<Li> Alekhine's Gun </Li> <Li> Black Heart Sutra </Li> <P> 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 heavy metal band Alekhine's Gun and backing vocalist in the band Brujeria . </P> <P> 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 . </P>

Who plays maria on orange is the new black