Alysia Reiner played Natalie Figueroa (Fig) on Orange Is The New Black. Fig’s tough-as-nails attitude earned her the role of warden of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainment facility.
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However, during season seven viewers noticed that her designer-flashy, ice-queen persona had faded, propelling her to show glimpses of a softer, more likeable side—in her own way, of course.
Perhaps, her transition from antagonist to likeable-but-hateable persona was inspired by Alysia Reiner herself! The real-life activist says that it was tough filming some of the scenes for the ICE storyline, especially since it heavily mirrored immigration-related terrors unfolding in America.
However, during one filming session for the ICE storyline, Reiner couldn’t keep it in. She couldn’t help but imagine the pain some immigrants have to go through while detained.
The actress recently discussed the moment that broke her: “After two takes, it was the first time in my life where I stopped a set, where I could not breathe and I could not stop crying. Just the idea of what’s going on.”
The writers from Orange Is The New Black took the time to research and visit ICE detention centres, and the conditions are absolutely heartbreaking. What are these centres like and are they as severe as OITNB made them out to be? Let us fill you in via our video!
