Kathleen Herles, the original voice of Dora the Explorer, reflects on getting the role at seven years old, growing up on Nickelodeon, and the impact Dora had on Latino representation, bilingual storytelling, and kids around the world.

In this conversation with Taboo, Kathleen opens up about her Queens upbringing, her Peruvian family, the work ethic that shaped her, and the emotional full-circle moment of returning to the Dora franchise as Dora’s mom. She also talks about identity, feeling “Latina enough,” meeting fans who grew up with Dora, and finally embracing the legacy of a character that helped a generation feel seen.

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