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Dascha Polanco

Highest Rated: 94% In the Heights (2021)

Lowest Rated: 10% The Cobbler (2014)

Birthday: Dec 3, 1982

Birthplace: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Dascha Polanco was a Dominican-American actress born on December 3, 1982. After moving from the Dominican Republic to America, where she grew up in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, Polanco had dreams of being an actress. However, she was hesitant to audition because of weight expectations. Polanco had a child at 18, daughter Dasany Kristal Gonzalez, who would end up playing a 14-year-old version of her "Orange Is the New Black" Character. She had a son two years later, and attended Hunter College, from which she graduated in 2008 with a bachelor's in psychology. Polanco was working at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx when she decided to pursue acting, and soon after landed a small part in an episode of the first season of "Unforgettable" (CBS, 2011-16). She would soon make her breakthrough appearance as Dayanara "Daya" Diaz on "Orange Is the New Black" (Netflix, 2013- ). Polanco made her film debut in the Vanessa Hudgens-led "Gimme Shelter" (2013), and played Macy in "The Cobbler" (2014), which starred Adam Sandler. She also starred alongside Jennifer Lawrence in David O. Russell's "Joy" (2015).

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Highest rated movies

94% 94% In the Heights Watchlist
92% A Little Prayer
Watchlist
72% 88% DC League of Super-Pets Watchlist 61% 57% Joy Watchlist 38% 70% Samaritan Watchlist
27% 63% Gimme Shelter
Watchlist
22% 44% The Perfect Match Watchlist
11% 43% Air Force One Down
Watchlist
10% 36% The Cobbler
Watchlist
80% Junction
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Terror Comes Knocking: The Marcela Borges Story Marcela Borges (Character) - 2025
11% 43% Air Force One Down Vice President Hansen (Character) - 2024
No Score Yet 80% Junction Unknown (Character) - 2024
92% No Score Yet A Little Prayer Unknown (Character) - 2023
38% 70% Samaritan Tiffany Cleary (Character) - 2022
72% 88% DC League of Super-Pets Green Lantern (Voice) $93.7M 2022
No Score Yet No Score Yet iGilbert Jana (Character) - 2021
94% 94% In the Heights Cuca (Character) $29.9M 2021
No Score Yet No Score Yet MFKZ Luna (Voice) - 2017
22% 44% The Perfect Match Pressy (Character) $9.7M 2016
61% 57% Joy Jackie (Character) $56.4M 2015
10% 36% The Cobbler Macy (Character) - 2014
27% 63% Gimme Shelter Carmel (Character) $1.4M 2014

TV

Credit
98% 81% Poker Face Natalie (Guest Star) 2023
No Score Yet No Score Yet Karma's World Ms. Camilla Torres (Voice) 2021-2022
No Score Yet No Score Yet The $100,000 Pyramid Guest 2021
No Score Yet No Score Yet Match Game Guest 2020
96% 86% Evil Patti Hitchens (Guest Star) 2019
90% 82% Orange Is the New Black Dayanara Diaz (Character),
Unknown (Guest Star),
Guest
2013-2019
No Score Yet No Score Yet Desus & Mero Guest 2019
96% 89% When They See Us Unknown (Character) 2019
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hollywood Game Night Guest 2017
41% 61% Chelsea Guest 2016
No Score Yet No Score Yet FABLife Guest 2016
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Doctors Guest 2015
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Wendy Williams Show Guest 2015
43% No Score Yet NYC 22 Unknown (Guest Star) 2012
No Score Yet 56% Unforgettable Estella (Guest Star) 2011