Paula Patton

Paula Maxine Patton (born December 5, 1975)[1] is an American actress. Patton made her feature film debut in the 2005 comedy Hitch. She also had starring roles in the films Déjà Vu (2006), Precious (2009), Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), 2 Guns (2013), and Warcraft (2016).
== Early life ==
Patton was born in Los Angeles, California, to Joyce (née Vanraden), a school teacher, and Charles Patton, a lawyer. Her mother is white and her father is African-American.[2][3][4] She graduated from Alexander Hamilton High School, and then started college at University of California, Berkeley,[5] transferring to University of Southern California's Film School after her first year. Shortly after completing her studies, she won a three-month assignment making documentaries for PBS.[6][7]
== Career ==
Patton provided additional vocals for Usher on his 2004 album Confessions. She provided the female vocal counterpart on the song "Can U Handle It?" which was co-written by Robin Thicke, whom she would later marry.[8] Patton has song-writing credits on multiple Robin Thicke albums under the name "Max", derived from her middle name (Maxine). Patton made her film debut with a small part in the 2005 romantic comedy film Hitch, which starred Will Smith and Eva Mendes.[9] In the same year, she followed that with a small part in the drama film London. In 2006, she appeared alongside OutKast members Andre Benjamin and Big Boi in the musical film Idlewild written and directed by Bryan Barber.[10]
Patton's big break came in 2006 when she landed the pivotal female lead role of Claire Kuchever in the science fiction thriller Déjà Vu opposite Denzel Washington.[11] The film received mixed reviews from critics, but was a box office hit, grossing over US$180 million worldwide.[12] She also appeared in her then-husband Robin Thicke's "Lost Without You" video in 2006.[13] In 2008, Patton played television reporter Kate Madison in the comedy-drama Swing Votewith Kevin Costner and Amy Carson, the wife of Ben (Kiefer Sutherland) in the supernatural horror film Mirrors. In Lee Daniels' critically acclaimed drama film Precious (2009), she played Ms. Blu Rain, a teacher at the alternative high school in Harlem, New York, who teaches and mentors disadvantaged students, including the titular character, Claireece Precious Jones (Gabourey Sidibe). She later co-starred as Queen Latifah's character's godsister in the romantic comedy Just Wright (2010).[14]
In late 2010, it was announced that Patton would succeed Sharon Stone as the new full-time assistant district attorney on the NBC legal drama series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.[15][16] However, Patton landed the lead female role in action film Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol and her role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit was reduced to one episode. She was replaced by Melissa Sagemiller.[17] Mission: Impossible was released on December 16, 2011 and was a critical and commercial success, grossing almost $700 million worldwide.[18]Also in 2011, Patton played the leading role in the comedy film Jumping the Broom.[19][20]
In 2013, Patton co-starred with Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg in the action comedy film 2 Guns, and starred in the leading role in the romantic comedy film Baggage Claim. The film received negative reviews from critics.[21]On February 24, 2015, it was announced that Patton was cast as lead character in the ABC crime drama pilot Runner.[22][23] It was not picked up to series.
In 2016, Patton starred in the romantic comedy The Perfect Match, alongside Terrence Jenkins, appeared opposite Adam Sandler in direct-to-Netflix comedy film The Do-Over,[24][25] and starred as Garona Halforcen in the Warcraft film adaptation, released in June.[26]
In January 2017, Patton was cast in the lead role of the ABC drama series Somewhere Between, which premiered on July 24. She plays Laura Price, a mother who travels back in time to prevent her daughter's death.[27]
== Personal life ==
In 1991, at the age of 16, Patton met recording artist Robin Thicke, who was then 14, at an under-21 hip-hop club called Balistyx (co-founded and co-hosted by David Faustino) on the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, when Thicke asked her to dance.[28][29] According to Thicke, he sang Stevie Wonder's "Jungle Fever" to her as they danced.[29] The couple began dating in 1993[30] and married on June 11, 2005. Patton gave birth to their son, Julian Fuego, on April 7, 2010.[31] They announced their separation on February 24, 2014 after 21 years together and almost nine years of marriage.[32][33][34] On October 8, 2014, Patton officially filed for divorce and joint custody of their son.[35] The divorce was finalized on March 20, 2015.[36]
In January 2017, a judge denied Patton's request to limit Thicke's custody after she accused him of child abuse.[37] Later that month, Patton was granted sole custody and a restraining order that included their son Julian and her mother Joyce Patton against Thicke after she accused him of domestic violence, infidelity and drug and alcohol addiction. In court documents Patton detailed numerous abusive incidents and stated, "Given Robin's history of hitting me with a closed fist, pushing me onto the ground and kicking me, I had no doubt he was capable of hitting Julian, particularly after having used cocaine, alcohol or whatever other substances with which he is presently involved."[38] Patton and Thicke reached a custody agreement in August 2017.[39]
== Filmography ==
Film
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
2005	Hitch 	Mandy 	
2005	London 	Alex 	
2006	Idlewild 	Angel Davenport / Sally B. Shelly	
2006	Déjà Vu 	Claire Kuchever 	
2008	Mirrors 	Amy Carson 	
2008	Swing Vote 	Kate Madison 	
2009	Precious 	Ms. Blu Rain 	
2010	Just Wright 	Morgan Alexander 	
2011	Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol	Jane Carter 	
2011	Jumping the Broom 	Sabrina Watson 	
2012	Disconnect 	Cindy Hull 	
2013	2 Guns 	Deb 	
2013	Mercy 	Cynthia 	Short film
2013	Baggage Claim 	Montana Moore 	
2014	About Last Night 	Allison 	
2016	Past Forward 	Pursuing Photographer #2 	Short film
2016	The Perfect Match 	Sherry 	Also producer
2016	The Do-Over 	Heather Fishman 	
2016	Warcraft 	Garona Halforcen 	
2018	Traffik 	Brea 	Also producer
Television
Year	Title 	Role 	Notes
2005	Murder Book 	Det. Angela Kellogg 	Unsold TV pilot
2010	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	A.D.A. Mikka Von 	Episode: "Wet"
2012	Single Ladies 	Layla Twilight 	Episodes: "The Business of Friendship" and "Fast Love"
2013	Sesame Street 	Herself 	Episode: "Best House of the Year"
2015	Runner 	Lauren Marks 	Unsold TV pilot
2015	Project Runway 	Herself / Guest Judge	Episode: "Haute Tech Couture"
2017	Somewhere Between 	Laura Price 	Main role; 10 episodes
== Awards and nominations ==
Year	Award 	Category 	Nominated work 	Result
2007	Black Reel Award 	Best Breakthrough Performance 	Déjà Vu 	Nominated
2007	Black Reel Award 	Best Supporting Actress 	Precious 	Won
2007	Boston Society of Film Critics Award 	Best Cast 	Precious 	Won
2007	Critics' Choice Movie Award 	Best Acting Ensemble 	Precious 	Nominated
2007	NAACP Image Award 	Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture 	Precious 	Nominated
2007	Screen Actors Guild Award 	Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture	Precious 	Nominated
2007	Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award	Best Ensemble 	Precious 	Nominated
2012	Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards 	Kick Ass Award for Best Female Action Star 	Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol	Nominated
2012	Saturn Award 	Best Supporting Actress 	Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol	Nominated
2012	Teen Choice Awards 	Choice Movie Actress: Action 	Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol	Nominated
2012	NAACP Image Award 	Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture 	Jumping the Broom 	Nominated