It seems there are 3 types of Kate Mulgrew fans: those who recall the beginning of her career as a co-star on the ABC soap Ryan’s Hope; those who know her from UPN’s Star Trek: Voyager where she played Captain Kathryn Janeway; and Orange Is the New Black viewers who know her as Galina “Red” Reznikov.

Thanks to the latter role, the Dubuque, Iowa native is proving to a whole new set of admirers that she’s at her best in meaty, thought-provoking roles. Red is tough but reasonable and she’s not afraid to fight for what she wants.

Mulgrew studied at the Stella Adler Conservatory of Acting in conjunction with New York University at the just 17 years old. She left school after one year and waited tables until her big shot emerged.

The oldest child of 8, Mulgrew’s mom encouraged her to pursue her acting dreams — a pursuit which has yielded appearances on such popular programs Murder She Wrote, Murphy Brown and much more.