Dascha Polanco is best known for her role as Dayanara Diaz in the hit Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. However, there is more to this talented actress than meets the eye. She was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on December 3, 1982. When she was five, her family moved to Brooklyn, New York City.
Dascha’s mother was a cosmetologist, and her father was a mechanic. Dascha has two younger siblings, a sister, and a brother. Dascha began her career as a nurse after she completed her bachelor’s degree. However, she left nursing to pursue her true passion: acting.
Dascha landed her big break in 2012 when she was cast as Dayanara Diaz in Orange Is the New Black. Since then, she has appeared in several films and television shows. Aside from acting, Dascha is also a model, spokesperson, and activist. Furthermore, As an activist, Dascha advocates for body positivity and the Latinx community. Dascha is a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the screen!
Family and Early Life Of Dascha Polanco
Dascha Polanco was born on December 3, 1982, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Her cosmetologist mother and mechanic father raised her in Brooklyn, New York City, where her family brought her up. She has a younger sister and a younger brother.
She grew up in the Dominican Republic and moved to Miami, Florida, at 14 with her family. Polanco earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hunter College in New York City.
Dascha Polanco | Career
Polanco began her career as a nurse, studying to be one after she completed her bachelor’s degree. She worked at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx while doing fieldwork.
Polanco decided she wanted to pursue an acting career and registered at BIH Studios. She subsequently signed with Shirley Grant Management, a talent agency.
Dascha Polanco | Television Career
In 2011, she made her acting debut on television in an episode of the CBS police drama “Unforgettable.” In 2012, she had a role in another CBS police drama called “NYC 22.”
Moreover, In 2013, Dascha Polanco earned her breakthrough part as Dayanara “Daya” Diaz, a Puerto Rican inmate, in the Netflix series “Orange Is the New Black.”
Following the first two seasons, during which she featured in a recurring capacity, Polanco was integrated into the main cast for the remaining five seasons through 2019.
Taylor Schilling, Laura Prepon, Kate Mulgrew, Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, Nick Sandow, and Taryn Manning were among the many stars in the large ensemble.
For her contributions to “Orange Is the New Black,” Polanco won two SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series with her castmates.
In 2018, Polanco was still on “Orange Is the New Black” and had a recurring part in FX’s true-crime anthology series “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” playing Donatella Versace.
She played Detective Lori Wieder in a cast that included Edgar Ramirez, Darren Criss, Penelope Cruz, and Ricky Martin on the program. Polanco followed this up with a recurring role on “Russian Doll,” which stars her “Orange Is The New Black” co-star Natasha Lyonne as Beatrice.
She’s appeared in episodes of the Netflix crime series “When They See Us,” as well as the CBS supernatural drama series “Evil.”
Dascha Polanco | Film Career
She made her film debut in 2013 with the Christian drama “Gimme Shelter,” in which she played a pregnant homeless youngster. She subsequently appeared in 2014’s “The Cobbler,” directed by Adam Sandler and co-starring Method Man, Dustin Hoffman, Steve Buscemi, and Melonie Diaz.
In the biographical drama “Joy,” released in 2015, Polanco played opposite Jennifer Lawrence as billionaire entrepreneur and Miracle Mop creator Joy Mangano.
After that, she appeared with Terrence J, Donald Faison, Cassie Ventura, Paula Patton, and Lauren London in the romantic comedy “The Perfect Match.” Next, Polanco started as a nurse in Martin Scorsese’s epic biographical crime film “The Irishman,” which stars Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci.
She was a co-star in the award-winning musical “In the Heights,” based on the eponymous stage production directed by Lin Manuel Miranda, in which she played salon lady Cuca for two years.
She lent her voice to the 2022 animated superhero comedy “DC League of Super-Pets,” where she played Jessica Cruz and alter-ego Green Lantern, among other characters. The same year, she acted in another superhero film, “Samaritan,” based on Mythos Comics graphic novels starring Sylvester Stallone and Javon Walton.
Dascha Polanco | Net Worth & Earnings
Dascha Polanco began her career in film as a novice in 2011, and while she has appeared on the big screen before, she hasn’t earned much money from minor parts.
She increased her net worth to approximately $5 million after landing a major part in 2012’s Orange Is the New Black. In 2015, she became the first Latino to be named an NFL apparel ambassador, which boosted her earnings.
Relationship Of Dascha Polanco
Polanco’s personal life is largely private. There has been no statement on her relationship or boyfriend with whom she is dating. She called off her engagement after it had existed for approximately six years in 2013.
Dascha is the mother of three children at the age of 18. She has not spoken about her current married life or mentioned anything about her present spouse or family.
Dascha Polanco | Activism
Aside from being an actress, Dascha Polanco is also a model, spokesperson, and activist. As an activist, she advocates for body positivity and the Latinx community.
In 2019, she was honored with the “Outstanding Achievement in Hispanic Excellence Award” by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI).
Awards And Achievements
- Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Nominated 2017
- Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Winner 2016
- Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Winner 2015
- Screen Actors Guild Awards-Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Winner 2014
Social Media Presence
Dascha Polanco has always been connected to her fans and followers through social media platforms. She is quite popular on Instagram, with more than 7 million followers. Her Twitter account also has around 300k followers, while she has more than 100k followers on Facebook.
Additional Information
| Сеlеbrаtеd Nаmе: | Dascha Polanco |
| Nickname: | Dascha |
| Rеаl Nаmе/Full Nаmе: | Dascha Yolaine Polanco |
| Gеndеr: | Female |
| Аgе: | 39 |
| Віrth Dаtе: | 3 December 1982 |
| Віrth Рlасе: | Dominican Republic |
| Nаtіоnаlіtу: | Dominican-American |
| Неіght: | 1.65m |
| Ѕехuаl Оrіеntаtіоn: | Straight |
| Relationship Ѕtаtuѕ: | N/A |
| Spouse(Ex): | N/A |
| Рrоfеѕѕіоn: | Actress |
| Nеt Wоrth іn 2022: | $5 million |
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