Paula is one of the main characters in Season 1 of HBO's The White Lotus. She is portrayed by Brittany O'Grady.
Appearance[]
Paula is a gorgeous young woman with thick, curly black hair, striking eyebrows, and soft brown eyes. Although her heritage is not mentioned in the show, Paula's actress Brittany O'Grady is Irish / African American / Creole, and often jokes about how her Irish last name throws people off.
Personality[]
Offset from her privileged bestie, Paula has a more "down to earth" perspective on the locals that work in the resort. She is hyper-aware of the colonialism aspect that created the resort she's taking part in enjoying, although it doesn't stop her from going. She is cold and judgmental, but hides it behind a pleasing smile and lovely features.
Underneath her 'bitchy' exterior, Paula is an anxious and sensitive young woman who makes mistakes and physically feels their ramifications.
Biography[]
Season 1[]
Paula is hardly ever not seen with Olivia during their vacation, and the two spend several hours reading - or pretending to read - by the pool, and poking fun at the other hotel guests. During their first night, Paula and Olivia share drugs that she'd brought on the plane, playing ASMR sounds for each other and quickly falling asleep.
On the beach, Paula and Olivia snort ketamine, and leave their bag of goodies behind at their chair when hotel guest, Tanya arrives and harshes their buzz. While searching for her bag, Paula is seen flirting with a hotel employee named Kai. The two kick up a brief fling, causing Olivia to be jealous and Paula to keep the fling secret in order to preserve the friendship.
Later, after Kai reveals to Paula that his family used to own the land the hotel was wrongfully built over, she suggests he break into her hotel room safe and steal the expensive jewelry hidden inside. Her plan goes awry when Nichole Mossbacher returns to the hotel room early, resulting in Kai's arrest and eventual imprisonment.
Paula confesses to Olivia on their last night in the resort, tearfully admitting that she 'fucked up', while Olivia comforts her. Paula is last seen awaiting her flight at the Hawaii airport.
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