Expect to see even more of Dascha Polanco’s Orange is the New Black character Dayanara Diaz in season 3 when the show returns next year.
The actress has been promoted to series regular for Orange is the New Black season 3 which is already filming, Deadline reports.
Diaz is romantically involved with corrections officer John Bennett – one of our favorite story lines in the series so far. The two conceived a child during season 1 of the show, and in season 2 we saw the lovebirds grapple with framing Pornstache. They also tried to figure out how to raise their child when mother is in prison.
(Spoiler warning) Season 2, which just debuted on Netflix last Friday, ended with Bennett confessing to Caputo that he’s the real father of Diaz’s baby in order to prove to mom-to-be that he isn’t afraid to hide from the truth. However, the plan to face consequences backfired. Caputo wanted to act like he never heard this revelation because he just started his new job as head of Litchfield.
What does a larger role mean for Diaz in season 3? Maybe we’ll be tracking the imminent birth of her child in every new Orange is the New Black episode. That would mean that Bennett will likely have a larger role as well since he’ll be the one presumably raising the child.
Diaz isn’t the only character we’ll see more of in the new episodes. In April we learned that actress Laura Prepon will be returning to Orange is the New Black season 3 as a full-time cast member with her character Alex. Those who have seen the season 2 finale have a good idea of how she’ll be slipping back into a full-time role.
Other cast members who were promoted to series regular status for season 3 include Selenis Leyva (Gloria), Nick Sandow (Joe Caputo), Adrienne C. Moore (Black Cindy), and Samira Wiley (Poussey). It’s going to be a very full prison when the show returns next year!