Dascha Polanco is serving a second stint in the big house — and she couldn’t be happier.
A recurring role in the Netflix prison comedy, “Orange Is the New Black,” has become the Brooklynite’s big break. And with filming of the second season currently underway, Polanco is relishing her first full-time acting gig.
It’s the beginning of a career she once thought impossible.
“I’ve been through what I’ve been through, and because of that, now I can accept the rejection and the criticism,” she said.
It was only three years ago that the mother of two said she went on auditions thanks to encouragement from her fiancé.
She was working at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx as a manager and studying nursing when she learned that “Orange” was casting in her hometown.
With no time to change out of her scrubs after an overnight shift, she went and read for the role of Dayanara, a coquettish inmate who falls for a guard.
She impressed the producers, and was asked to read a second time before landing the part. She said she went for it because the idea of a show on Netflix was intriguing, and she’s also a fan of Jenji Kohan, who is also the creator of Showtime’s “Weeds.”
“We signed the second season before the first season was released (on July 11),” Polanco said.
“That blew my mind. Now I have goose bumps permanently!”
While Polanco, 31, says she never doubted her abilities as an actress, being Latina — she was born in the Dominican Republic — and fitting a certain body image made her think twice about the industry.
But now, seeing herself on camera — curves and all — has changed her opinion.
“I’ve always been proud to be Latina, and I want to represent the Latina woman out there who is like me,” said the self-described “thick girl.”
Before the second season of “Orange” goes online, Polanco will make her feature film debut as a bipolar teen in the Vanessa Hudgens drama, “Gimme Shelter,” which is slated for limited release in December.
A psychology degree from Hunter College helped her prep for the role.
As she basks in this newfound success, Polanco said she doesn’t regret the past several years working a “day job” before finally realizing her potential.
“If I had a time machine and I could go back, I think I would do it all the same,” she said.
“I think everybody has a time. Mine is now.”
****************
The Dascha Polanco file
Born in the D.R., raised in Brooklyn and Miami
Father was a mechanic, mom was a cosmetologist
Had her first bit part in 2011 in CBS’ “Unforgettable.”
She’s never done actual jail time, joking she would “miss my heels.”
No comments:
Post a Comment