Latest news with #DoraandtheSearchforSolDorado
Miami Herald
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
‘Dora the Explorer' turns 25 this year. Her legacy transcends generations
LOS ANGELES - Can you say … Feliz Cumpleaños? Over the past 25 years, the world has grown to love one of Nickelodeon's most recognizable characters, Dora Márquez. Whether for her conspicuous bowl cut and pink tee, or her singing anthropomorphic backpack, Dora the Explorer has sparked joy in children for generations. But what happens when that adventurous girl loses the items that have guided and defined her for so long? Self-discovery is the end goal of Dora's latest quest in the new live-action film, "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado," which debuted July 2 on Paramount+. The film marks the start of a new journey for a girl who has long existed in the minds of viewers as the adventurous 7-year-old protagonist of the original 2000 animated series "Dora the Explorer" - and later in the short-lived 2014 sequel, "Dora and Friends: Into the City!" Along with her animal-loving cousin Diego (Jacob Rodriguez) and friends, Dora (Samantha Lorraine) must rediscover who she is while trekking through the treacherous Amazonian jungle in search of Sol Dorado: an ancient treasure that grants one magical wish to whoever locates it. Yet her plans go awry when she finds herself losing one of her most valuable tools. Although most adults would not rank Dora in the same company as the gritty lead adventurers of "Indiana Jones" or "Tomb Raider," the film features death-defying scenes that deserve a second look - thanks to the use of real fire and critter-riddled caves in the middle of the Colombian jungle. Authenticity was key for director Alberto Belli ("The Naughty Nine"), who proposed to studio executives that Dora explore her Andean heritage, including the use of the indigenous language of Quechua, which is spoken by approximately 10 million people in South America. "This is the first time that we hear Dora speaking Quechua, and we went through great lengths to make sure that the pronunciation was right," says Belli, who also consulted with Incan culture experts on the Andean kinship principle of "ayllu," along with the use of "quipu," a recordkeeping device of knotted cords - both elements which are included in the storyline. "We've seen figures like 'Indiana Jones' exploring other cultures, but Dora is the only mainstream [adventurer] exploring her own culture," says Belli. "And she's celebrating and interested in the history more than the treasure." Dora's innate curiosity is part of what cultivated her popularity among young children since Nickelodeon launched the series. Who can forget the pip-squeak who broke the fourth wall to reel in preschool audiences with problem-solving questions? Even if its repetitive verbiage drove parents a little mad? (You try saying "Swiper, no swiping!" three times fast!) But for creators Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh Valdes, the idea of Dora, as the world has come to love, was not so straightforward. Their early brainstorm sessions, along with Eric Weiner, first sprung up concepts of a little boy bunny who would follow a map toward a final destination - tagging along with him was a red-haired girl named Nina and a pocket-sized mouse named Boots. Nickelodeon's executive producer Brown Johnson - creator of the network's preschool block, Nick Jr. - pitched the idea of the main character being Latina after attending an industry conference that underscored the dearth representation of Latinos in the media. According to the 2000 U.S. census, Latino communities were the nation's fastest growing ethnic group at the time - and 20% of the kindergarten population across eight states, including California, identified as Latino. The call for Latino characters was so resounding at the time that it caused some advocacy organizations to launch a weeklong boycott in 1999 to protest the dearth of Latino representation - Latinos made up fewer than 2% of TV characters at that time, despite making up 11% of the population in 1999. " So we said, OK, how do we do it?" says Gifford. "One thing that we picked up on very early was using the language in a way to solve problems, almost as a superpower," says Gifford. "I think that was a huge part of the success of Dora." Gifford calls Dora's use of Spanish a "game changer," and that certainly seems to be the case - in the show, magical passageways remain locked unless the viewer utters the occasional Spanish phrase or word. At the end of every successful mission, Dora belts out her victorious tune: "We did it, lo hicimos!" Released on Aug. 14, 2000, the first episode of "Dora the Explorer" moved forward in spite of an English-only movement bubbling up in California politics a few years prior; Proposition 227 passed in 1998 by a large margin, effectively curtailing bilingual education in the state. "It was not the time that [someone] would think to [make Dora a bilingual character], but of course it was exactly the right time for it