Authenticity is Your Superpower: Lessons from Kathleen Herles & Tara Strong

When Kathleen Herles walked into a Nickelodeon audition at just seven years old, she couldn’t have imagined she was about to become the voice of a generation. 

“I remember sitting in the waiting room with my mom and brother,” she said. “They had us read about a farm and make animal noises. I didn’t know the creators were in the room.” 

A week later, she found out she’d booked Dora the Explorer — and the rest became animation history.

But what made this Legends Live session with Tara Strong so special wasn’t nostalgia. It was Kathleen’s honesty about growing up in the booth and learning to embrace who she truly is — shy moments, soft edges, Latina roots and all — and how that authenticity became her greatest strength.

Turning Shyness into Strength

Kathleen admitted she’s always been naturally reserved. “I was shy as a kid,” she said, “but performing gave me a safe way to express myself. It was like saying, hey, look at me — without having to do that in real life.”

Tara jumped in: “So many Voicelings feel that. Becoming someone else in the booth helps you discover who you really are.” 

Sharing your voice and vulnerability is where the best performances come from.

Handling Imposter Syndrome (Even When You’re Dora)

When asked how Kathleen deals with the voice in her head that says she’s not good enough, she didn’t sugarcoat it. Even the most established voice actors deal with imposter syndrome. It’s normal! 

“It’s always there. But it’s a choice you have to make every day — to talk back to that voice and say, no, I am good enough, and I’m going to keep going.”

Instead of trying to erase self-doubt, she reframes it. “It keeps me humble,” she said. “It grounds me and reminds me to keep learning.”

That’s the sweet spot — using self-doubt as a check, not a cage. (Take notes, Swiper.)

Taking Back Control: “You have to stand up for yourself.”

After voicing Dora for over a decade, Kathleen took a ten-year break from acting. When she returned, the industry had changed — and so had she.

“I had to learn everything from scratch: self-direction, engineering, recording from home,” she explained. “And I had to learn to advocate for myself. For so long, I just did whatever my agents told me to do. But to last in this business, you have to make decisions that feel right for you.”

And that’s the reality of today’s voice actor — juggling self-direction, recording, agent outreach, and demo creation. It’s a lot to manage, but Tara Strong breaks it all down inside Voicelings Access+.

Audition Advice from Dora Herself

If there’s one thing Legends Live keeps proving, it’s that no two voice actors tackle scripts or auditions the same way.

Kathleen’s audition process has evolved since her childhood days in the booth. Her secret? Don’t get trapped by what’s “on the page.”

“I don’t read the character description first,” she said. “I record what feels natural, then I go back and see what they wanted. Sometimes my version works better. Sometimes theirs does. It’s about trusting your instincts.”

Exactly. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to voice acting — only the version that feels most you. Sometimes your first take is gold. Sometimes it’s the 20th. The point is to keep experimenting and keep playing.

Representation and the Power of Being Yourself

Tara paused during the live call to recognize Kathleen’s legendary legacy as Dora the Explorer:

“You taught the world how to speak Spanish. You showed kids that a Latina girl could be the hero of her own story.”

Kathleen smiled: “Representation matters. It’s important to lean into where you come from — your culture, your voice, your story. That’s what makes you stand out. That’s your superpower.”

Lessons Every Voiceling Should Take Away

Kathleen closed the call with a few reminders for every aspiring voice actor — and honestly, for anyone pursuing performance:

• Authenticity beats imitation. Your voice is yours — no one else has it.
• Take care of your instrument. Vocal health is everything. Remember to warm up and take breaks when you need to.
• Find community. Surround yourself with other voice actors. Share knowledge. Ask questions. The Voicelings Community Club is here for you.
• Keep dreaming. Set goals that excite you and keep showing up for them.

By the end of the session, Voicelings were smiling, laughing, and maybeee even tearing up a little (in the best way!). But if there’s one thing Voicelings should take away from Kathleen Herles, it’s this: 

Lean into who you are — because that’s your real magic.

Join the Next Voicelings Legends Live

Voicelings Access+ members are invited to join live Zoom calls with Hollywood legends — think Richard Horvitz, Greg Cipes, Terry Douglas, and more.

Students ask questions, get real advice, and hear what it’s actually like to work in voice-over and animation.

Not a Voiceling yet? Join today for learn-at-your-own-pace content, including past live Zoom calls, and access to an incredible voice acting community.