Jessica Pimentel

• Name — Jessica Pimentel • Birthplace — Brooklyn, New York, U.S. • Education — Roosa school of Music LaGuardia High School American Academy of Dramatic Arts • Occupation — * Actress • musician • Notable Works — Orange Is the New Black

Pimentel was born and raised in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn. Both of her parents, originally from La Romana, Dominican Republic, and immigrated to New York as teenagers. Pimentel was the couple's only child. Her parents divorced when she was six years old, after which she became estranged from her father. Pimentel graduated from New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she was a music major her first year then auditioned and was accepted into the drama program her second year. She focused on acting more after high school, playing Juliet in a touring production of Romeo and Juliet, and landing small roles in movies and TV shows. She graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, class of 1999.

After a series of bit parts, Pimentel played the role of Angelique Domenguez in the 2008 film Pride and Glory. In 2014, she was cast as Floyd in four episodes of Person of Interest. Pimentel's breakout role came in 2013, when she was cast as Maria Ruiz on the Netflix comedy-drama Orange Is the New Black. Pimentel was credited as a guest star for the first four seasons, before finally being made a part of the regular cast for Season 5.

Pimentel began playing music at the age of two and trained as classical violinist and concert master who has played at Carnegie hall. In her teens she began learning the guitar, electric bass, percussion and keyboards and joined several New York Hardcore bands. She was the bassist for New York heavy metal and hardcore band Desolate from 2010 to 2014. Since 2010, Pimentel has been the lead vocalist and a recording guitarist for the New York-based death metal band Alekhine's Gun. Pimentel has also recorded several songs with the band Black Heart Sutra, and sings in the Los Angeles and Tijuana-based metal band Brujeria, performing under the name La Bruja Encabronada. Pimentel is a featured artist for Spector basses, Gibson (guitar company), Korg and Darkglass and Krank Amps.

Pimentel has been married to Meshuggah drummer Tomas Haake since 2013 and lives with him in Sweden. Pimentel was raised Christian, but became a practicing Tibetan Buddhist as an adult.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1995 — All My Children — Pine Valley Kid — 2 episodes • 1997 — 12 Angry Viewers — Juror • 2002 — Third Watch — Josie — Episode: "Falling" • 2003 — Law & Order — Hooker — Episode: "Under God" • 2005 — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Selma Garcia — Episode: "911" • 2008 — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Joanne Suarez — Episode: "Retro" • 2009 — Law & Order — Tina — Episode: "Boy Gone Astray" • 2010 — Mercy — Female Clerk — Episode: "There Is No Superwoman • Law & Order: Criminal Intent — Gabriella Belteno — Episode: "Disciple" • 2013–2019 — Orange Is the New Black — Maria Ruiz — Recurring role (Seasons 1–4), Series regular (Season 5–7) Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2015-2017) • 2014 — Casting Calls — Mary • 2014–2015 — Person of Interest — Floyd — 4 episodes • 2015 — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Manuela Ozuna — Episode: "Institutional Fail" • 2023 — Blue Bloods — Laura Acosta — Episode: "Lost Ones" • 2023 — The Horror of Dolores Roach — Flora Frias — 3 Episodes

• Year — Title — Role — Theater • 2026 — Romeo & Juliet — Escalus — The Public Theater / Shakespeare in the Park • 2025 — Don't Eat The Mangos — Ismelda — The Huntington Theater Company • 2022 — Jasper — Andrea — Yonder Window / Signature Theater • 2018 — Surfer Girl — Girl — Animus Theater Company / The Dirty Blondes • 2011 — Enfrascada — Yessenia — Clubbed Thumb • 2008 — Aliens With Extraordinary Skills — Lupita — WP Theater • 2008 — Romeo & Juliet — Juliet — TheaterWorks USA • 2007 — The Cook — Elena / Rosa — Seattle Repertory Theater • 2007 — The Clean House — Mathilde — Wellfeet Harbor Actors Theater • 2004 — Anna in the Tropics — Marela — American Stage Theater Company • 2004 — A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings — Spider Woman — Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey