Basic Information
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Laura Char Carson |
| Birth Date | April 8, 1968 |
| Birthplace | Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia |
| Nationality | Colombian-American |
| Heritage | Colombian with Irish ancestry; from the prominent Char family |
| Occupations | Film producer, former beauty queen |
| Known For | Mother of actress-singer Sofia Carson; Reina del Carnaval de Barranquilla 1989; producer of select Netflix projects |
| Spouse | José F. Daccarett (Colombian of Arab/Lebanese descent) |
| Children | Sofia Lauren Daccarett Char (Sofia Carson, b. 1993); Paulina Char (b. mid-1990s) |
| Primary Residence | United States (Florida) |
| Languages | Spanish, English |
| Public Profile | Low-profile; family-focused; behind-the-scenes in entertainment |
Origins: Barranquilla Roots and a Crown (1968–1990)
Laura Char Carson’s life begins where the Caribbean breeze meets brass-band swagger: Barranquilla. Born on April 8, 1968, she grew up within the orbit of the Char family, a name threaded through the city’s commerce, philanthropy, and politics. This environment fused discipline with festivity—Sunday family tables, vallenato melodies, and a social fabric stitched from immigrant grit, notably Syrian-Lebanese forebears who made Colombia their home in the early 20th century.
At 21, in 1989, Laura was crowned Reina del Carnaval de Barranquilla. The title is less tiara than torch—a cultural ambassadorship that demands presence, poise, and joy. Her reign placed her in front of cameras and audiences, where she navigated interviews and stages with ease. The crown would become a compass, guiding her toward a life that honors heritage while embracing reinvention.
From Barranquilla to Florida: Building a Family (1990–2000s)
In the early 1990s, Laura married José F. Daccarett and relocated to Florida. The move was both leap and landing, a shift from a city of carnival drums to one of suburban rhythms and new beginnings. In Fort Lauderdale, the couple raised two daughters—Sofia (born April 10, 1993) and Paulina—within a bilingual home that folded Colombian traditions into American opportunity.
By the late 1990s, family patterns had taken root: dance classes, school recitals, Spanish at home, English everywhere else. Laura’s parenting style balanced elegance with steel. She nurtured ambition without sacrificing kindness, and she made sure her daughters understood their origins. Years later, Sofia would describe her mother as her “entire world,” the wind at her back and the calm in the storm.
A Mother’s Muse: Raising Sofia and Paulina
Laura’s influence is most visible through her daughters. With Sofia, she encouraged classical dance training, vocal work, and a curiosity for timeless entertainers—performers who meld craft and charisma. With Paulina, she applauded creativity and entrepreneurial grit, fostering a love for beauty, branding, and design. The household’s ethos was simple: work hard, stay grounded, be proud of where you come from.
Their bond is more than private affection; it’s a creative partnership. Scripts crossed kitchen counters. Ideas took shape during family dinners. Laura’s eye for heart-forward stories became one of the invisible forces steering her daughter’s career choices.
Behind the Camera: Producer Credits and Creative Instinct
While Laura keeps public attention at arm’s length, her credits show a quiet but intentional move into production—lending backbone and sensitivity to projects tied to her family’s creative arc. In 2022, she served as an executive producer on Purple Hearts, a romantic drama that became a streaming favorite. In 2025, her name appears again in connection with projects like The Life List and My Oxford Year, both centering on love, resilience, and self-discovery.
Her producer’s signature is subtle: stories with beating hearts, female perspectives, and a melodic through-line of hope. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes stewardship that shapes tone, protects authenticity, and keeps the work honest.
