On Friday, June 17, season four of "Orange is the New Black" came out on Netflix. In the past few years, the actors and actresses of "Orange is the New Black" have gained recognition and countless award nominations. The show is set at the Litchfield Correctional Facility in upstate New York. It focuses on one woman, Piper Chapman, a wealthy and privileged thirty-something with a sketchy past. She was arrested for transporting drug money across borders, and sentenced to fifteen months at Litchfield. The show also revolves around a number of dynamic characters with different backgrounds, races, charges, and values. "Orange is the New Black" delves into the prominent issues of this generation, like racial tensions, LGBT rights, prisoners’ rights, and more. It has acquired quite the following, and has jump started a few of the actors’ and actresses’ careers. All of the men and women on the show have amazing backstories and have done some really great work in this show and others. Some had the opportunity to use their own life experiences for their characters, such as Natasha Lyonne and Laverne Cox. Others overcame adversity, and now try to help others, like Diane Guerrero. And some are just awesome people, like Lea Delaria and Matt McGorry.

Natasha Lyonne (Nicky Nichols)

Lyonne’s parents, both from Orthodox Jewish families, put her into auditions and modeling school at a very young age. She landed roles in Nora Ephron’s "Heartburn" and "Pee-wee’s Playhouse." But, like many child stars, Lyonne had some issues growing up. As a heavy partier, she was arrested on DUI charges and hospitalized for hepatitis C and a collapsed lung. According to a Buzzfeed article, Nicky’s chest scar is real, from Lyonne’s heart surgery. Thankfully, she completed a rehabilitation program and got back into her career, receiving an Emmy for her work on "Orange is the New Black." Nicky, her character, is a former heroin addict from a wealthy family. She was arrested after crashing a stolen taxi.

Laverne Cox (Sophia Burset)

Cox was born male to a single mother. From a young age, she felt like a female, and was often bullied for it. She and her twin brother both studied art in college. Although she was active in reality TV and indie films, "Orange is the New Black" was her big break. Playing a transgender woman in prison for fraud, she has gotten the chance to address some major trans issues. Aside from her Huffington Post column and production of trans documentaries, "Orange is the New Black" has dealt with hormone treatments, family relationships, and harassment. Laverne Cox has become a trans activist of this generation, and the first openly transgender person to receive an Emmy nomination. She's now branching out into roles on "The Mindy Show" and the new CBS show "Doubt."

Diane Guerrero (Maritza Ramos)

Guerrero’s parents escaped a tough economic situation in Colombia, and emigrated to come to New Jersey. After she was born, they all moved to Boston. The family was never able to obtain citizenship after years of trying, and one day fourteen-year-old Guerrero came home to an empty house. Her parents were taken by immigration officers, and she was left on her own. After the rest of her family was deported, she attended the Boston Arts Academy, and lived with friends. Having her family miss out on years of her life was very hard for her, and her op-ed in the LA Times expands on her experience. Guerrero now has a recurring role on "Orange is the New Black" and "Jane the Virgin," and volunteers at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

Lea Delaria (Carrie "Big Boo" Black)

While Delaria won two SAG Awards for "Orange is the New Black," her career didn’t start with the show. She was the first openly gay comedian on American TV and was cast in a plethora of roles. Delaria played in Broadway musicals, and won awards for off-Broadway plays. She had five jazz records, and even became the featured vocalist for the 50th Anniversary of the Newport Jazz Festival. Lea Delaria has performed in Carnegie Hall, the Chicago Symphony, and the Sydney Opera House, to name a few. She's even a published author, with "Lea’s Book of Rules for the World" in its third printing. Delaria’s character, Big Boo, is sarcastic and confident, and in season three, becomes a great friend to Pennsatucky. Although Boo can be crass, we get to see her true values and development throughout the show.

Matt McGorry (John Bennett)

Before he became dually loveable and hateable Officer Bennett, Matt McGorry started as a magician. He became the youngest member of the New York International Brotherhood of Magicians, and performed at birthday parties. He grew up in New York City and attended Emerson College. McGorry worked at a gym and started bodybuilding. He stayed strict to bodybuilding standards and won competitions, but he hated it. He claims that he felt tired all the time and is still working toward a normal exercise routine. McGorry has a recurring role on "How to Get Away With Murder" and has remained as the adorable authority figure in "Orange is the New Black." He considers Bennett to be like his teenage self, innocent and empathetic.

sources:

http://www.biography.com/people/natasha-lyonne-072715

http://www.biography.com/people/laverne-cox

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4058898/bio?ref_=nm_ov_...

http://www.leadelaria.com/biography/

https://www.yahoo.com/tv/bp/8-facts-about--orange-is-the-new-black--star-matt-mcgorry-214641384.html

http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-body/news/orange-is-the-new-blacks-matt-mcgorry-used-to-be-a-bodybuilder-2015126