Paula Newsome

Paula Newsome is an American actress who grew up in Chicago and attended Morgan Park Academy before earning a bachelor's degree from Webster University's Conservatory of Theater Arts. Her early interest in acting developed through community theater work as a child, and she eventually relocated to New York City, where she pursued stage work and was cast in Broadway productions. Her verified Broadway credits include Carousel, in which she appeared in 1994.

Newsome made her film debut in a supporting capacity in the 1992 comedy Straight Talk, which starred Dolly Parton. Subsequent film appearances include Guess Who (2005), Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Reign Over Me (2007), Things We Lost in the Fire (2007), Thinspiration (2014), Black or White (2014), and Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), the last of which brought her considerable recognition for her supporting role.

Her television career spans several decades and encompasses both guest appearances and series regular work. Early guest credits include Chicago Hope, Law & Order, Ally McBeal, Dharma & Greg, NYPD Blue, ER, Heroes, and Criminal Minds. She co-starred alongside Mark Feuerstein and Lauren Graham in the NBC sitcom Conrad Bloom in 1998, and in 2003 appeared in the NBC legal drama The Lyon's Den, which starred Rob Lowe. From 2007 to 2008, Newsome starred in the ABC police drama Women's Murder Club alongside Angie Harmon, Laura Harris, and Aubrey Dollar, portraying medical examiner Claire Washburn. She also played Jackie Vance in the CBS series NCIS from 2009 to 2013, and held a recurring role on the comedy series Suburgatory. Her guest work during this period extended to The New Adventures of Old Christine, Bones, Parenthood, FlashForward, Drop Dead Diva, Grey's Anatomy, Suits, Castle, and How to Get Away with Murder opposite Viola Davis. In 2018, she appeared as Detective Janice Moss in the first season of HBO's Barry, and in 2019 she joined Chicago Med for 12 episodes as Caroline Charles, the ex-wife of Dr. Daniel Charles and mother of Robin Charles.

In 2021, Newsome was cast in the lead role of Maxine "Max" Roby in the CBS crime drama CSI: Vegas, a position she held until the series was canceled after three seasons in 2024.