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Home » Paola Turbay Cast as the Lesbian Cop in "The Closer"

Paola Turbay Cast as the Lesbian Cop in "The Closer"

by
Sarah Warn
, Founder and Former Editor in Chief
April 22, 2009

Paola Turbay has been cast in the The Closer's recurring lesbian detective role we mentioned in February.

The actress, who was born in Houston, TX but raised in Bogotá, was crowned Miss Colombia in 1991, and went on to develop an acting career in Colombian and then American television.

Turbay has recently guest starred in several episodes of The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and also stars in the popular CBS online series Novel Adventures, about a book club.

She played the wife of Jimmy Smits character in the short-lived CBS series Cane from 2007-2008.

"They were looking for a latina detective for this fifth season [of The Closer], a physically strong and efficient woman" Turbay told Colombian newspaper El Tiempo. "I went to do the audition and the next Friday I was in a meeting with all the actors receiving the scripts."

Det. Mendoza is the chief of an LAPD assistance squad. "My department is the one that has to kick in the doors and enter a building with weapons drawn to make sure there's no danger," Turbay continued. "We do all the heavy work. I already had to kick in doors, jump over cars, jump out a window, fall on a car, and fall off it with my weapon drawn."

Cable TV's highest-rated series, The Closer stars Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson, a former Atlanta detective brought to Los Angeles to head a special LAPD homicide unit who has a problem with work-life balance (and snack foods).

Det. Mendoza clashes with Brenda Leigh, according to the casting sides for the role.

The fifth season of The Closer starts June 8 on TNT.

TAGS :: 
BAS's picture

yikes

Submitted by
BAS (553 posts)
on April 22, 2009 - 10:38pm.

I watched the Closer once and actually could not stand it (I know, people here love it, but I have strange tastes), but if she is playing a lesbian I might have to try again.  Never heard of her but she is hot! 

Also glad I haven't submitted my hot100 yet, I might have to add her...

Melissa Hsu's picture

I agree!

Submitted by
Melissa Hsu (not verified)
on April 23, 2009 - 12:11am.
I didn't care much for The Closer either when I saw it...but, as a lesbian Colombian-American, I feel almost obliged to watch it now haha
Carolina87's picture

LOL XD

Submitted by
Carolina87 (94 posts)
on April 23, 2009 - 8:34am.

Paola is stunning!! I'm also Colombiana-Americana so this will definetely go on my tivo "to do" list. 

Yeah for a Colombian hottie playing a Lesbian!!! 

 

jenna dq's picture

BAS...

Submitted by
jenna dq (40 posts)
on April 23, 2009 - 11:35am.

lmao DITTO

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Jenna-DQ/10596347849

HotHandle's picture

Another good reason to watch "The Closer"...

Submitted by
HotHandle (251 posts)
on April 22, 2009 - 10:40pm.

Maybe she can kick in Brenda's door, jump in her car, and have her way with Brenda...  wait, was that in the script?

 

A Muse's picture

seems like I have no more

Submitted by
A Muse (512 posts)
on April 22, 2009 - 11:04pm.

seems like I have no more excuses to not watch that show... hell, even my mom watches it. something to share ;)

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pecola's picture

YES!

Submitted by
pecola (1504 posts)
on April 22, 2009 - 11:25pm.

I'm pretty sure I was one of, like, five people who watched Cane for its entire run, so I'm so glad to see Paola Turbay land on another series. She's absolutely stunning, of course, but really I'm excited to see her showcase herself more as an actress since her role on Cane was fairly limited.   

The fact that she's playing a lesbian is just icing on the cake... 

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Vote SARA RAMIREZ for Afterellen's Hot 100

honey's picture

I LOVED Cain!  I can't

Submitted by
honey (451 posts)
on April 23, 2009 - 12:10am.

I LOVED Cain!  I can't believe that they got rid of it.  And I love Paola Turbay.  I am going to have to watch this show... 

