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From its very first dive into the world of Colombian cartels, Narcos has always been a great show, but with Season 3, it’s stronger than ever before. This past season was able to correct some of the show’s pacing problems and introduce an entirely new drug-fueled story all without ever feeling rushed or overly-ambitious. Narcos Season 3 truly was the best of both worlds, allowing viewers to obsess over the show’s well-worn cat-and-mouse beats all while falling in love with some of new and dynamic characters. And one of the most memorable Narcos additions is Taliana Vargas‘ portrayal of Paola Salcedo.
Though Vargas’ time on screen in limited, the actress is memorable in every scene she’s in. In a world filled with angry male drug lords plotting their next raid or murder, Vargas’ Paola stands as a sober voice of reason. She’s also arguably one of the main contributors to the Cali Cartel’s fall. Where have you seen Vargas before? Was her character based on a real person? And will you see her again? Here’s everything you need to know about the heart of Season 3. Mild spoilers ahead.
Who does Taliana Vargas play in Narcos?
Vargas portrays Paola Salcedo, the wife of Jorge Salcedo (Matias Varela). In a season dominated by the Cali Cartel and an ever-shifting DEA agency, she isn’t a main character, but she is incredibly important. Paola acts as Jorge’s anchor, a role that becomes essential the more the head of security considers betraying the Cali Cartel. Jorge often hides what he’s doing from his wife and two young daughters, but Paola seems able to see through his lies more often than not. When Jorge ultimately decides to work with the DEA to hand over Cali, he does so to protect his family and save the life of Guillermo Pallomari (Javier Cámara). Paola puts up with far more than her fair share of Jorge’s nonsense, and for that she deserves all the medals.
Is she based on a real person?
In a way, yes. Because the real Jorge Salcedo is in witness protection, not much is known about his wife or family. However, Salcedo has said that a big reason why he helped the DEA bring down Cali was to protect his family. It’s unclear how closely Narcos‘ take on Paola matches Salcedo’s real-life wife.
Where have I seen Taliana Vargas before?
You likely know her best from that one time she was part of Miss Universe. Vargas represented Miss Colombia during the 2008 pageant, and she was named First Runner Up. However, she’s also spent time acting as well. The actress has been in everything from the 2016 Cup of Love to 2014’s Fugitvos. Currently, she doesn’t have any other upcoming projects listed on her IMDB page.
