Carla Espinosa, RN is a
fictional character
In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, ...
in the American
comedy-drama
Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...
''
Scrubs
Scrub(s) may refer to:
* Scrub, low shrub and grass characteristic of scrubland
* Scrubs (clothing), worn by medical staff
* ''Scrubs'' (TV series), an American television program
* Scrubs (occupation), also called "scrub tech," "scrub nurse," o ...
'', portrayed by
Judy Reyes
Judy Reyes (born November 5, 1967) is an American actress, model and producer, best known for her roles as Carla Espinosa on the NBC/ABC medical comedy series '' Scrubs'' (2001–2009), and as Zoila Diaz in the Lifetime comedy-drama ''Devious M ...
, who appeared on the series from October 2001 to May 2009.
Carla appeared in every episode during the first eight seasons except three Season 8 episodes, "My Happy Place," "
My Cookie Pants," and "
My Full Moon
The eighth season of the American comedy television series '' Scrubs'' premiered on ABC on January 6, 2009 and concluded on May 6, 2009 and consists of 19 episodes. The eighth season was the first to be shown on ABC after NBC dropped the series, en ...
". She worked as the head
nurse
Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health c ...
at
Sacred Heart Hospital,
in which the main action of the show takes place.
Judy Reyes was a regular cast member for the first eight seasons, and is the only original cast member not to return for season nine, though her character was still mentioned. According to
Donald Faison
Donald Adeosun Faison (; born June 22, 1974) is an American actor and comedian, best known for his leading role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC/NBC comedy-drama ''Scrubs'' (2001–2010), and a supporting role as Murray in both the film ''Clueless'' ...
, who plays Carla's husband
Christopher Turk
Christopher Duncan Turk, Doctor of Medicine, M.D., commonly referred to by his last name "Turk" is a fictional character in the American comedy-drama ''Scrubs (TV series), Scrubs'', played by Donald Faison. Turk appeared in every episode of the se ...
, Carla becomes a stay-at-home mother following the birth of their second daughter, explaining the character's absence from season nine.
Profile
Judy Reyes describes her character as "sassy, no nonsense". Reyes relied on her sister, a real-life licensed nurse, as an inspiration for character, and to address technical questions Reyes had about nursing and medicine. After watching an episode, Reyes' sister commented, "You stole my character!", referring to Reyes emulating her personality.
["Scrubs - Judy Reyes Keeps Talking"]
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
. June 5, 2009. Retrieved April 15, 2013.
Family life
Carla was born in the
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...
but moved to
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
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, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name ...
while still a child. All her family is from the
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...
, despite Turk's frequent and incorrect assertions that she is
Mexican
Mexican may refer to:
Mexico and its culture
*Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America
** People
*** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants
*** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
or
Puerto Rican. It is revealed in Season 5 that she is 36 years old. It is also revealed in the episode "
His Story" that Carla's father ran out on the family when Carla was a child.
Carla starts dating
Christopher Turk
Christopher Duncan Turk, Doctor of Medicine, M.D., commonly referred to by his last name "Turk" is a fictional character in the American comedy-drama ''Scrubs (TV series), Scrubs'', played by Donald Faison. Turk appeared in every episode of the se ...
(
Donald Faison
Donald Adeosun Faison (; born June 22, 1974) is an American actor and comedian, best known for his leading role as Dr. Chris Turk in the ABC/NBC comedy-drama ''Scrubs'' (2001–2010), and a supporting role as Murray in both the film ''Clueless'' ...
) in the show's second episode, "
My Mentor
The first season of the American comedy television series ''Scrubs'' premiered on NBC on October 2, 2001 and concluded on May 21, 2002 and consists of 24 episodes. ''Scrubs'' was created by Bill Lawrence who wrote the pilot as well as 3 other epi ...
". They remain together for the entire run of the show. Carla marries Turk in the season finale of season 3, "
My Best Friend's Wedding
''My Best Friend's Wedding'' is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by P.J. Hogan from a screenplay by Ronald Bass. The film stars Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Cameron Diaz, and Rupert Everett.