The Future Belongs to Those Who Believe in The Beauty of Their Dreams. ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Explorergal's picture

Yahoo

Submitted by
Explorergal (531 posts)
on April 23, 2009 - 1:57am.

 

Kyra and now a hot Latina cop.  Oh prayers are answered!  I'm a HUGE Closer fan and can't wait to see how Brenda handles this one.  She's married now and the dynamics of that relationship with Fritzy have changed, as have things in the squad.  It will be a very interesting season!  

anythingLes...Otalia FTW's picture

I second

Submitted by
anythingLes...O... (17 posts)
on April 23, 2009 - 3:50am.

the hot 100 remark. I'm so glad they kept this character. I was worried they weren't going to. As soon as I saw this I ran off to youtube and now I can't wait for June 8. I already love The Closer and Kyra Sedgewick and this just makes it so much better.

Pyewacket's picture

Great news!

Submitted by
Pyewacket (1820 posts)
on April 23, 2009 - 6:50am.
I love the show already and am already looking forward to this coming season now!
Alcy's picture

She's hot...

Submitted by
Alcy (111 posts)
on April 23, 2009 - 3:00pm.

but The Closer is one of the most overrated shows on TV, I can't stand Kyra Sedgwick. It completely baffles me why so many people watch it...but each to their own!

I think I'll stick to watching shows like Grey's Anatomy that I actually enjoy and just happen to have lesbian characters.

Annie's picture

Yum.

Submitted by
Annie (93 posts)
on April 23, 2009 - 3:18pm.

I sense a new fanfiction pair being added to my list. 

________________

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Tweet, tweet. Follow my Twitter ramblings @ Dropkickit

Whitney's picture

Hot!

Submitted by
Whitney (24 posts)
on April 23, 2009 - 7:50pm.
I love this show. She is just going to make it extra delicious.
staka's picture

Hot latina cops! YUM

Submitted by
staka (32 posts)
on April 23, 2009 - 8:42pm.
OMG! I'll be watching The Closer next to Without a Trace. My heart still belongs to Rosalyn Sanchez, but if Paola plays a convincing lesbian, watch out!
akiraj's picture

My fav show just got better

Submitted by
akiraj (196 posts)
on April 24, 2009 - 3:09pm.
The first thing I thought when I saw Paola Turbay- YAY SHE"S HOT! I am so looking forward to June 8th :)
Darlyka's picture

Our dearest Paola

Submitted by
Darlyka (54 posts)
on April 25, 2009 - 7:11pm.
Well, we have to see her, because always is a good reason to watch tv when someone that you know is acting there and more when that person playing a lesbian role :D what can I say? we need more characters that show our community, right? Like Naomily ;D and even I´m not a big fan of this series (The Closer) definitly Paola will be a good excuse to watch it. Besides, she is a colombian like me so I have to support her ;)
Melissa Hsu's picture

Those of you who can't

Submitted by
Melissa Hsu (not verified)
on April 27, 2009 - 1:54am.
Those of you who can't understand what the fuss is all about with The Closer can go watch DVDs of The L Word until they pop, whirr and go blank. I'll take The Closer anytime. And now that a female homo has been thrown into the mix (instead of a bi one, thank goddess), I'll be polishing my toenails in front of the teevee at 9PM every Monday night again. Woo hoo!
rainbowz895's picture

Didn't like it? Try again!

Submitted by
rainbowz895 (14 posts)
on May 5, 2009 - 2:51am.

I didn't like the show at first. My girlfriend LOVED it...when the misses luvs something, I am then buying up every season on DVD...followed by being forced to watch EVERY episode at least 3 times over...by season 3 I liked it...I just needed to really pay attention to it. Ok, so now we got this wonderfully tasty woman coming to have some time on the show? Gonna be fun fun fun!!!

--------------------

~~I used to be sane....but I got better.~~

~~Chappelled to Perfection~~

basha's picture

What made her a lesbian?

Submitted by
basha (32 posts)
on July 7, 2009 - 11:15am.

What made her a lesbian? Her shirt?? I watched the ep. but as far as I remember there was no other hint.


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