to happen," says Gifford. The release of "Dora the Explorer" could not be more timely. While political angst pushed against the use of Spanish in the classroom, the country was simultaneously experiencing a "Latin Boom," a pop culture movement propelled by Hispanic musical acts like Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias, who broke ground in the U.S. mainstream with bilingual hit singles like the famed "Livin' la Vida Loca" and "Bailamos," respectively. At the same time, actors like Rosie Perez, Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez were also making great strides for Latinas in film. "There was this awareness [that] the Latino talent we have in this country [was] all coming to the forefront," said Walsh Valdes. "The zeitgeist was there for us." But Dora's appeal did not entirely hinge on her being a Latina character. In fact, she was designed to be ethnically ambiguous for that reason, suggested Carlos Cortés, professor emeritus in history at UC Riverside, who consulted the creative team. "Let's let everybody be a part of this," says Walsh Valdes on the choice to write Dora as pan-Latina. Instead, the focus of the show remained on the missions; whether it was returning a lost baby penguin to the South Pole, or leading aliens back to their purple planet. In its first year, "Dora the Explorer" averaged 1.1 million viewers ages 2 to 5 and 2 million total viewers, according to Nielsen Co. The original show stretched on for almost two decades before closing out on Aug. 9, 2019. "We saw such excitement from [little kids feeling] empowered by this girl who can go to a place like the city of lost toys... and little kids who can't tie their own shoes can feel like they're helping her," says Gifford. The Dora world has also expanded into a tween-coded sequel, "Dora and Friends: Into the City!" and the spinoff "Go, Diego, Go!" - the environmental protection and animal rescue show starring Dora's cousin Diego. Last year, Dora got a reboot on Nickelodeon's parent company Paramount+, which was a full circle move for Kathleen Herles, who voiced Dora in the original series. Now, Herles takes on the motherly role of "Mami" in the 2024 animated series, now available to stream on Paramount+. "Talk about going on another adventure," says Herles in a video call. Herles still remembers panicking after her audition back in 1998. Gifford, who was in the room, asked to speak to Herles' mother, a Peruvian immigrant with slim knowledge of the entertainment biz at the time. "Being Latina, at first I [was] like, 'Oh my God. She's going to think I got in trouble,'" says Herles. The opportunity not only changed the course of Herles' life financially, but it also opened the door for her to travel the world and reenter the realm of entertainment after a brief career in interior design. Coincidentally, at the time of our call, the 34-year-old voice actor was house hunting in Los Angeles, preparing to move from her native New York City so that she can pursue more career opportunities. "To me that's really a testament to [the power of] Dora... because Dora's an explorer, and she gave me the opportunity to explore," says Herles. For 18-year old actress Lorraine, who stars as Dora in "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado," this marks her first lead role in any film. She fills big shoes; Isabela Merced, who now stars in HBO's "The Last of Us," was cast in the first live-action, stand-alone 2019 film for the franchise, "Dora and the Lost City of Gold." "When it comes to Latino representation, [Dora] was a trailblazer for that," says Lorraine. "Being able to see a Latina woman in charge and taking the lead? We need more of that to this day." The Miami-born actor of Cuban descent, who previously starred in the 2023 Netflix movie "You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah," answers the audio call after having just arrived in New York City, where she entertains the possibility of a Broadway career. Like many young adults her age, Lorraine grew up enchanted by Dora's adventures - so much that she admittedly got the same bob haircut. "She's my role model," says Lorraine. "Every time we would shoot a scene, I would think to myself, 'What would little Samantha want to watch?'" Throughout every Dora series and film, courage is the connective tissue in her story. "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado" reminds audiences that the true navigational force behind the pint-size girl was always within her. And with a full rollout of fresh Dora content - including the new third season of the rebooted 2024 series "Dora," and an hour-long special called "Dora & Diego: Rainforest Rescues" - even 25 years after the Latina explorer first appeared on screen, it's clear that her legacy is enduring. "She will always be that girl," says Lorraine. "[She's] that girl who yearns for adventure and has that curiosity spark in her, and that thirst for knowledge." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Dora the Explorer' turns 25 this year. Her legacy transcends generations.