The film received generally positive ...
". She and Turk go through a trial separation in season 4 after Carla discovers that Turk is still talking to his ex-girlfriend without telling her he is married. The situation gets worse when she and J.D. share a drunken kiss. Following some couples' therapy and some frank discussions with Turk and J.D., however, the couple reunites. Despite these issues, Judy Reyes believes the characters were made for each other, and set an example for other couples on the show to emulate.
[
Soon after reconciliation, they start trying to have a child. Initially, they are unsuccessful, but she finally gets ]pregnant
Pregnancy is the time during which one or more offspring develops (gestation, gestates) inside a woman, woman's uterus (womb). A multiple birth, multiple pregnancy involves more than one offspring, such as with twins.
Pregnancy usually occur ...
toward the end of the season after several episodes are spent on Turk and Carla worrying about their respective fertility. Carla gives birth to a girl, whom they name Isabella, in the episode "My Best Friend's Baby's Baby and My Baby's Baby
The sixth season of the American comedy television series ''Scrubs'' premiered on NBC on November 30, 2006 and concluded on May 17, 2007 and consists of 22 episodes. The series moved to Thursdays at 9:00 pm as a part of NBC's Comedy Night Done Rig ...
". J.D. becomes the godfather of the child. In "My Coffee
The sixth season of the American comedy television series ''Scrubs'' premiered on NBC on November 30, 2006 and concluded on May 17, 2007 and consists of 22 episodes. The series moved to Thursdays at 9:00 pm as a part of NBC's Comedy Night Done Rig ...
" when J.D. enters the room that Carla's in with Isabella in her arms, she points to him and says "Isabella, this is the man you will be competing with for your father's love." In " My House", it is revealed that she suffers from post-partum depression
Postpartum depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, is a type of mood disorder associated with childbirth, which can affect both sexes. Symptoms may include extreme sadness, Fatigue (medical), low energy, anxiety, crying episodes, irr ...
. She spends most of the following episode in denial
Denial, in ordinary English usage, has at least three meanings: asserting that any particular statement or allegation is not true (which might be accurate or inaccurate); the refusal of a request; and asserting that a true statement is not true. ...
about the condition, but finally gets help after a frank discussion with Jordan Sullivan
Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan River ...
, who had also suffered from the condition.
Carla announces that she is pregnant for the second time in " My Absence".
She has two sisters and a brother named Marco ( Freddy Rodriguez) who hates Turk, and who for years pretended he was unable to speak English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
in front of Carla. Her mother, who also hates Turk, dies in the episode " My Drama Queen".
Relationships with other characters
J.D.
Carla affectionately nicknames J.D. "Bambi" in season 1, and the nickname sticks. She claims that of all the interns she has worked with, J.D. is the only one whose approval she actually cares about, to the extent that she feigns an interest in black-and-white
Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey.
Media
The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...
photography
Photography is the art, application, and practice of creating durable images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is employed ...
so he would think she is intelligent. She is highly protective of J.D.; when Dr. Cox
Percival Ulysses "Perry" Cox, Doctor of Medicine, M.D., is a fictional character played by John C. McGinley on the American television comedy-drama ''Scrubs (TV series), Scrubs''. Dr. Cox appeared in every episode except "My Last Words (Scrubs), ...
(John C. McGinley
John Christopher McGinley (born August 3, 1959) is an American actor. His best known roles include Perry Cox in '' Scrubs'', Bob Slydell in ''Office Space'', Captain Hendrix in '' The Rock'', Sergeant Red O'Neill in Oliver Stone's ''Platoon,'' ...
) tears into him in "My Nickname
The first season of the American comedy television series '' Scrubs'' premiered on NBC on October 2, 2001 and concluded on May 21, 2002 and consists of 24 episodes. ''Scrubs'' was created by Bill Lawrence who wrote the pilot as well as 3 other ep ...
