Paula Patton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Paula Patton
Patton in 2015
Born	Paula Maxine Patton (1975-12-05) December 5, 1975 (age 49) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Nationality	American
Other names	Max
Alma mater	University of Southern California (BA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2005–present
Spouse(s)	Robin Thicke ​ ​ (m. 2005; div. 2015)​
Children	1

Paula Maxine Patton (born December 5, 1975) is a talented American actress and producer. She first appeared in a movie in 2005. This was the comedy film Hitch.

Paula has starred in many popular films. Some of these include Déjà Vu (2006), Precious (2009), and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011). She is known for playing strong and interesting characters.

Early life and education

Paula Patton was born in Los Angeles, California. Her mother, Joyce, was a school teacher. Her father, Charles Patton, was a lawyer.

Paula's mother is of German and Dutch background. Her father is African American. Paula went to Alexander Hamilton High School.

After high school, she started college at the University of California, Berkeley. She later moved to the University of Southern California's Film School. After finishing her studies, she worked for three months making documentaries for PBS.

Career highlights

Paula Patton also has a musical side. She sang backup vocals for the artist Usher on his 2004 album Confessions. She also sang on the song "Can U Handle It?". This song was co-written by Robin Thicke, who she later married.

Paula has helped write songs for Robin Thicke's albums. She used the name "Max," which comes from her middle name, Maxine.

First movie roles

Paula's first movie role was a small part in the 2005 romantic comedy Hitch. She acted alongside Will Smith in this film. Later that same year, she had a small role in the drama film London.

In 2006, Paula appeared in the musical film Idlewild. She acted with members of the group OutKast.

Breakthrough roles

Paula's big chance came in 2006. She got a main role in the science fiction thriller Déjà Vu. She starred with Denzel Washington in this movie. The film was very successful at the box office.

In 2008, Paula played a TV reporter in the comedy-drama Swing Vote. She also appeared in the horror film Mirrors.

One of her most important roles was in the 2009 drama film Precious. She played Ms. Blu Rain, a kind teacher. This teacher helped students at an alternative high school in Harlem, New York.

Patton with Tom Cruise and Anil Kapoor at a special screening of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol in 2011

In 2011, Paula Patton got a lead role in the action film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. She played Jane Carter. This movie was a huge success around the world. Also in 2011, Paula starred in the comedy film Jumping the Broom.

Later career

In 2013, Paula acted with Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg in the action comedy 2 Guns. She also starred in the romantic comedy Baggage Claim.

In 2016, Paula starred in several films. These included the romantic comedy The Perfect Match. She also appeared in the comedy The Do-Over for Netflix.

A big role for her was playing Garona Halforcen in the Warcraft movie. This film was based on a popular video game. In 2017, Paula starred in the TV series Somewhere Between. In 2019, she starred in the film Sacrifice for BET+.

Patton at the InStyle Party at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.

Personal life

Paula Patton met recording artist Robin Thicke in 1991. She was 15 and he was 14. They met at a hip-hop club in Los Angeles. They started dating in 1993 and got married on June 11, 2005.

Paula and Robin had a son named Julian Fuego. He was born on April 6, 2010. They announced their separation in February 2014. Their divorce was finalized in March 2015.

Filmography

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Paula Patton para niños