Selenis Leyva

Selenis Leyva is an American actress known for her role as Gloria Mendoza in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black (2013–19) and Diary of a Future President (2020–21) on Disney+. Born on May 26, 1972, in The Bronx, Leyva was raised in a Cuban and Dominican household. She has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway productions and had a recurring role as Detective Mariluz Rivera in Law & Order. Leyva has also made guest appearances in various TV shows including Third Watch, The Sopranos, The Good Wife, Girls, and Elementary. Her portrayal of Gloria Mendoza in Orange Is the New Black earned her three Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.