Selected Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Purple Hearts | Executive Producer | Romance-drama; strong streaming performance |
| 2025 | The Life List | Producer | Inspirational drama; developed with close family collaboration |
| 2025 | My Oxford Year | Executive Producer | Romance set against academic backdrops; released on Netflix |
Family at a Glance
| Member | Relation | Snapshot |
|---|---|---|
| José F. Daccarett | Spouse | Colombian entrepreneur of Arab/Lebanese heritage; steadfast and media-shy |
| Sofia Lauren Daccarett Char (Sofia Carson) | Daughter | Actress, singer, producer (b. 1993); known for Descendants and leading roles in film and TV |
| Paulina Char | Daughter | Beauty and fashion creative; product developer and social-media-savvy brand collaborator |
Timeline: Milestones and Markers
| Year | Event | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Birth | Born April 8 in Barranquilla, Colombia |
| 1989 | Carnival Crown | Named Reina del Carnaval de Barranquilla at age 21 |
| Early 1990s | Marriage and Move | Marries José F. Daccarett; relocates to Florida, U.S. |
| 1993 | Sofia’s Birth | Sofia Lauren Daccarett Char is born (April 10) |
| Mid-1990s | Paulina’s Birth | Second daughter joins the family |
| 2015 | New Chapter for Sofia | Family celebrates Sofia’s breakout with Descendants |
| 2022 | Producer Credit | Executive producer on Purple Hearts |
| 2025 | New Productions | Involved in The Life List and My Oxford Year |
Culture, Class, and Quiet Strength
Laura carries two worlds lightly on her shoulders. From Barranquilla’s elite circles to American suburbia, she turned privilege into responsibility and tradition into compass. The Char surname brings recognition and expectation; Laura meets both with composure. She celebrates her Carnival legacy without spectacle, and she champions her daughters without eclipsing them. Her public profile remains measured—fewer spotlights, more substance.
Financially, she keeps numbers private and guardrails high. What’s visible is stability: transnational family ties, sustained cultural engagement, and a selective approach to Hollywood’s fast lanes. Even her social media is restrained—family moments, cultural notes, the occasional nod to a project—always in orbit around love and work.
The Char-Carson-Daccarett Dynamic
In an era that prizes volume, this family moves in harmony. Laura and José anchor the center; Sofia and Paulina radiate outward, each with her own creative frequency. Theirs is a household that treats identity like a tapestry: threads of Colombian color and cadence, strands of American enterprise, flecks of Irish and Arab heritage woven through the whole.
That mosaic shows up in their work. It’s there in Sofia’s song choices and character arcs, in Paulina’s aesthetic sensibilities, and in Laura’s production picks—projects where emotion matters, where women’s stories lead, where romance is not trivial but transformative.
Legacy and the Long View
Legacy, for Laura, is less monument than melody. It’s the songs that filled her Barranquilla childhood, the rituals of Carnival, the immigrant stories of earlier generations, and the bilingual lullabies of Florida nights. It’s the ripple effect of a mother’s belief—how it steadies a daughter’s step, sharpens her instincts, and reminds her to reach for roles and narratives that matter.
At 57, Laura’s influence reads like fine print that somehow carries the whole page. She is proof that you can shape stories without standing center stage, that you can be both crown and cornerstone, and that the most enduring kind of celebrity is the one that lives at home.
FAQ
Who is Laura Char Carson?
She is a Colombian-born film producer and former Carnival Queen of Barranquilla, best known as the mother of actress-singer Sofia Carson.
When and where was she born?
She was born on April 8, 1968, in Barranquilla, Colombia.
What is her connection to the Char family?
She belongs to Barranquilla’s prominent Char family, known for business, philanthropy, and political influence.
Is she involved in film and television?
Yes, she has worked behind the scenes as a producer and executive producer on select projects, including Purple Hearts (2022).
Who is her spouse?
She is married to José F. Daccarett, a Colombian of Arab/Lebanese descent.
How many children does she have?
She has two daughters: Sofia Lauren Daccarett Char (known professionally as Sofia Carson) and Paulina Char.
What languages does she speak?
She speaks Spanish and English.
Does she maintain a public social-media presence?
Her presence is modest and family-focused, reflecting her preference for privacy.
What is her most notable early achievement?
She was crowned Reina del Carnaval de Barranquilla in 1989 at age 21.
Where does she live now?
She resides primarily in the United States, with enduring ties to Colombia.