<P> Galina `` Red '' Reznikov ( played by Kate Mulgrew ) -- Red is a Russian inmate who runs the prison 's kitchen as the master chef and is the behind - the - scenes leader of the prison 's ( white ) population . She gets her name from both her ginger hair and her Russian heritage . In her earlier life , she and her husband had migrated from Russia and ran a struggling restaurant in Queens , eventually getting involved with the Russian mafia bosses who frequented their establishment . Red angered the mob bosses by punching one of their wives in the chest ( rupturing a breast implant ) after being excluded by their group , but later impressed the same boss by offering sound advice that allowed her to swiftly climb the ranks of the organization . Red is feared and respected by most of the prisoners , and has a lot of influence with Healy . Out of all of the girls in her group , she is closest to Nicky , and loves her as if she were her own daughter . She is always accompanied by Norma and Gina , who cater to her needs and work with her in the kitchen . Red runs a smuggling business out of her kitchen , using a food company she helped the Russian mafia set up , but refuses to import drugs of any kind . She actively uses her resources to help some of the inmates overcome drug addictions , although they have only `` two strikes '' before she abandons them because `` Russians do n't play baseball . '' When Mendez begins to force her to use her connections to bring in drugs , she hatches a plan to have him removed from the prison . </P>
<P> Galina `` Red '' Reznikov ( played by Kate Mulgrew ) -- Red is a Russian inmate who runs the prison 's kitchen as the master chef and is the behind - the - scenes leader of the prison 's ( white ) population . She gets her name from both her ginger hair and her Russian heritage . In her earlier life , she and her husband had migrated from Russia and ran a struggling restaurant in Queens , eventually getting involved with the Russian mafia bosses who frequented their establishment . Red angered the mob bosses by punching one of their wives in the chest ( rupturing a breast implant ) after being excluded by their group , but later impressed the same boss by offering sound advice that allowed her to swiftly climb the ranks of the organization . Red is feared and respected by most of the prisoners , and has a lot of influence with Healy . Out of all of the girls in her group , she is closest to Nicky , and loves her as if she were her own daughter . She is always accompanied by Norma and Gina , who cater to her needs and work with her in the kitchen . Red runs a smuggling business out of her kitchen , using a food company she helped the Russian mafia set up , but refuses to import drugs of any kind . She actively uses her resources to help some of the inmates overcome drug addictions , although they have only `` two strikes '' before she abandons them because `` Russians do n't play baseball . '' When Mendez begins to force her to use her connections to bring in drugs , she hatches a plan to have him removed from the prison . </P>
orange is the new black cast red head
orange is the new black cast red head
Galina `` Red '' Reznikov ( played by Kate Mulgrew )
Galina `` Red '' Reznikov ( played by Kate Mulgrew )