Selenis Leyva is a Cuban-American actress, known for her role as Gloria Mendoza in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black.

Leyva was born in Baracoa, Cuba and raised in the Bronx. She is of Cuban and Dominican descent and has appeared in the number of Off-Broadway productions. On television, Leyva had a recurring role of Detective Mariluz Rivera in Law & Order, and also appeared in different roles on the show and on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She has guest-starred on Third Watch, The Sopranos, The Good Wife, Girls, and Elementary.

In 2013, Leyva began starring as Gloria Mendoza, a Latina leader in the jail, in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black. Her character was recurring for the first two seasons and she will be promoted to series regular in Season 3.

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