From Telenovelas to VoiceOver #tbt
During Covid, I was interviewed for Bravissimo TV. I talk about growing up between New York and Colombia, my years of acting in Colombian television, hopping over to Miami, my move into voice-over, and the journey that eventually brought me to Los Angeles—with Paco, of course, playing a starring role in my life.
Acting, VoiceOver, and the Unexpected Turns Along the Way
Here is the English translation:
Both of my parents are from Ibagué. They met there, got married, and the very next day moved to New York.
Growing up, I went back to Ibagué every Christmas to spend time with my cousins, aunts, and uncle. I was always fascinated by Colombia. My entire family came from there, but I was growing up in New York.
I spoke both Spanish and English, but I was still a gringa. I always felt like I had one foot in each world.
I went to school in New York, then to college in Virginia, and eventually got married. When my marriage ended, I thought, “This is my chance. I want to live in Colombia. I’ve never had the opportunity to really experience it.”
So I went.
I just took off.
And I was incredibly lucky with the roles that came my way.
Once, I was at a movie theater and a woman actually followed me into the bathroom and asked, “Why are you so mean to Manuela?”
I said, “Ma’am, I promise, I’m not mean in real life.”
Other times, people would meet me and say, completely surprised, “Oh! But you’re actually nice!”
María Beatriz in Betty la Fea was one of those characters who could say absolutely anything. Some of the things that came out of her mouth were so outrageous you’d think, “Who actually talks like this in real life?”
And then, every once in a while, I meet someone and think, “That’s her! That’s María Beatriz!” And I find myself wondering, “How can someone actually say these things out loud?”
Obviously, Fernando Gaitán (the scriptwriter) knew exactly what he was writing, because people really do say these outrageous things.
María Beatriz could walk into any room and say exactly what was on her mind without the slightest concern for what anyone thought. Whatever popped into her head came straight out of her mouth.
I adored her. She was such a wonderful character.
For nine years, I went from one character to the next to the next. I never stopped working.
Then, in 2003, after No Renuncies Salomé, I left Colombia. My father had died in 1999, and my mother and sister were living—and still live—in the United States. I felt it was time to be a little closer to them.
So I moved to Miami.
I started doing theater and stayed with it for quite a while. I did a little film work too, but mostly theater.
And then I fell in love.
With voice-over.
I would watch actors come to theater rehearsals and then leave afterward to go work in dubbing. I kept wondering, “Where are they going? What are they doing?”
Whatever it was, I wanted to be part of it.
And when I lived in Colombia, whenever I was interviewed on the radio, those were always my favorite interviews. I loved radio.
Eventually, I made the leap to Los Angeles. That was three years ago, in July 2019.
And here I am.
My studio is right behind me. I do a little bit of everything from here: commercials, voice-over, and I also voiced a character in an animated film—my first animated feature—which comes out in December.
I love it.
And the love of my life right now?
A cat.
His name is Paco del Barrio.
He’s a Mexican rescue cat I brought home from Mexico six years ago.
Well, Bravíssimo family, it’s been such a pleasure spending this time with you. Now you know a little more about what I’m doing these days—and what my life looks like off camera.
I loved being here with you.