban drama Esprits rebelles (1995), starring Michelle Pfeiffer.

Expanding her career further, Paula worked behind the cameras as Executive Producer of the animated film Red Princess Blues Animated: The Book of Violence (2007), which received great reviews at numerous film festivals. She can also be heard voicing the lead character Princess.

Paula premiered her first comic book, called "Aluna", at San Diego's 2010 Comic Con. "Aluna" a period piece set in the 1500's about a mystical tribal princess taken from her native Colombia by conquistadors and raised in Spain, only to return to her homeland to save her people. This is a multi-platform starring vehicle for Garces.

- IMDb mini biography by: Personal Representative (qv's & corrections by A. Nonymous)