Orange is the New Black Cast: Actors and Actresses You Need to Know

Orange is the New Black is a Netflix Original comedy-drama series that is based on Piper Kerman’s memoir, “Orange is the New Black: My Year in Women’s Prison” (2010). The show centers around the character of Kerman who was sent to a minimum security federal prison for her involvement in a drug trafficking cartel.

After its release in July 2013, Orange is the New Black garnered favorable reviews and became one of Netflix’s most-watched shows. Its first season received 12 Emmy Award nominations as lead character, Taylor Schilling, as well as a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama. Join us to take a look at its members.

Orange is the new black actor

Taylor Schilling

Taylor Schilling stars as Piper Chapman, the series protagonist sentenced to 15 months in prison for criminal association and money laundering. Before landing the role, Schilling, who started acting at an early age before earning her Bachelor of Arts in acting at Fordham University, had her acting debut. Dark Matter (2007). In 2009, she portrayed an Iraq War veteran and ex-army nurse-turned-doctor in the short-lived NBC medical drama Mercy. She then starred in The Lucky One (2012) before successfully auditioning for Orange is the New Black.

Uzo Aduba

Uzo Aduba stars as an Emmy Award-winning mentally unstable inmate named Suzanne Warren “Crazy Eyes.” The Nigerian-American actress began her acting career in theater and was notably nominated for a Helen Haynes Award for her performance in Translations of Xhosa at the Olney Center for the Theater Arts. Aduba soon moved to Broadway before making her screen debut as an actress in the 2012 CBS drama series Blue Bloods and then her award-winning role in Orange is the New Black.

Michael Harney

Michael Harney stars as Sam Healy – a corrections officer and warden at Litchfield Penitentiary, who also served as a prison counselor. Harney began his career as an actor and director after spending several years under the tutelage of legendary acting teachers. William Esper and Phil Gushee.

The New York native went on to start a career in TV and film acting, appearing in NYPD Blue (1993 – 99), Erin Brokovich (2000) and Ocean’s Thirteen (2007) before landing his role in OITNB.

Michelle Hurst

Michelle Hurst stars as a strict and fearful inmate named Miss Claudette Pelage. Like many other actors and actresses in this series, Hurst began her career in theater before moving into television and film in the 90s. She appeared in many Law and Order episodes and also starred in films like Smoke (1995), Stepmother (1998), and Strangling (2008) among others.

Laura Prepon

Laura Prepon stars as Alex Vause, a former drug dealer and former sex partner of Piper Chapman. Prepon studied acting at the Total Theater Lab in New York City before making her film debut in the NBC Internet television series titled They Carry On (1997). The young actress then worked for a while as a model before landing the role of Donna Pinciotti on That ’70s Show (1998-2006) which earned her two Teen Choice Award nominations.

Prepon’s profile was on the rise in Hollywood throughout the 2000s, as she starred in films like Southlander (2001) and Karla (2006) before making her directorial debut in the short Abode with me (2010) after attending Art Center College of Design.

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne stars as Nicky Nichols, a loud-mouthed, witty, and acerbic ex-addict. The actress, who was unable to graduate from high school, has been involved in show business since she was 6 years old. She first worked as a model for the Ford Modeling Agency before making her debut in children’s television, Pee Wee’s Playhouse. At the age of 20, Lyonee can already boast of having worked in more than 30 television shows and films including Woody Allen. Everybody Says I Love You (1996), Blade Trinity (2004) and the American Pie film series.

Danielle Brooks

Danielle Brooks stars as Tasha Jeffersonaka Taystee, an inmate who spent most of her time in prison at the library. Brooks grew up in South Carolina, where she began her acting career at age 6. After graduating from Julliard in 2011, she took on the role in the Shakespeare Theater Company before joining Orange and her new role in 2013.