", she is quick to come to his defense and tell off the senior doctor. Unfortunately this leads Cox to publicly embarrass J.D. again, which in turn leads J.D. to blow up at Carla. This results in a heated (albeit brief) fight between the two.
Carla and J.D. are close friends; he even gossips with her "like one of the girls". They even use Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras (, ) refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday. is French for "Fat ...
beads to signify their friendship and trust shared, almost like a friendship heart necklace. Once J.D. and Carla share a drunken kiss, which leads to some tension between each other and Turk, though this is resolved soon afterward.
In the series finale
A series finale is the final installment of an episodic entertainment series, most often a television series. It may also refer to a final theatrical sequel, the last part of a television miniseries, the last installment of a literary series, or ...
, a flashforward scene suggests that Carla and J.D. will be friends long into the future, and that Carla and Turk's daughter, Isabella, will get engaged to J.D.'s son Sam.
Elliot
Early in the series, Carla doesn't feel particularly close to Elliot Reid
Elliot Reid, M.D. is a fictional character played by Sarah Chalke in the American comedy-drama '' Scrubs''. She appeared in every episode during the first eight seasons except two Season 8 episodes, " My Last Words" and " My Lawyer's in Love." ...
(Sarah Chalke
Sarah Louise Christine Chalke (; born August 27, 1976) is a Canadian actress and model. She is known for portraying Elliot Reid on the NBC/ABC comedy series '' Scrubs'', the second Becky Conner on the ABC sitcom ''Roseanne'', Stella Zinman on ...
) but they later become best friends. Series creator Bill Lawrence has said on DVD
The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kin ...
commentaries that this mirrored Reyes' and Chalke's real-life relationship.
Though they are close, their relationship is not without friction; Carla sometimes resents Elliot's neurotic perfectionism and (unintended) condescension about her family background. Elliot in turn is often annoyed by Carla's bossiness. In "My Lucky Charm
My Lucky Charm 情来运转 is a 25 episode Chinese drama shown on MediaCorp Channel 8
Channel 8 ( zh, 8頻道) is a Singaporean free-to-air television channel, airing in Mandarin Chinese. It was created by Mediacorp, Television Singapura on ...
", the two get into a vicious "catfight
Catfight (also girl fight) is a term for an altercation between two females, often characterized as involving scratching, shoving, slapping, choking, punching, kicking, biting, spitting, hair-pulling, and shirt-shredding. It can also be used to d ...
" (much to the delight of the male employees) over what had started as a disagreement over plans of theirs that were flaked on by both Carla and Elliot.
Elliot is a bridesmaid at Carla and Turk's wedding. Before the ceremony, Carla says that she feels closer to Elliot than she does to her own sisters. In "My Cold Shower
The sixth season of the American comedy television series '' Scrubs'' premiered on NBC on November 30, 2006 and concluded on May 17, 2007 and consists of 22 episodes. The series moved to Thursdays at 9:00 pm as a part of NBC's Comedy Night Done R ...
", she fantasizes (along with all the other main characters) about marrying Elliot and comments that life would be simpler if she did.
Dr. Cox
Dr. Perry Cox has always had a soft spot for Carla, as she is not afraid to stand up to him. Cox claims that Carla is the only one who 'gets him' and is often very protective of her. During the first season, it is revealed that Dr. Cox has feelings for Carla, but since she is with Turk, he does nothing about it. Before Carla started going out with Turk, she and Cox went on a date together that did not end as he would have liked, but nevertheless strengthened their friendship. Even though Cox detests Turk, he admits that the two of them belong together. When Carla confesses how fearful she is of being a parent, Cox tells her that he knows she'll be a terrific mother. Carla is godmother to Dr. Cox and Jordan's daughter, Jennifer Dylan.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Espinosa, Carla
Scrubs (TV series) characters
Fictional American nurses
Fictional characters from Chicago
Fictional Dominican American people
Fictional immigrants to the United States
Television characters introduced in 2001
American female characters in television