Can you say… Feliz Cumpleaños? Over the past 25 years, the world has grown to love one of Nickelodeon's most recognizable characters, Dora Márquez. Whether for her conspicuous bowl cut and pink tee, or her singing anthropomorphic backpack, Dora the Explorer has sparked joy in children for generations. But what happens when that adventurous girl loses the items that have guided and defined her for so long? Self-discovery is the end goal of Dora's latest quest in the new live-action film, "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado," which debuted July 2 on Paramount+. The film marks the start of a new journey for a girl who has long existed in the minds of viewers as the adventurous 7-year-old protagonist of the original 2000 animated series "Dora the Explorer" — and later in the short-lived 2014 sequel, "Dora and Friends: Into the City!" Along with her animal-loving cousin Diego (Jacob Rodriguez) and friends, Dora (Samantha Lorraine) must rediscover who she is while trekking through the treacherous Amazonian jungle in search of Sol Dorado: an ancient treasure that grants one magical wish to whoever locates it. Yet her plans go awry when she finds herself losing one of her most valuable tools. Although most adults would not rank Dora in the same company as the gritty lead adventurers of "Indiana Jones" or "Tomb Raider," the film features death-defying scenes that deserve a second look — thanks to the use of real fire and critter-riddled caves in the middle of the Colombian jungle. Authenticity was key for director Alberto Belli ("The Naughty Nine"), who proposed to studio executives that Dora explore her Andean heritage, including the use of the indigenous language of Quechua, which is spoken by approximately 10 million people in South America. "This is the first time that we hear Dora speaking Quechua, and we went through great lengths to make sure that the pronunciation was right," says Belli, who also consulted with Incan culture experts on the Andean kinship principle of "ayllu," along with the use of "quipu," a recordkeeping device of knotted cords — both elements which are included in the storyline. "We've seen figures like 'Indiana Jones' exploring other cultures, but Dora is the only mainstream [adventurer] exploring her own culture," says Belli. "And she's celebrating and interested in the history more than the treasure." Dora's innate curiosity is part of what cultivated her popularity among young children since Nickelodeon launched the series. Who can forget the pip-squeak who broke the fourth wall to reel in preschool audiences with problem-solving questions? Even if its repetitive verbiage drove parents a little mad? (You try saying "Swiper, no swiping!" three times fast!) But for creators Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh Valdes, the idea of Dora, as the world has come to love, was not so straightforward. Their early brainstorm sessions, along with Eric Weiner, first sprung up concepts of a little boy bunny who would follow a map toward a final destination — tagging along with him was a red-haired girl named Nina and a pocket-sized mouse named Boots. Nickelodeon's executive producer Brown Johnson— creator of the network's preschool block, Nick Jr. — pitched the idea of the main character being Latina after attending an industry conference that underscored the dearth representation of Latinos in the media. According to the 2000 U.S. census, Latino communities were the nation's fastest growing ethnic group at the time — and 20% of the kindergarten population across eight states, including California, identified as Latino. The call for Latino characters was so resounding at the time that it caused some advocacy organizations to launch a weeklong boycott in 1999 to protest the dearth of Latino representation — Latinos made up fewer than 2% of TV characters at that time, despite making up 11% of the population in 1999. " So we said, okay, how do we do it?" says Gifford. "One thing that we picked up on very early was using the language in a way to solve problems, almost as a superpower," says Gifford. "I think that was a huge part of the success of Dora." Gifford calls Dora's use of Spanish a "game changer," and that certainly seems to be the case — in the show, magical passageways remain locked unless the viewer utters the occasional Spanish phrase or word. At the end of every successful mission, Dora belts out her victorious tune: "We did it, lo hicimos!" Released on August 14, 2000, the first episode of "Dora the Explorer" moved forward in spite of an English-only movement bubbling up in California politics a few years prior; Proposition 227 passed in 1998 by a large margin, effectively curtailing bilingual education in the state. "It was not the time that [someone] would think to [make Dora a bilingual character], but of course it was exactly the right time for it to happen," says Gifford. The release of "Dora the Explorer" could not be more timely. While political angst pushed against the use of Spanish in the classroom, the country was simultaneously experiencing a "Latin Boom," a pop culture movement propelled by Hispanic musical acts like Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias, who broke ground in the U.S. mainstream with bilingual hit singles like the famed "Livin' la Vida Loca" and "Bailamos," respectively. At the same time, actors like Rosie Perez, Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez were also making great strides for Latinas in film. "There was this awareness [that] the Latino talent we have in this country [was] all coming to the forefront," said Walsh Valdes. "The zeitgeist was there for us." But Dora's appeal did not entirely hinge on her being a Latina character. In fact, she was designed to be ethnically ambiguous for that reason, suggested Carlos Cortés, professor emeritus in history at UC Riverside, who consulted the creative team. "Let's let everybody be a part