On June 6th in a small town in Portugal, Paula Maria Esteves Labaredas was born in her grandma’s home. She is the middle child of three girls. Paula was brought up catholic who’s mom wanted all her girls to become nuns. At the age of 2 Paula’s family migrated to America in hopes of finding, “The American Dream”. On the way to America Paula’s life was almost cut short. The American dream did not seem so great to her parents anymore, when they thought they lost their child. On the plane Paula started hyperventilating. She then fell unconscious and stopped breathing. She was pronounced dead by a doctor on board but luckily a few moments later she revived. The Labaredas’ family set up their home in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where her father worked as a construction worker, and her mother a seamstress in factories. Being from the old country, her father once built a wine cellar from scratch and her mother often made clothes for Paula and her sisters. Paula attended inner city schools and throughout grammar school was a member of the chorus which held yearly school productions.
Paula was very shy. She grew up in a strict, disciplined, household which caused her to feel locked up and suffocated. As a result she used television and her imagination as an escape. At the age of 16 she started working as a waitress and was able to save enough money and attend college. There she had courage to overcome her shyness by discovering and falling in love with acting. She knew she wanted to perform the rest of her life.
Against her family’s wishes (where leaving home before marriage goes against the cultural grain), Paula made the move to NYC, to pursue her acting career. Within the 1st year she found it financially, emotionally, and physically difficult…moving eight times, sleeping on friends floors, basically living out of her suitcase, yet she continued on her acting journey, booking jobs in soap operas, independent films, web series & off broadway plays which eventually led her to Los Angeles.
Paula’s intense passion, tenacity & persistence keeps her on the road to continues success. She wants to excel in her work, and be one of the best in the film industry.
Paula’s pure heart shines through her work, which is evident in her poems, her paintings, and her charity work. Paula has also produced numerous shorts, web series & co produced two features through her production company Lucky Tiger Films. She has been a vegetarian for over 10 years, is spiritual, loves too work out, loves to dance, and loves to spend her free time with her family.
