Dascha Polanco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dascha Polanco
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Polanco in 2019
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| Born |
Dascha Yolaine Polanco
December 3, 1982 |
| Alma mater | Hunter College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Children | 2 |
Dascha Polanco (born December 3, 1982) is an actress from the Dominican Republic. She is well-known for playing Dayanara "Daya" Diaz in the Netflix TV show Orange Is the New Black. She also played Cuca in the 2021 movie In the Heights.
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Early life
Dascha Polanco was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. She moved to the United States when she was very young. She grew up in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and also in Miami. Her father was a mechanic, and her mother was a cosmetologist. Dascha is the oldest of three children. She has one brother and one sister.
Career
Dascha always dreamed of becoming an actress. However, she often felt unsure about trying out for roles because of her weight. So, she decided to study psychology at Hunter College. She was the first in her family to go to college.
After college, she started working in healthcare. She planned to become a nurse. While working at a hospital in the Bronx, she found the courage to try acting again. She joined an acting studio in New York. There, a talent agency signed her. Her first small roles were in TV shows like Unforgettable and NYC 22.
In 2012, Dascha got a big role in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. She played Dayanara "Daya" Diaz. This show became very popular.
In 2013, Dascha appeared in an independent film called Gimme Shelter. She then returned to her role on Orange Is the New Black for its second season. In 2014, she became a regular cast member for the show's third season. This season came out in 2015.
Dascha also acted in comedy movies like The Cobbler and Joy. She also starred in the film The Perfect Match.
In 2018, she had a role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. In 2019, she appeared in other Netflix series. These included Russian Doll and When They See Us.
In 2021, Dascha played Cuca in the movie In the Heights. Cuca was one of the main ladies who worked at the salon. From 2021 to 2022, she lent her voice to Ms. Camilla Torres. This character was Winston's mother in the animated series Karma's World.
In 2025, Dascha starred as Michelle Borgas. This was in the Lifetime film Terror Comes Knocking: The Michelle Borgas Story. This movie was part of the channel's "Ripped from the Headlines" series.
Personal life
Dascha Polanco has two children. She has a daughter and a son. Her daughter even played a younger version of Dascha's character. This happened in the fifth season of Orange is the New Black.
Images for kids
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Dascha Polanco in 2019
See also
In Spanish: Dascha Polanco para niños
