---
name: "Paula Garcés"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/paula-garces"
fi1m_id: "paula-garces"
imdb_id: "nm0305519"
tmdb_id: 21124
wikidata_id: "Q433149"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "20 March 1974"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-23T04:11:13.159063+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Paula Garcés

## Identity

Paula Garcés

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/paula-garces
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** paula-garces
- **IMDb ID:** nm0305519
- **TMDB ID:** 21124
- **Wikidata ID:** Q433149
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Garc%C3%A9s, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q433149, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0305519/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21124

Actor. Born 20 March 1974 in Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 20 March 1974, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
- **Active:** 1995–2011
- **Also known as:** Paula Graces, Paula Garces, Paula Garcès
- **Frequently works with:** [Greg Shapiro](https://film.one/person/greg-shapiro.md), [Hayden Schlossberg](https://film.one/person/hayden-schlossberg.md), [John Cho](https://film.one/person/john-cho.md), [Jon Hurwitz](https://film.one/person/jon-hurwitz.md), [Kal Penn](https://film.one/person/kal-penn.md), [Neil Patrick Harris](https://film.one/person/neil-patrick-harris.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 42 (1), 2000s 79 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 79 to 76 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 2, Action & Adventure 1, Adventure 1, Crime 1
- **Screen time:** 5 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $212m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Garc%C3%A9s, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q433149, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0305519/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21124

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Shield*](https://film.one/tv/the-shield.md) (84)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle*](https://film.one/film/harold-and-kumar-go-to-white-castle.md) (71)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Paula Garcés is an American actress. She was born on 20 March 1974 in Medellín, Colombia, and moved to New York City as a child.

She made her film debut in *Hangin' with the Homeboys* (1991) and appeared in *Dangerous Minds* (1995). Her early television roles included episodes of *Law & Order* and *The Sopranos*. Garcés played the Cashier in *The Station Agent* (2003) and Maria in *Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle* (2004) and its sequels *Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay* (2008) and *A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas* (2011).

Other credits include *Clockstoppers* (2002), *CSI: Miami*, *The Shield* and *Elementary*. She has also appeared in *On My Block* and *Chicago Med*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle* (2004), Fi1m 71, as Maria — [page](https://film.one/film/harold-and-kumar-go-to-white-castle.md)
- *The Station Agent* (2003), Fi1m 82, as Cashier — [page](https://film.one/film/the-station-agent.md)
- *The Shield* (2002), Fi1m 84, as Tina Hanlon — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-shield.md)
- *Dangerous Minds* (1995), Fi1m 42, as Alvina — [page](https://film.one/film/dangerous-minds.md)

