Where Are They Now: The Queer Actors and Characters of OITNB
Author: Becca Damante
Ten years ago this month, Orange Is the New Black premiered on Netflix, and cemented a new era of queer and streaming television. After 91 episodes, seven seasons, 21 Emmy nominations and four wins, the show ended in July 2019. The series forever changed the representation of queer women on television.
After one Emmy nomination, two Golden Globe nominations, and three Satellite Awards for her role as bisexual prisoner Piper Chapman, Taylor Schilling has acted in a number of shows including Pam & Tommy
Laverne Cox made history on Orange
In the second half of Orange
Dasha Polanco played Dayanara “Daya” Diaz, the daughter of inmate Aleida Diaz and a lover to Domiga “Daddy” Duarte. In the last several years, Polanco has had roles alongside Lyonne in Russian Doll
Kimiko Glenn has had a busy few years since playing pansexual inmate Brook Soso on Orange
During seasons four through seven of Orange
In the last several years, Laura Prepon, who played Piper Chapman’s love interest Alex Vause, has had her own love story: getting married, having two kids, and writing a memoir-handbook called You and I, as Mothers: A Raw and Honest Guide to Motherhood
A household name in the lesbian community, Lea DeLaria had an incredible run as butch inmate Carrie “Big Boo” Black on Orange
Natasha Lyonne is straight, but that hasn’t kept her from being considered a lesbian icon and playing queer characters like Nicky Nichols from Orange.
Australian model and actress Ruby Rose made a name for herself, in part thanks to her role as genderfluid inmate Stella Carlin, who has a fling with Piper in season 3. Following their short stint on Orange
Since leaving the main cast of Orange
Uzo Aduba was hugely successful in her role as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren in Orangeand played therapist Dr. Brooke Taylor on In Treatment.
After a coming in third place on The Voice
Australian actress Yael Stone was initially supposed to be on only one episode of Orange, but ended up playing Lorna Morello for 88 of the show’s 91 episodes. Since Orange ended in 2019, Stone appeared in the TV series Firebite and in films like Blaze and Blacklight. Stone currently has two children and runs an environmental non-profit organization called Hi Neighbour, which works to bring Australians into low carbon jobs.
Original Article on The Advocate
Author: Becca Damante
