Paola Turbay Gómez is a Colombian-American actress, model, television host, and beauty pageant titleholder, born on November 29, 1970, in Houston, Texas, to Colombian parents Gabriel Turbay Bernal and María Helena Gómez Pardo, who were pursuing graduate studies in the United States at the time.
Although born in the U.S., she moved with her family to Bogotá, Colombia, at the age of ten, where she spent much of her upbringing immersed in Colombian culture.
Turbay earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá before transitioning into entertainment.
She is related to prominent Colombian political figures, including her great-uncle Julio César Turbay Ayala, who served as the 25th President of Colombia from 1978 to 1982.
In her personal life, Turbay married Alejandro Estrada in 1994, and the couple has two children together.
Siblings
Paola is the eldest of four siblings, with three younger brothers, namely Juan Gabriel Turbay, Nicolás Turbay, and Felipe Turbay.
Her brother Juan Gabriel Turbay has made a name for himself as a composer and singer, highlighting a creative streak within the family.
The Turbay family has deep roots in Colombia, with connections to notable figures in politics and public life, though Paola and her siblings have largely pursued paths in the arts and entertainment.
Career
Turbay began her professional journey after completing her psychology degree, initially focusing on modeling and television presenting in Colombia.
She gained early prominence by representing Bogotá in the Miss Colombia pageant, which she won in 1991, followed by a strong showing as first runner-up at Miss Universe 1992.
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This launched her into entertainment news segments on Colombian networks like Noticias QAP and Noticiero C, where she hosted and reported.
Transitioning to acting, she studied in Hollywood, Florida, and starred in Colombian productions such as the comedy series Noticias Calientes in 2002 and the telenovela Las Noches de Luciana in 2004.
She also presented the Colombian edition of Dancing with the Stars, Bailando por un Sueño, in 2006.
Expanding to the U.S. market, Turbay made her English-language debut in 2007 as Isabel Vega on the CBS series Cane opposite Jimmy Smits.
She went on to appear in recurring roles on shows like The Secret Life of the American Teenager, True Blood as the witch Antonia Gavilán de Logroño, Royal Pains as Dr. Marissa Cassaras, and The Blacklist.
Her film work includes roles in Love in the Time of Cholera directed by Mike Newell, as well as Colombian films like Perder es Cuestión de Método, Mamá Tómate la Sopa, and Los Oriyinales.
Beyond acting, she co-founded and serves as executive director of the IndieBo Bogotá Independent Film Festival since 2014, promoting independent cinema in Colombia.
Accolades
Turbay’s career has been marked by significant recognition, starting with her pageant successes where she was crowned Miss Colombia in 1991 and achieved first runner-up at the Miss Universe 1992 competition.
In acting, she received a nomination for the 2009 ALMA Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series for her work on The Closer and The Secret Life of the American Teenager.
The following year, in 2010, she was nominated for an Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress in Television, acknowledging her contributions to U.S. programming.
Additionally, Turbay has been featured on lists like People en Español’s 25 Biggest Crossovers of Latin America, reflecting her influence across markets.
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