## Complete filmography (44)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Freeridge* (2023), series, as Geny Martinez · Director
- *The Lincoln Lawyer* (2022), series, Director
- *Aftermath* (2021), as Claudia
- *On My Block* (2018), series, as Geny Martinez · Director
- *Short Version of Alma* (2016), as Irena Montoya · Producer
- *Chicago Med* (2015), series, as Gia Lindahl
- *Adult Beginners* (2014), as Blanca
- *The Maid's Room* (2014), as Drina
- *Devious Maids* (2013), series, as Flora Hernandez
- *Demonio* (2013), as Gabriella · Writer, Producer
- *Elementary* (2012), series, as Officer Paula Reyes
- *Major Crimes* (2012), series, as Alexa Diaz — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/major-crimes.md)
- *A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas* (2011), as Maria
- *Breakout Kings* (2011), series, as Debbie Myers
- *Chase* (2010), series, as Tia Archer
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Aida Rios — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Defying Gravity* (2009), series, as Paula Morales
- *Warehouse 13* (2009), series, as Dr. Kelly Hernandez
- *Knight Rider* (2008), series, as Kelli Haddigan
- *Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam* (2008), as Maria
- *Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay* (2008), as Maria
- *Red Princess Blues Animated: The Book of Violence* (2007), as Princess (voice) · Executive Producer
- *Pledge This!* (2007), as Gloria
- *The Shore* (2005), as Tina
- *Che Guevara* (2005), as Aleida
- *Man of the House* (2005), as Teresa
- *Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle* (2004), as Maria — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/harold-and-kumar-go-to-white-castle.md)
- *The Station Agent* (2003), as Cashier — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-station-agent.md)
- *Spin* (2003), as Francesca
- *Marci X* (2003), as Yolanda Quinones
- *CSI: Miami* (2002), series, as Anna Sivarro, Carmen Abregon
- *Clockstoppers* (2002), as Francesca
- *The Shield* (2002), series, as Tina Hanlon — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-shield.md)
- *The Brothers García* (2000), series, as Milagros
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Millie Vizcarrondo
- *Harvest* (1999), as Mina Fuentes
- *The Sopranos* (1999), series, as Felicia Galan — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sopranos.md)
- *Oz* (1997), series, as Isabella Ricardo (uncredited) — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/oz.md)
- *Dangerous Minds* (1995), as Alvina — Fi1m 42, [page](https://film.one/film/dangerous-minds.md)
- *New York Undercover* (1994), series, as Aria Nuriez
- *Life with Mikey* (1993), as Janice
- *Hangin' with the Homeboys* (1991), as Harassed Sister
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Lucy Rivers — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Shhh*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Paula Garcés and Julissa Bermudez at the Paper Magazine Beautiful People Absolut Wild Tea and Paper Party at Hudson, New York City in March 2011.](https://film.one/media/person/98222/gallery-8a7270ba1a59.jpg) Paula Garcés and Julissa Bermudez at the Paper Magazine Beautiful People Absolut Wild Tea and Paper Party at Hudson, New York City in March 2011. — Joella Marano at https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellasportfolio/, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/PaulaGarc%C3%A9sJulissaBermudezMar2011.jpg/1280px-PaulaGarc%C3%A9sJulissaBermudezMar2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Paula Garcés and Julissa Bermudez at the Paper Magazine Beautiful People Absolut Wild Tea and Paper Party at Hudson, New York City in March 2011.](https://film.one/media/person/98222/gallery-ca29a3ad2261.jpg) Paula Garcés and Julissa Bermudez at the Paper Magazine Beautiful People Absolut Wild Tea and Paper Party at Hudson, New York City in March 2011. — Joella Marano at https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellasportfolio/, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/PaulaGarc%C3%A9sJulissaBermudezMar2011_%28Paula_Garc%C3%A9s_cropped%29.jpg/1280px-PaulaGarc%C3%A9sJulissaBermudezMar2011_%28Paula_Garc%C3%A9s_cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Actress Paula Garcés attends the "Lipstick Jungle" Premiere at Saks 5th Avenue in New York. (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/98222/gallery-6c520bb4d78a.jpg) Actress Paula Garcés attends the "Lipstick Jungle" Premiere at Saks 5th Avenue in New York. (2008) — Christopher Peterson (Christopherpeterson), CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Paula_Garces.jpg/1280px-Paula_Garces.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Paula Garcés](https://film.one/media/person/98222/gallery-15e0510dd91b.jpg) Paula Garcés — Paula_Garces_Comic-Con_2008.jpg: unpossibly
derivative work: Supernino (talk), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Paula_Garces_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Paula_Garces_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Paula Garcés](https://film.one/media/person/98222/gallery-47c4d0b0f73f.jpg) Paula Garcés — Image via TMDB
- ![Paula Garcés](https://film.one/media/person/98222/gallery-2ead9b347eea.jpg) Paula Garcés — Image via TMDB
- ![Paula Garcés](https://film.one/media/person/98222/gallery-a2f064d73daa.jpg) Paula Garcés — Image via TMDB
- ![Paula Garcés at Comic-Con 2008 (2010)](https://film.one/media/person/98222/gallery-ff1cff0b050a.jpg) Paula Garcés at Comic-Con 2008 (2010) — Paula_Garces_2008.jpg: unpossibly
derivative work: Supernino (talk), CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Paula_Garces_-_cropped.jpg/1280px-Paula_Garces_-_cropped.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/paula-garces