Paula Patton
Paula Patton is an American actress born on December 5, 1975, in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of a teacher and a defense attorney and initially pursued a career in film production before transitioning to acting. Patton made her film debut in the 2005 romantic comedy "Hitch" and gained recognition for her role as Ms. Rain in the critically acclaimed film "Precious" (2009), which won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. She has appeared in a diverse range of films, including "Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol" (2011) and the horror film "Mirrors" (2008). Throughout her career, Patton has earned multiple award nominations, showcasing her talent in various genres from comedy to drama. In her personal life, she was married to singer Robin Thicke from 2005 until their divorce in 2015, and they share a son. Patton continues to work in the film industry, taking on both acting and producing roles, and she is involved in projects that highlight significant cultural stories.
Subject Terms
Paula Patton
Actor
- Born: December 5, 1975
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
Contribution: Paula Patton is an actor best known for her roles in Idlewild (2006), Precious (2009), and Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol (2011).
Background
Paula Maxine Patton was born on December 5, 1975, in Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of Joyce Patton, a teacher, and Charles Patton, a defense attorney. Patton attended Hamilton High School in Los Angeles, where she performed in a number of school productions. After completing high school Patton spent a semester at the University of California, Berkeley and then transferred to the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Following graduation she worked as a producer for the Discovery Health Channel’s series Medical Diaries. However, Patton soon found that she did not enjoy producing and decided instead to pursue a career in acting.
Career
Patton made her film debut with a minor part in the romantic comedy Hitch (2005), starring Will Smith and Eva Mendes. She followed this with a role in the 2005 independent film London, starring Chris Evans, Jason Statham, and Jessica Biel.
The following year Patton costarred in the musical drama Idlewild, written and directed by Bryan Barber and set during the Prohibition era in the South. Patton appears in the film alongside musicians André Benjamin (also known as André 3000) and Big Boi from the hip-hop group Outkast. Also in 2006 Patton starred alongside veteran actor Denzel Washington in the science-fiction thriller Déjà Vu, about a government agent who travels back in time to prevent a bombing as well as the murder of a woman, played by Patton.
In 2008 Patton had a costarring role as a reporter in the film Swing Vote, which stars Kevin Costner as an apathetic man who becomes responsible for casting the decisive vote in a presidential election. That year Patton also costarred with Kiefer Sutherland in the horror film Mirrors, about a former police officer whose family is threatened by a malevolent force.
In 2009 Patton costarred in the Academy Award–winning film Precious. Patton played inspirational teacher Ms. Rain, who helps Precious (Gabourey Sidibe) gain an education despite the hardship she faces. Patton was nominated for several awards for her performance in the film, both as an individual and as a member of the ensemble cast, and in 2010 Precious won the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay.
Patton next obtained a costarring role in the romantic comedy Just Wright (2010), starring Queen Latifah and Common. The following year Patton starred in Jumping the Broom, a romantic comedy in which two very different families come together for a wedding. Patton was nominated for the Image Award for outstanding actress for her role in the film. She went on to play Jane Carter, an agent of the fictional espionage agency IMF, in Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol, the fourth film in the popular Mission: Impossible series. Directed by Brad Bird and starring Tom Cruise, the film received positive reviews and was a box-office success.
In 2012 Patton costarred in the independent drama Disconnect, directed by Henry Alex Rubin and featuring an ensemble cast that also included Jason Bateman, Alexander Skarsgård, and Hope Davis. The film focuses on the lives of individuals connected by technology, including children involved in cyberbullying and a couple whose identities have been stolen. The following year Patton reunited with Denzel Washington for the film 2 Guns, an action comedy about a naval intelligence officer (Mark Wahlberg) and a Drug Enforcement Administration officer (Washington) who must cooperate to take down a drug cartel.
Patton had roles in a number of films throughout the mid-to-late 2010s. In About Last Night (2014), an independent film reimagining of the David Mamet play, Patton played the minor part of Alison; that romantic comedy stood out among her other films of that period for its greater acclaim and popularity. She had starred in the romantic comedy Baggage Claim (2013) and found supporting roles in the romantic comedy The Perfect Match (2016) and in the buddy comedy The Do-Over (2016)—all of which received poor critical reviews and mixed receptions among audiences. Also in 2016, Patton costarred as Garona in the popular adventure fantasy Warcraft, based on the video game World of Warcraft. Her next starring role came in the exploitation thriller Traffik (2018), which was widely panned, save for her performance. Patton went on to be cast as the lead, lawyer Danielle Hernandez, in the BET thriller Sacrifice.
In addition to her film acting, Patton served as a producer for both The Perfect Match and Traffik, and starred as Laura Price in the short-lived television thriller Somewhere Between (2017). In 2019 she optioned the film rights to the novel Josephine Baker's Last Dance by Sherry Jones, with the intention of having it adapted and starring as the renowned African American dancer.
Impact
Although she initially pursued a career in film production, Patton soon found success as an actor, playing a variety of comedic, dramatic, and action-oriented roles. She has been recognized with nominations for a number of awards, including the Black Reel Award, the Screen Actors Guild Award, and the Saturn Award.
Personal Life
Patton married her high school sweetheart, singer Robin Thicke, in 2005. The couple have one son, Julian Fuego (b. 2010). Patton separated from Thicke in early 2014 and divorced in 2015.
Principal Works
Hitch, 2005
London, 2005
Idlewild, 2006
Déjà Vu, 2006
Swing Vote, 2008
Mirrors, 2008
Precious, 2009
Just Wright, 2010
Jumping the Broom, 2011
Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol, 2011
Disconnect, 2012
2 Guns, 2013
Baggage Claim, 2013
The Perfect Match, 2016
Warcraft, 2016
Traffik, 2018
Bibliography
Barone, Matt. “Paula Patton: The P Is Free.” Complex. Pop Culture, 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 19 Aug. 2013.
Cruz, Anne Marie. “Robin Thicke and Paula Patton Welcome a Son.” People. Time Inc., 7 Apr. 2010. Web. 19 Aug. 2013.
Evans, Rory. “Paula Patton’s Precious Moments.” Women’s Health. Rodale, 20 Oct. 2012. Web. 19 Aug. 2013.
Patton, Paula. “Interview: Paula Patton of ‘2 Guns.’” Interview by James Rocchi. Hitlist. MSN Entertainment, 1 Aug. 2013. Web. 19 Aug. 2013.
Patton, Paula. “Paula Patton on Being a CoverGirl, and Playing Whitney Houston.” Interview by Geneva S. Thomas. Ebony. Ebony Magazine, 24 Apr. 2012. Web. 19 Aug. 2013.