Padma Lakshmi
Padma Lakshmi was a successful model before gaining fame as the host of the cooking competition show "Top Chef" (Bravo, 2006- ). She was born in India, but moved with her mother and step-father to the United States when she was young. As a Los Angeles teenager, she was in a serious car accident that left her right arm scarred. After earning a theater degree, she was discovered in Madrid, Spain and began modeling. She also began acting periodically, appearing on Italian television and in the Mariah Carey film "Glitter" (2001). She had the chance to join sci-fi lore with a small role in "Star Trek: Enterprise" (UPN, 2001-05). In her birth country, she played a supermodel in "Boom" (2003) and played an Indian-American in "The Mistress of Spices" (2005). Having previously hosted cooking shows in Italy and on American cable's Food Network, her fortunes changed for the better when she was selected to become the host of "Top Chef" in the show's second season, taking over for Katie Lee. The show, featuring culinary experts including Emeril Lagasse, Anthony Bourdain, and Wolfgang Puck, as judges became an international phenomenon. Lakshmi eventually became one of the show's producers beginning in 2010. She also used the exposure to publish multiple cookbooks. Beyond cooking, she was also a contributor to the daytime talk show "The View" (ABC, 1997- ) and made occasional appearances on TV shows like "Royal Pains" (USA Network, 2009-16).
Photos
Padma Lakshmi
Filmography
Movies
Credit | |||||
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No Score Yet |
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Sharpe's Challenge | Madhuvanthi (Character) | - | 2006 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Ten Commandments | Princess Bithia (Character) | - | 2006 |
11% |
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The Mistress of Spices | Geeta (Character) | - | 2005 |
No Score Yet |
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Boom | Shiela Bardez (Character) | - | 2003 |
6% |
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Glitter | Sylk (Character) | $4.3M | 2001 |
TV
Credit | ||||
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No Score Yet | 40% | Firebuds | Chef Pavani (Character) | 2023 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen | Guest | 2012-2013 2015-2021 2023 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Who's Talking to Chris Wallace? | Guest | 2023 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Top Chef |
Judge, Executive Producer, Host |
2006-2023 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Taste the Nation With Padma Lakshmi |
Executive Producer, Host |
2020-2021 2023 |
No Score Yet | 42% | Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Guest | 2023 |
No Score Yet | 44% | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Guest | 2014 2016 2023 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Whose Line Is It Anyway? | Guest | 2014 2022 |
No Score Yet | 36% | The Good Dish | Guest | 2022 |
No Score Yet | 80% | Top Chef Family Style | Guest | 2021 |
No Score Yet | 11% | The View | Guest | 2015-2016 2021 |
No Score Yet | 93% | Selena + Chef | Self | 2021 |
No Score Yet | 28% | The Drew Barrymore Show | Guest | 2021 |
No Score Yet | 48% | The Late Show With Stephen Colbert | Guest | 2016 2021 |
82% | 16% | A Little Late With Lilly Singh | Guest | 2021 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Match Game | Guest | 2020 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Daily Show | Guest | 2019 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Guest | 2013-2014 2016-2018 |
No Score Yet | 51% | Busy Tonight | Guest | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Wendy Williams Show | Guest | 2012 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Last Call With Carson Daly | Guest | 2018 |
No Score Yet | 18% | The Late Late Show With James Corden | Guest | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Sesame Street | Guest | 2018 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Drop the Mic | Contestant | 2017 |
No Score Yet | 84% | Life in Pieces | Stephanie (Guest Star) | 2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hot Ones | Guest | 2017 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Chew | Guest | 2014 2016 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Dr. Oz Show | Guest | 2016 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | FABLife | Host | 2016 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lidia Celebrates America | Guest | 2015 |
94% | 78% | Royal Pains | Padma Lakshmi (Guest Star) | 2014 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hollywood Game Night | Guest | 2014 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Late Night With Jimmy Fallon | Guest | 2009 2012-2013 |
No Score Yet | 64% | Family Guy | Herself (Guest Voice) | 2013 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Lopez Tonight | Guest | 2011 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Talk | Guest | 2011 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Masterpiece Classic | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2010 |
78% | 92% | 30 Rock | Padma Lakshmi (Guest Star) | 2009 |
56% | 79% | Star Trek: Enterprise | Kaitaama (Guest Star) | 2002 |
No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Melting Pot | Host | 2001-2002 |