Padma Lakshmi

Photo of Padma Lakshmi

Biography

As a former high-fashion model, Padma Lakshmi made her mark strutting down runways in the 1990s for such haute couturiers as Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren and Alberta Ferretti. The onetime wife of controversial novelist Salman Rushdie, author of 1988's controversial The Satanic Verses, Lakshmi was also a best-selling author in her own right. Her first book, the award-winning, Easy Exotic: A Model's Low-fat Recipes from Around the World (1999) …
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Job Title

Actor

Born

Padma Parvati Lakshmi on September 1, 1970 in India

Career Milestones

2009

Nominated for the 2009 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Reality-Competition Program

2007

Released second cookbook Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet

2006

Joined Bravo's "Top Chef" at the start of the second season, replacing Katie Lee Joel as the host; earned an Emmy nomination in 2009 as Host for a Reality/Competition Program

2006

Appeared in ABC's mini-series "The Ten Commandments" with Dougray Scott, Naveen Andrews, and Omar Sharif

2005

Co-starred in Paul Mayeda Berges' "The Mistress of Spices"

2004

Portrayed Sean Bean's nemesis in the BBC's two-part mini-series "Sharpe's Challenge"

2003

Co-starred with Amitabh Bachchan and Jackie Shroff in the Bollywood film "Boom"

2002

Appeared as an alien princess in an episode of "Star Trek: Enterprise" (UPN)

2001

Made film debut as the lip synching disco singer, Sylk in "Glitter" with Mariah Carey

2001

Hosted the Food Network series, "Padma's Passport"

2000

Hosted a documentary series called "Planet Food" for the Food Network

1999

Published first cookbook Easy Exotic: Low-Fat Recipes from Around the World

Co-hosted Italy's top-rated television show, "Domenica In"

1997

Made acting debut in the Italian series, "Linda e il brigadiere"

Began modeling at age 20

Awards

2009

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality - Competition Program in Top Chef

2007

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality - Competition Program in Top Chef