Miriam Morales Talks ‘Orange is the New Black’ [Exclusive Interview]

Miriam Morales joined the cast of Orange is the New Black in Season 4 as Ramona “Pidge” Contreras, a new inmate at Litchfield who works in the nail salon alongside Daya and Maria.

I had the chance to ask Morales about what it was like to join the cast, why Orange is the New Black is such an important show, and what it was like on set during the filming of Season 4’s shocking death.

Tell-Tale TV: When did you decide that you wanted to get into acting, and what led to that decision?

Miriam Morales: I may not have known that it was called “acting,” but I knew I wanted to be an actress from a very young age. If there was a particular moment that solidified that dream for me it would have to be when I was in a church play at age 5 or 6. From that moment on, that was it! I was going after it. As hard as it got and continues to get, I never stopped. Thank God!

Tell-Tale TV: You joined the cast of Orange is the New Black as Pidge in Season 4. What was it that made you want to be a part of the show?

Morales: Big fan here since Season 1! What I loved about the show was how diverse, universal, and relatable it was. I loved seeing such a talented group of Latinas and could really see myself on the show. Also, who wouldn’t want to work with Jenji Kohan and other bada**, strong, and intelligent women? To be on a show spearheaded by female heavy hitters is incredible. I have so much respect for them and what they do.

Tell-Tale TV: What was it like joining that cast? Was there anyone on Orange is the New Black you were particularly excited to work with?

Morales: To this day, there are times I still can’t believe I’m working on the show. It’s unbelievable, and I’m just so very grateful. Joining the cast was a dream come true, and I love every moment (on and off the set) with my cast mates.

Everyone is so talented and fierce, so I was excited just to have the opportunity to work with any of them. Uzo Aduba is amazing, and I’d definitely love to have some screen time with her. Hopefully that happens!

Tell-Tale TV: What would you say is the biggest challenge in playing your role?

Morales: The biggest challenge in playing Pidge is continuing to develop her without having a lot of information. But that’s also freeing to a degree, because I literally get to have fun and create this character without set boundaries. For an actor, that’s when your imagination gets to run wild.

Tell-Tale TV: Orange is the New Black sheds light on very real issues regarding prison conditions. What’s it like for you to be a part of that story?

Morales: One of the things that I love about Orange is the New Black is how they incorporate real social issues into the back stories and overall storyline. Being a part of that is amazing. Being a part of the story regarding prison conditions is an important one, and I’m extremely proud of that.

Sometimes we don’t pay much attention to certain issues until we are directly affected by them. It’s unfortunate but true. However, I have a great appreciation for shows like Orange is the New Black that bring these issues to the forefront, because it forces us to open our eyes to them. And perhaps inspire us to learn more about these issues and get involved in some way.

Tell-Tale TV: Season 4 left us all in tears with that surprising death. What was your reaction when you found out Poussey’s character was being killed off? What was that like for everyone on set?

Morales: Shocked! I was in complete shock when I found out about Poussey. I didn’t see that coming, and I know the viewers didn’t. The day we filmed that scene it was a very long one, about 22 hours. You know, it’s a heavy scene. There is so much that is going on and it was very emotional. Naturally the set reflected that.

Tell-Tale TV: We’re also left with a major cliffhanger at the end of Season 4. Do you hope Daya uses that gun?

Morales: That’s a tough one. After all that transpired, in that moment, yeah, use that gun, Daya!

Tell-Tale TV: You also have your own lifestyle blog, Scripts of Flair. What can you tell us about the blog? This seems like something that’s very important to you.

I’ve been blogging for a really long time, way before blogging was so overly saturated. My blog, Scripts of Flair, is just another extension of me and things that I love like fashion, beauty, healthy lifestyle etc. I like to be stylish without breaking the bank. And I’m a product junkie (I’m big on skincare) so outfits and reviews are topics I cover frequently.

Sharing personal experiences and lessons is who I am and I like to help others. That portion of the blog is what I call motivational lifestyle. If I can inspire at least one person in some way, then that’s just amazing. I’d be happy. We all need a little push every now and then. It’s something that I enjoy doing outside of acting and another form of storytelling, through writing, which I love.

Tell-Tale TV: When you have the opportunity, what kinds of things do you like to watch on television? Do you have a current favorite show?

What I watch depends on my mood, but I tend to gravitate towards drama. I have many “favorites”! Right now I’m binging on Netflix a lot because I’m rarely home to catch my primetime favorites. I just finished Season 2 of Narcos and am currently watching The Get Down. I also love House of Cards, River, and even though it was in Japanese, I really enjoyed Atelier. That series was beautifully done.

Although I’m a little behind on Scandal, How To Get Away With Murder, and Grey’s Anatomy, TGIT (thank goodness it’s Thursday) was something I really looked forward to. Along with a glass of wine of course! Right now I’m anxiously waiting for the return of The Walking Dead! That’s one show I’d love to be on. They better not kill off Daryl…my heart would be broken!

You can catch Miriam Morales as Pidge on Orange is the New Black Season 4, which is now available for streaming on Netflix. Orange is the New Black returns for Season 5 in 2017.

Featured image credit: John Guira

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