TRIVIA
Almost everyone who has spent time with Paula -including directors, co-stars and interviewers - would always have to comment on her skill to light up a room and has an ability to have an infectious energy and a positive vibe.
She manage her own career in Thailand, booking her own gigs.
Paula is into buying residential properties, her mum usually helps her in choosing which one to acquire. As of 2010, she has at least more than a dozen properties that spread out in Thailand, Australia and recently in Hong Kong which she rents them out.
She is a certified nerd cred in jigsaw puzzles.
Given a chance, she would love to work with Sofia Copolla who starred in a film ‘Virgin Suicides’ and French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet who directed an Art Film called Amelie.
Co-owns a modeling agency in Thailand called Stellar Artist Management.
Owns a French bulldog “Red”, a chihuahua “Antelope” and a cat marni “Ninja”
A very shy person, contrary to the role of the outrageous lass she played in her movie ‘Sex Phone’.
Paula was thinking about a corporate career or an air hostess before pursuing a career in modeling.
She had enrolled at Assumption University having a course of International Business and Management but later decided that a bachelor degree was not really what she was looking for. Instead, she enjoys studying from the real world.
Finished high school in Australia.
Has always been asked to do a movie ever since she was young but never had a time to do it (not until after high school) since she goes back in Thailand during summer holidays only, not long enough to shoot a film.
During her teenage years, she spent summers modeling in Thailand, but for the rest of the year she returned to Australia, where her family had settled and which she says has an environment which fosters independence and self-confidence.
Paula started working at the age of 12 as a waitress at her mother’s restaurant in Perth, Australia.
Her Thai name Punlapa means beautiful.
PERSONAL QUOTES
“Early on in my career, I almost went the cheesecake bikini shot route but I really didn’t feel right about it, and nobody gave me a good enough reason to do it, so I didn’t. I held out and better things came along. But if I had done that, my career would have probably been very short. Go too far down the wrong path and you can’t find your way back.” - S. E. ASIA GLOBE MAG. NOV ‘09
“I never felt off or uncomfortable with my race. It was never a cause of any issue. I also would not conclude that it made things easier, but certainly it was fun.” - MEGA MAGAZINE MAR’09
“Sometimes when people see me in a shopping mall or somewhere they will grab, push and pull me and say, ‘Pose for the picture, come and meet my friends!’ They actually handle me and order me around. I hate that, it’s just disrespectful.” - 2 MAGAZINE AUG ‘08
“I want to be a successful businesswoman, someone who is respected not just because she has money but because she is a good person as well. I can see myself becoming more involved in business within the next five years. As fun as modeling is, it also has a time frame. I am a very realistic person. But I also know how to have fun.” - ACTION & FITNESS JUL ‘08
“People see me as this real girlie-girlie girl. They don’t really look outside the box. I just want to say, ‘I am what you see, but there’s more of me.’ Now, when people watch ‘The Amazing Race’, they’re like, ‘You can do that!’ I’ve always been able to do that - you just never asked!” - DAILY EXPRESS FEB ‘08
“I was just an ordinary girl-going to school, working part-time at my mother’s restaurant and hanging out with friends. I didn’t grow up of such glamour. But now I can’t imagine myself doing anything else, it’s just so right to me.” - BANGKOK POST FEB ‘08
“Someone invited me to try modeling for a while. I told my mum I’d be back in six months. Six years later I am still back in Bangkok.” - DAILY EXPRESS FEB ‘08
“If you want to take a picture of me walking down the street go ahead, but I’d really appreciate it not done when I’m on vacation.” - POO JUD GARN ‘05
“The sexiest part of me would have to be my eyes because they can tell you everything. If you don’t believe me then try looking into my eyes.” - POOYING WUNEE ‘04
“People started to view me as sexy when I posed for the MARS magazine photo shoot, it came out a little bit sexy. Can you believe that when the COVER of the magazine came out… BOOM… my entire image changed? Before that, no one saw me sexy.” - POOYING WUNEE ‘04
