Garcés' father was a fisherman and her mother was a dance teacher. Moving from her birthplace of Medellin, Colombia, to the United States at a young age, Garcés started acting in commercials through her talent agent, Diego Santiago, her father's best friend. Garcés later pursued a mini-stint career in kickboxing and as a personal trainer in New York City. She is married to Antonio Hernandez, a deli owner in New York City and has one daughter, Skye Mahoney, whose father is her ex-boyfriend from high school (they never married).
Paula Garces drew Hollywood's attention when she toplined Paramount Pictures' 2002 teen sci-fi adventure, Clockstoppers, starring opposite Jesse Bradford, directed by Jonathan Frakes, and produced by Gale Anne Hurd and Albie Hecht. Paramount quickly became a fan and cast her in Richard Benjamin's hip-hop comedy Marci X opposite Lisa Kudrow and Damon Wayans.
Garces was next seen opposite Academy Award-winner Tommy Lee Jones in the Revolution Studios feature, Man of the House. She was recently featured on Jerry Bruckheimer's hit show, CSI: Miami and, last year, starred in a six episode arc on NBC's Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as guest spots on HBO's hit series, The Sopranos and Oz. While filming Law & Order: SVU, Garces was offered a role she could not refuse, which was as a new cast member on FX's hit television series, The Shield. Paula's character, Officer Tina Hallon, brought new storylines and high ratings to the already popular drama. Because of this, her contract was extended to 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 (aka Cash Crop). Other film credits include James Redford's directorial debut, Spin, opposite Ruben Blades, Stanley Tucci, Dana Delany, and Ryan Merriman, the critically-acclaimed Hangin' with the Homeboys, Michael J. Fox's comedy, Life with Mikey, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer's urban drama Dangerous Minds, starring Michelle Pfeiffer.
Garces will next be seen in New Line Cinema's 2008 summer release, Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, the sequel to the wildly successful cult hit Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. Expanding her career further, Paula is now working behind the cameras as Executive Producer to the animated film Red Princess Blues Animated: The Book of Violence, which has already received great reviews at numerous film festivals. She can also be heard voicing the lead character, Princess, in the animated film, which is a prequel to the live action feature film she will be starring in and co-producing with writer, director Alex Ferrari.
