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Paula Maxine Patton (born December 5, 1975) is an American actress. She is known for her appearances in the films Idlewild (2006), Déjà Vu (2006), Mirrors (2008), Swing Vote (2008), Precious (2009), Just Wright (2010), Jumping the Broom (2011), and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011). Patton was born in Los Angeles, California to Joyce (née Vanraden), a German American professor, and Charles Patton, an African American doctor. She graduated from Hamilton High School, and then started college at UC Berkeley, transferring to USC Film School after her first year and graduating... MORE

Paula Maxine Patton (born December 5, 1975) is an American actress. She is known for her appearances in the films Idlewild (2006), Déjà Vu (2006), Mirrors (2008), Swing Vote (2008), Precious (2009), Just Wright (2010), Jumping the Broom (2011), and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011). Patton was born in Los Angeles, California to Joyce (née Vanraden), a German American professor, and Charles Patton, an African American doctor. She graduated from Hamilton High School, and then started college at UC Berkeley, transferring to USC Film School after her first year and graduating magna cum laude. Shortly after completing her studies, she won a three-month assignment making documentaries for PBS. Later she worked for the Discovery Health Channel as producer for the show Medical Diaries. Her first acting role was a small part in 2005's Hitch, which starred Will Smith and Eva Mendes. She followed that with a small part in the drama London and appeared alongside OutKast members Andre Benjamin and Big Boi in Idlewild. Patton's big break came in 2006 when she landed the pivotal role of Claire Kuchever in the science-fiction thriller Déjà Vu, starring Denzel Washington and Val Kilmer. LESS