Actor, entrepreneur, vocalist and New Yorker of Dominican descent, Jackie Cruz, became a household name from her portrayal of “Marisol ‘Flaca’ Gonzales” on Netflix’s critically acclaimed series, The original series created by Jenji Kohan became an award-winning magnet and released its 7th and final season in 2019.
Orange Is the New Black was a launching pad for Cruz’s career. She is a three-time SAG Award winner and was named one of the “Top Latino Powerhouses under 40” by The Hollywood Reporter in 2013. Cruz was also included in Latina Magazine’s 30 Under 30 List in 2015.
An accomplished singer/songwriter best known for her fan favorite role on Netflix’s hugely popular series, Orange Is The New Black, Cruz’ other on-screen credits include starring in the upcoming feature films A Nice Girl Like You opposite Lucy Hale, Faraway Eyes opposite Christina Ricci, and All the World is Sleeping. Cruz also recently landed a recurring role on the upcoming third season of NBC’s Good Girls, which has been a digital success for NBC and sibling Universal TV, which produce the series.
Cruz created a new diverse era in Hollywood with the release of her own production company, Unspoken Film. The company’s objective is to advocate for more representation of Latina women and create more diverse opportunities in film. Jackie believes that everyone deserves representation in media, and was inspired by the misrepresentation of the scope of her people. With her production company, it was time for everyone to see more colorful Latinx on screen, and Orange couldn’t be the only show. As an independent and accomplished music artist and song writer, Jackie has also created her own record label, Dulce Records.
With a large social media following as well as a dedicated fan base, Jackie’s career continues to evolve.
She hopes her music and film production work will create better pathways within the entertainment industry for people of Hispanic background.
Her debut album entitled “Hija De Chavez,” was just released last month on October 11th. The stunning nine track releases features fusions of Latin pop, electro and soul. Thematically the album is an ode and dedication to the powerful women in Cruz’s life who helped raise her.