Selenis Leyva is a Cuban-American actress best known for her role as Gloria Mendoza in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black.
Selenis Leyva Rivera was born on May 26, 1972, in Baracoa, Cuba, and raised in the Bronx, New York City. After completing high school, she pursued a degree in the arts at a university, eventually launching her career in acting upon graduation.
Following her graduation, Leyva began performing in various off-Broadway productions. She made her television debut in 1999 with a guest appearance on the legal drama series Law & Order. Her film debut came a year later in the 2000 movie Debutante.
Her breakthrough came in 2013 when she was cast in Orange Is the New Black on Netflix, where she portrayed the character Gloria Mendoza until the show concluded with its seventh season in July 2019. Leyva received wide praise for her performance and became a recognizable figure in streaming television.
In addition to her iconic role on Netflix, Selenis Leyva has appeared in various other television series. Her credits include The Sopranos (2006), New Amsterdam (2008), The Good Wife (2010), Blue Bloods (2011–2012), Girls (2012), Elementary (2012), and Madam Secretary (2015).
Selenis Leyva maintains a relatively private personal life. She is not married and has a daughter named Alina Leyva, whom she has reportedly adopted, though she has kept details about her family life largely out of the public eye.
One of the most public aspects of Leyva’s personal story is her close relationship with her younger sister, Marizol Leyva. During their childhood, Marizol experienced challenges with social acceptance. At age sixteen, Marizol came out as gay, and by nineteen, she had begun her gender transition. In June 2015, she publicly came out as a transgender woman.
Selenis Leyva has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, standing by her sister through her transition journey, which included facing mental health struggles and discrimination. Today, Marizol Leyva is a transgender Latina model, chef, and human rights activist, and the sisters co-authored a memoir, contributing to visibility and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community.
| Birth Date: | 26 May, 1972 |
| Age: | 48 yrs |
| Occupations: | Television actor Film actor Stage actor |
| Citizenship: | United States of America Cuba |
| Birth Place: | The Bronx |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | American actress |
| Net Worth 2021: | 2.5 million |
