Bianca is Cassio's mistress in Shakespeare's Othello. Although Cassio is married (the only reference to this occurs at the beginning of the play, when Iago describes Cassio as "a fellow almost damned in a fair wife" (1.1.21)), audiences come to understand that he is having an affair with Bianca on the island of Cyprus.
With regard to the play's plot, Bianca functions to call Michael Cassio's credibility into question. Though Cassio is relatively respectful to Bianca, we see evidence that he doesn't take her seriously. As Othello watches from his hiding spot, he watches Iago question Cassio about Bianca (although Othello thinks they're talking about Desdemona), and Cassio laughs when Iago asks if he plans to marry Bianca. When she shows up, she throws Desdemona's handkerchief, which Iago had planed in Cassio's room, at Cassio, and Othello sees it.
Logistically, Cassio's plans with Bianca in Act 5 allow Iago and Roderigo to attack him, as they know he is having dinner with her late at night. After the plot to kill Cassio goes sour, Iago, in the presence of the Cyprus officials, accuses Bianca of being a whore and tries to implicate her in the attack. Obviously, though, the truth comes out at the end of the play.
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