When Dascha Polanco originally landed her role as inmate Dayanara Diaz on one of Netflix's first binge-worthy experiments, Orange Is the New Black, she continued to keep her job in a hospital, studying and training toward her degree in nursing. "I was making money in the hospital as a manager, working the operating room and being in charge," she told host Charlamagne tha God on the latest episode of Emerging Hollywood. "What's interesting is, I kept my job. That's how much I did not trust this industry."
"I was very scared of being told that I wasn't talented enough," Polanco said, "because I love it so much."
Polanco went on to discuss Latin representation on screen saying, "I'm lucky to be in it, but I think that there's a lot more work to be done. The stats speak for the masses." Polanco is part of that small percentage, but highlights the role being that of an inmate, saying, "I think the opportunity was because it was for an inmate. I think it's more acceptable to see someone like me as an inmate than to see someone like me in a different role."