Selenis Leyva

Selenis Leyva (born May 26, 1972) is an American actress. She began her career appearing in Off-Broadway productions and had supporting roles on television, before her breakthrough role as Gloria Mendoza in the Netflix comedy-drama series, Orange Is the New Black (2013–19). She later starred in the Disney+ comedy-drama series, Diary of a Future President (2020–21), and the NBC sitcom Lopez vs Lopez (2022–25). Leyva also appeared in films Custody, Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Breaking (2022) and Creed III (2023).

Life and career Selenis Leyva, a native of The Bronx, is of Cuban and Dominican descent. She has appeared in a number of Off-Broadway productions. Her professional debut was in the 1995 production of Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre's Simpson Street. She later acted in New World Stages' production of Celia in 2007, and Cherry Lane Theatre's Basilica in 2013. On television, Leyva co-starred in the 2001 Nickelodeon teen sitcom Taina and had a recurring role of Detective Mariluz Rivera in the NBC police drama series, Law & Order from 2004 to 2006, and also appeared in different roles on the show and on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She has guest-starred on Third Watch, The Sopranos, The Good Wife, Girls, and Elementary. In film, she had secondary roles in Maria Full of Grace (2004), Illegal Tender (2007) and Sex and the City 2 (2010).

In 2013, Leyva began starring as Gloria Mendoza, a Latina leader in the jail, in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black. Her character was recurring for the first two seasons and she was promoted to series regular in Season 3. Along with cast, she received three Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. She also received ALMA Award for Outstanding Special Achievement in Television in 2014. The series ended in 2019, after seven seasons. During her time in Orange Is the New Black, Leyva co-starred opposite Viola Davis and Catalina Sandino Moreno in the 2016 courtroom drama film Custody directed and written by James Lapine, and played Ms. Warren in the 2017 superhero film Spider-Man: Homecoming. In 2018, she had a supporting role in the Netflix miniseries Maniac.

In 2019, Leyva was cast in the Disney+ comedy-drama series, Diary of a Future President produced by Gina Rodriguez. The series premiered on January 17, 2020 and was cancelled in December 2021. She starred in the 2022 drama film, Breaking, the film premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival and received Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast. Later in 2022 she was cast in the NBC sitcom, Lopez vs Lopez playing George Lopez's ex-wife. In 2023, Leyva appeared in the sports drama film Creed III.

Personal life Leyva has one daughter, Alina. She is a supporter of the LGBT community and revealed in June 2015 that her sister Marizol is transgender. Leyva is the co-author, with her sister Marizol, of the book My Sister: How One Sibling's Transition Changed Us Both, which was published by Bold Type Books in March 2020.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2000 Debutante Daisy Dominguez 2002 Apartment #5C Luisa 2004 Maria Full of Grace Customs Inspector 2007 Illegal Tender Wanda Ben's Plan Maria 2009 Don't Let Me Drown Sonia Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs Additional Voices Voice 2010 Sex and the City 2 Teacher Trouble Child Trouble Child Short film 2011 Man in the Mirror Sonia Short film 2012 Ice Age: Continental Drift Additional Voices Voice 2013 Epic Additional Voices Voice 2014 Living with the Dead Dr. Quenda 2015 Chapter & Verse Yolanda 2016 Custody Jackie I Can I Will I Did Maria 2017 Spider-Man: Homecoming Ms. Warren 2020 Shadows Pamela Short film 2022 Breaking Rosa DiazSundance Film Festival Dramatic Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast 2023 Crater Maria Creed III Laura Chavez

Television Year Title Role Notes 1999 Law & Order Louisa Episode: "Refuge: Part 2" Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Lorinda Gutierrez Episode: "Hysteria" 2001 The $treet Kate Episode: "Junk Bonds" Law & Order DeeDee Salazar Episode: "Sunday in the Park with Jorge" Taina Titi Rose Recurring role, 13 episodes 100 Centre Street Delfina Romero Episodes: "Kids: Part 1" and "Kids: Part 2" 2002 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Isabella Costas Episode: "Homo Homini Lupis" 2003 Third Watch Phyllis Episode: "Goodbye to All That" 2004 Gonzalez Episode: "Leap of Faith" Law & Order Nita Cabrera Episode: "Veteran's Day" 2004–2006 Detective Mariluz Rivera Recurring role, 18 episodes 2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Warden's Secretary Episode: "Prisoner" 2006 The Sopranos Jill Dibiaso Episode: "Live Free or Die" 2007 Dirty Sexy Money Detective Angelina Adams Episode: "Pilot" 2008 New Amsterdam Susan Boyle Episode: "Pilot" 2010 Law & Order Rona Henderson Episode: "Boy on Fire" The Good Wife Marisol Episode: "Doubt" The Whole Truth Claudia Episode: "Liars" 2011 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Detective Rivera Episode: "Icarus" Person of Interest Hosking Episode: "Number Crunch" 2011–2012 Blue Bloods Assistant M.E. Craig Recurring role, 4 episodes 2012 Girls Chastity Episode: "Hannah's Diary" Elementary Sara Castillo Episode: "Child Predator" 2013 The Following Detective Morales Episode: "Chapter Two" 2013–2019 Orange Is the New Black Gloria Mendoza Recurring role (seasons 1–2); series regular (seasons 3–7); 88 episodesALMA Award for Outstanding Special Achievement in Television (2014)Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2015–2016)Nomination — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2018) 2015 Madam Secretary Bolivian Ambassador Mariana Dominguez Episode: "The Time Is at Hand" Veep Governor Ramos Episode: "B/ill" 2018 Dietland Belle 2 episodes Maniac Patricia Lugo 3 episodes Murphy Brown Maria Gonzales Episode: "Thanksgiving and Taking" 2018–2021 DuckTales Detective Cabrera Voice role; recurring 2019 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Samantha Morgan Episode: "Facing Demons" 2020–2021 Diary of a Future President Gabi Cañero-Reed 20 episodesGracie Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Musical or ComedyNominated — Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress - Comedy (Television) Saved by the Bell Ms. Jimenez 3 episodes 2022 Our Flag Means Death Nana Episode: "This Is Happening" 2022–2025 Lopez vs Lopez Rosie Lopez Main roleNominated — Imagen Award for Best Supporting Actress - Comedy (Television) 2025 Law & Order Defense Attorney Patricia Kaplan Episode: "In God We Trust"