Dascha Polanco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dascha Polanco
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Polanco in 2019
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Dascha Yolaine Polanco
December 3, 1982 |
| Alma mater | Hunter College |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Children | 2 |
Dascha Yolaine 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.
Contents
Early Life and Dreams
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 worked as a mechanic, and her mother was a cosmetologist. Dascha is the oldest of three children; she has one brother and one sister.
From a young age, Dascha wanted to be an actress. However, she often felt unsure about trying out for roles because of her weight. So, she decided to go to college first. She was the first in her family to attend college and earned a degree in psychology from Hunter College.
From Healthcare to Acting
After college, Dascha started working in healthcare. She planned to become a nurse. She worked in hospital administration at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx while studying nursing. During this time, she found the courage to follow her acting dream again. She joined an acting studio in New York called BIH Studios. There, she was signed by a talent agency called Shirley Grant Management. Her first acting jobs were small parts in TV shows like Unforgettable and NYC 22.
Becoming a Star
In 2012, Dascha Polanco got a big role in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. She played Dayanara "Daya" Diaz, a character who became very popular.
Key Roles in Film and TV
In 2013, Dascha appeared in an independent movie called Gimme Shelter. After that, she returned to her role on Orange Is the New Black for its second season. In June 2014, it was announced that she would become a regular cast member for the show's third season. This season was released in June 2015.
She also acted in comedy films like The Cobbler and Joy. In 2016, she starred in the movie The Perfect Match.
In 2018, Dascha had a recurring role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story. In 2019, she appeared in other Netflix series, including Russian Doll and When They See Us.
A notable role for Dascha was playing Cuca in the 2021 film In the Heights. Cuca was one of the main salon ladies in the movie. From 2021 to 2022, she used her voice for Ms. Camilla Torres in the animated series Karma's World. Ms. Torres is Winston's mother and owns a record shop.
In 2025, Polanco starred as Michelle Borgas in the Lifetime film Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borgas Story. This movie was part of the channel's "Ripped from the Headlines" feature films. She also appeared in the TV series The Walking Dead: Dead City in 2025.
Personal Life
Dascha Polanco is a mother of two children, a daughter and a son. Interestingly, her daughter played a younger version of Dascha's character in the fifth season of Orange Is the New Black.
Images for kids
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Polanco in 2019
See also
In Spanish: Dascha Polanco para niños
