Jessica Pimentel

Jessica Pimentel (born September 20, 1982) is an American actress and musician. She is best known for her role as Maria Ruiz on the Netflix original series Orange Is the New Black. She is also the lead singer of the metal band Alekhine's Gun and backing vocalist in the band Brujeria. Early life Pimentel was born in Brooklyn, New York. Both of her parents, originally from La Romana, Dominican Republic, 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/features/oitnbs-metalhead-inside-jessica-pimentels-double-life-w449586|title=Meet 'OITNBs Secret Metalhead: Inside Jessica Pimentel's Double Life|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=2017-06-30|archive-date=September 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170907193313/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/features/oitnbs-metalhead-inside-jessica-pimentels-double-life-w449586|url-status=dead}}</ref> Pimentel graduated from New York's Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, where she played violin. 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. Acting career 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.