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For the show ’ s first two seasons , maria Dizzia , m . F . A . ’ 01 , played protagonist Piper Chapman ’ s best-friend-turned-frenemy , Polly Harper .
In the show ’ s current season , marsha Stephanie Blake , m . F . A . ’ 01 , portrays prison counselor Berdie Rogers .
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WHAT KinD OF RElATiOnSHiP DO yOu TWO HAVE ? HOW ClOSE ARE yOu ?
mD : Marsha Stephanie is one
of my favorite people . She is
incredibly talented and fiercely
smart . [ She ] is a true-blue
person . She is the person you
can call in the middle of night
and say , “ I don ’ t know where
I am , can you help me get out
of here ?”
mSB : I feel the same way about
her . We ’ re really good friends .
At UC San Diego , Maria lent me
her car . I took my driver ’ s test
with her car . She learned how
to knit and made my daughter
a hat — that ’ s Maria ! She ’ s always Auntie Maria , she ’ s always been . Totally .
WHAT WAS iT liKE ACTing AnD PERFORming TOgETHER AT uC SAn DiEgO ?
mSB : Unfortunately they thought we were similar types — she would be the lead in something and I would be the lead in something else at the same time . They never grouped us together . I would have loved to play her sister or her best friend , or opposite her in something , but the opportunity never arose . But we had class together and we did a couple of scenes .
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mD : In our first acting class we clicked . That class was an uphill battle , and she was a refuge of optimism , perspective and fun . During school , it ’ s a great deal of work and we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to get as much out of it as possible ; I think we found that we could trust each other — as artists and friends . Also , she doesn ’ t take herself or anyone else too seriously , so her friendship is essential if you want to maintain perspective .
HAVE yOu AlWAyS BEEn ABlE TO KEEP in TOuCH ?
mSB : It ’ s gotten a lot easier with email and text message . Definitely when I had kids , Maria was one of the people I ’ d call and say , “ Hey , can you meet me at an audition and watch the baby for 10 minutes ?” We just try , just like with anything else . It takes a bit of work . We have a lot going on , families , careers , but we get together .
WHAT iS iT liKE WORKing On ORAngE iS THE nEW BlACK ?
mD : It was an extraordinary experience . I loved the cast , the producers , the crew and the directors . Everyone helped and supported one another . It was a great place to be . Every time I got to set , I felt so lucky to be included . I learned so
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much about working in front of a camera . It was a wonderful family to be a part of .
mSB : It ’ s a very tight show . The women are very close . They support each other , and a lot of the women sing and they all go to see each other perform , go to baby showers — I don ’ t want to say “ the women ,” but it is a mostly female cast . It ’ s a tight , well-bonded cast of people , which you don ’ t always get . They call it the “ Orange family ” and they really do behave like a family . It feels more like theater in that way . [ With ] some of these shows you can sometimes feel isolated , and I don ’ t feel that at all with this cast .
WHAT DO yOu HAVE TO SAy TO mARSHA AS SHE JOinS THE CAST , mARiA ?
mD : Soak it up ! And they are lucky to have you .
AS FOR yOung ACTORS liKE THOSE JuST STARTing OuT AT uC SAn DiEgO , WHAT ADViCE CAn yOu giVE THEm ?
mSB : For every 10 auditions I go on , I might book one if I ’ m lucky , and that ’ s actually a good ratio . Don ’ t despair too much when you don ’ t get a job , because that wasn ’ t your job — there ’ s something better for you down the line .
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