Kate Mulgrew

Kate Mulgrew plays the character of GalinaReznikov, more commonly referred to as Red, is the de facto/white inmate leader and high head of the prison. Unlike most of his co-stars on Orange is the New Black, Mulgrew has had the most dramatic experience since the start of his career in the early 1970s, in television and film. most praise and awards.

Two of the most notable shows in which Mulgrew appeared are Ryan’s Hope (1975-1978) and Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001).

Taryn Manning

Actress and singer, Taryn Manning stars as Tiffany Doggett, better known as Pennsatucky, an inmate and former drug addict. Manning, who was raised by her single mother in a trailer park, began her acting career by appearing in small television roles in the 90s. However, that was until she landed roles in Insanely Beautiful (2001), Crossroads (2002) and Hustle & Flow (2005) she gained widespread attention for her talent.

Manning explored her ability to sing and went as far as starting her own record label. Some of his most successful songs include ‘Send Me Your Love’ and ‘Gltchlfe’, both of which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart.

Jason Biggs

Jason Biggs stars as Larry Bloom, a freelance journalist and writer who was primarily the fiancé of the protagonist, Piper Chapman. In addition to his role in Orange is the New Balck, the New Jersey-born actor is also celebrated for his role as Jim Levenstein in the American Pie film series.

Biggs started acting at age 5 and appeared in commercials and TV shows before making his Broadway debut at age 12. Biggs attended Hasbrouck Heights High School, then enrolled at New York University for a year before quitting to fully focus on his acting career.

Nick Sandow

Nick Sandow plays the character of Joseph Salvatore Caputo, the head of the prison administration, who has been described as being devious and spooky at first, before later showing himself to be misunderstood and moral.

Before taking up his role on Orange is the NewBlack, Sandow had built a reputation on the New York theater scene as an actor, writer, producer and director. He has performed in numerous off-Broadway shows as well as films and television shows such as Law & Order, NYPD Blue, and Blue Bloods.

Selenis Leyva

Selenis Leyva is a Cuban-American actress who plays the role of Gloria Mendoza, leader of Latin American inmates and opponent of Kate Mulgrew’s red character. Leyva began her career in theater before moving to television, appearing in a number of Law & Order episodes and spinoffs before landing her breakthrough role. She then starred alongside Viola Davis in the courtroom drama, Garde (2016).

Dasha Polanco

Dominican-American actress Dascha Polanco stars as Dayanara Diaz, an inmate from Puerto Rico impregnated by prison guard John Bennett. Polanco, who came to the United States at a young age, studied psychology at Hunter College and planned to become a nurse before summing up the courage to pursue her dream of becoming an actress.

Polanco first enrolled in an acting class in New York City before she was able to make guest appearances on shows like Unforgettable and NYC 22 in 2011 and 2012. Her first paid full-time job came in 2013, when she was cast in Orange: New Black. She then appeared in the films Give Me Shelter (2013) and The Cobbler (2014).

Yael Stone

Yael Stone stars as a racist Italian-American inmate, Lorna Morello. The Australian actress, an alumnus of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, began her acting career as a child. She mainly worked in the theater where she won numerous awards before moving on to screen roles in Me, myself and me (1999), All saints (2007-2008), and Fougueux (2010-2011 ).

In late 2011, Stone moved to New York’s home country and co-founded an experimental theater company. The following year, only a few months after crossing the Pacific, she landed her role in Orange is the New Black.

Elizabeth Rodriguez

Elizabeth Rodriguez stars as Aleida Diaz, the mother of Dascha Polanco’s character who was incarcerated after helping her boyfriend in his drug business. Like almost every other actor and actress on the show, Rodriguez has a solid background in theater that has earned him Outer Critics Circle and Theater World awards.

Rodriguez began her career in the 90s, appearing in small roles in shows before moving into theater and independent film in the 2000s. Some of her most popular roles are as Gina Calabrese in Miami Vice (2006) , Cheeky in Tio Papi (2013) and Carmen Morales in All My Children (2008-2009).