Kathleen Herles voiced the original voice of Dora in Dora the Explorer from 1997 to 2008, and now she's back in the reboot — but this time, she's appearing as Mami, Dora's mother, in the new Paramount+ series, a full circle moment for the actress.
"I was so young when I was cast as Dora. I remember being so excited and curious as to what it all meant. I was very new to the industry and so was my family, so it was a big learning experience for all of us. I was her voice for a little over 10 years (first 4 seasons), and she was such a huge part of my childhood. She is so special to me, and I believe I am who I am today because of her — take that and wrap it up into this new role as her mom ... it's extremely special. I can take all the love I have for Dora and channel it as I voice her mom now. It’s so cool!" the star, 33, exclusively tells Morning Honey.
"I still can’t believe it," she says of being back in Dora's world. "I never imagined the show would come back and that I would be part of it. The entire Dora team is so great to work with, so talented and so passionate about this show, and it’s an honor to work with them. I love seeing how the show has evolved and am so happy that she is being reintroduced to a new generation!"
Herles was cast at the age of 7 and worked on the pilot for over a year. The show wasn't picked up initially, but it later premiered in August 2000, going on to air for eight seasons until August 2019.
"I was so young, I think I was just having fun! I was in modeling and pageants before being cast so I knew how to perform — but to also have fun! I didn’t change my voice at all really, that was my authentic voice," Herles, who is a first-generation Peruvian American, shares. "I really connect to her adventurous side. I love traveling and exploring new places, especially with friends and family. I also love that Dora is never afraid to ask for help. Every time I feel like I am overwhelmed or am lost in any way, I remember Dora, and remind myself it is OK to ask for help!"
"I definitely grew to love it. I was really shy as a kid, but I found acting and performing to be freeing from that — especially with voice acting. I love it so much and want to focus on that now," she says of how her career evolved.
This time around, viewers will get to meet Dora again, but "the animation is different," she explains. "With CG animation it is more 3D, and its cool because it makes it feel like you’re more immersed in Dora’s world. Colors are more vibrant too. There are a lot of elements within the show that are similar to the original and all of our favorite characters are still here. Swiper is still swiping! Some of our favorite songs will be back with a little modern twist to them too. They can expect Dora to be the same as the original, but she will be taking on new adventures. You will see more of her family join in on the fun, and you will meet a lot of new characters along the way."
She adds, "I think there’s enough similarities where people who grew up with the original show will feel the nostalgia, but also fall in love with all of the new things, too. Those who grew up with the original show have families of their own and want to share it with their kids, or nieces and nephews, and any other littles in their lives now. I think people still love her for being proudly Latina and still so inclusive. Being bilingual and introducing that to kids is so important today — as much as it was when the show first aired. Dora is also a great leader and a role model."
The brunette beauty is "really excited" to see Dora's culture represented on the small screen.
"Dora is now multicultural, whereas the original show she was considered to be ‘Pan Latina’! She is Peruvian, Mexican and Cuban. Mami is Peruvian, and that is really special to me because my parents are from Peru, so I love that I have that connection with the character. All of these cultures will be represented in the show through the music, food, design, clothing and traditions. I’m really excited for everyone to see it!" she says.
Growing up, Herles "struggled feeling like I was Latina enough," even while voicing such an iconic Latina character.
"My parents spoke to my older brother only in Spanish, and when he started going to school, he struggled a lot because he did not know English well. So, when I was born, my parents spoke to me mostly in English. I would only speak Spanish with my grandparents. I say that to say, we all have different stories, different backgrounds and different upbringings, so there could be several reasons why someone is not entirely fluent," she says of her background.
"I think it’s great if you are fluent, but it shouldn’t make you any less Latino and separate you from the community. We need to stay together and uplift each other always. It took me a long time to be confident in saying I’m Latina enough — no matter what anyone else thinks or says. It cannot be taken away from me," she continues.
Herles "drifted away from the business" a little bit and worked in interior design for a few years. Though she loved the job, she decided to pursue acting again full-time as of late.
"I don’t take it lightly either. I know how difficult it can be to get any opportunity, so I feel really lucky to be able to be a part of it," she says of returning to the small screen. "I hope to encourage people to love people. To be a safe space for people to share who they are without judgement. I think with that foundation, we can really build on our relationships with others and with ourselves. Grow and strive to be better every day."
"I want Dora to continue for many more years, where there will be another reboot so I can return as her grandmother!" she jokes. "In all seriousness, I do want to see her legacy continue. What she represents is so special to not only the Latin community, but to the world. I hope that she continues to be proudly Latina and encouraging kids to embrace their cultures, be open to learn new ones, and ultimately, share it with their friends and families."
"It is so special, because then I feel connected to them. I love hearing stories from kids who tell me they had the Dora haircut and went to school dressed like Dora. It shows how much she was loved and still loved today," she continues.
After playing Dora for many years, Herles is elated to be back with the spunky little girl. "I recently have been able to reflect on my life and career, a lot of years being Dora ... and to really understand the impact of it, the importance of it. Now as an adult, it's so different than how I viewed it when I was younger. I have so much more appreciation for it now. I am proud of bringing this character to life," she gushes. "My current focus is to work toward a career in voice acting. I love animation! I can’t wait to see where the next adventure takes me."
She concludes, "I am really excited for everyone to see the new show and see everyone fall in love with Dora all over again! It’s truly an honor. To be able to be back as Mami and support Dora and the show entirely as it reaches new heights is so special!"
Doraairs on Paramount+ on Friday, April 12.