Carla Espinosa

Carla Espinosa, RN is a fictional character in the American

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, who plays Carla's husband Christopher Turk, Carla becomes a stay-at-home mother following the birth of their second daughter, explaining the character's absence from season nine.^[2]

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.^[3]

Family life

Carla was born in the

Carla starts dating

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 in front of Carla.^[4] 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

Carla and J.D. are close friends; he even gossips with her "like one of the girls".^[6] They even use Mardi Gras beads to signify their friendship and trust shared, almost like a friendship heart necklace.^[7] 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.^[8]

In the series finale, 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.^[9]

Elliot

Early in the series, Carla doesn't feel particularly close to

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.^[12] 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.^[13] Even though Cox detests Turk, he admits that the two of them belong together.^[10] When Carla confesses how fearful she is of being a parent, Cox tells her that he knows she'll be a terrific mother.^[14] Carla is godmother to Dr. Cox and Jordan's daughter, Jennifer Dylan.^[15]

References