of this," says Walsh Valdes on the choice to write Dora as pan-Latina. Instead, the focus of the show remained on the missions; whether it was returning a lost baby penguin to the South Pole, or leading aliens back to their purple planet. In its first year, "Dora the Explorer" averaged 1.1 million viewers ages 2 to 5 and 2 million total viewers, according to Nielsen Co. The original show stretched on for almost two decades before closing out on Aug. 9, 2019. "We saw such excitement from [little kids feeling] empowered by this girl who can go to a place like the city of lost toys... and little kids who can't tie their own shoes can feel like they're helping her," says Gifford. The Dora world has also expanded into a tween-coded sequel, "Dora and Friends: Into the City!" and the spin-off "Go, Diego, Go!" — the environmental protection and animal rescue show starring Dora's cousin Diego. Last year, Dora got a reboot on Nickelodeon's parent company Paramount+, which was a full circle move for Kathleen Herles, who voiced Dora in the original series. Now, Herles takes on the motherly role of "Mami" in the 2024 animated series, now available to stream on Paramount+. "Talk about going on another adventure," says Herles in a video call. Herles still remembers panicking after her audition back in 1998. Gifford, who was in the room, asked to speak to Herles' mother, a Peruvian immigrant with slim knowledge of the entertainment biz at the time. "Being Latina, at first I [was] like, 'Oh my God. She's going to think I got in trouble,'" says Herles. The opportunity not only changed the course of Herles' life financially, but it also opened the door for her to travel the world and reenter the realm of entertainment after a brief career in interior design. Coincidentally, at the time of our call, the 34-year-old voice actor was house hunting in Los Angeles, preparing to move from her native New York City so that she can pursue more career opportunities. "To me that's really a testament to [the power of] Dora... because Dora's an explorer, and she gave me the opportunity to explore," says Herles. For 18-year old actress Lorraine, who stars as Dora in "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado," this marks her first lead role in any film. She fills big shoes; Isabela Merced, who now stars in HBO's "The Last of Us," was cast in the first live-action, standalone 2019 film for the franchise, "Dora and the Lost City of Gold." "When it comes to Latino representation, [Dora] was a trailblazer for that," says Lorraine. "Being able to see a Latina woman in charge and taking the lead? We need more of that to this day." The Miami-born actor of Cuban descent, who previously starred in the 2023 Netflix movie "You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah," answers the audio call after having just arrived in New York City, where she entertains the possibility of a Broadway career. Like many young adults her age, Lorraine grew up enchanted by Dora's adventures — so much that she admittedly got the same bob haircut. "She's my role model," says Lorraine. "Every time we would shoot a scene, I would think to myself, 'What would little Samantha want to watch?'" Throughout every Dora series and film, courage is the connective tissue in her story. "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado" reminds audiences that the true navigational force behind the pint-size girl was always within her. And with a full rollout of fresh Dora content — including the new third season of the rebooted 2024 series "Dora," and an hour-long special called "Dora & Diego: Rainforest Rescues" — even 25 years after the Latina explorer first appeared on screen, it's clear that her legacy is enduring. "She will always be that girl," says Lorraine. "[She's] that girl who yearns for adventure and has that curiosity spark in her, and that thirst for knowledge." Get our Latinx Files newsletter for stories that capture the complexity of our communities. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
‘Dora the Explorer' turns 25 this year. Her legacy transcends generations.
Can you say… Feliz Cumpleaños? Over the past 25 years, the world has grown to love one of Nickelodeon's most recognizable characters, Dora Márquez. Whether for her conspicuous bowl cut and pink tee, or her singing anthropomorphic backpack, Dora the Explorer has sparked joy in children for generations. But what happens when that adventurous girl loses the items that have guided and defined her for so long? Self-discovery is the end goal of Dora's latest quest in the new live-action film, 'Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado,' which debuted July 2 on Paramount+. The film marks the start of a new journey for a girl who has long existed in the minds of viewers as the adventurous 7-year-old protagonist of the original 2000 animated series 'Dora the Explorer' — and later in the short-lived 2014 sequel, 'Dora and Friends: Into the City!' Along with her animal-loving cousin Diego (Jacob Rodriguez) and friends, Dora (Samantha Lorraine) must rediscover who she is while trekking through the treacherous Amazonian jungle in search of Sol Dorado: an ancient treasure that grants one magical wish to whoever locates it. Yet her plans go awry when she finds herself losing one of her most valuable tools. Although most adults would not rank Dora in the same company as the gritty lead adventurers of 'Indiana Jones' or 'Tomb Raider,' the film features death-defying scenes that deserve a second look — thanks to the use of real fire and critter-riddled caves in the middle of the Colombian jungle. Authenticity was key for director Alberto Belli ('The Naughty Nine'), who proposed to studio executives that Dora explore her Andean heritage, including the use of the indigenous language of Quechua, which is spoken by approximately 10 million people in South America. 'This is the first time that we hear Dora speaking Quechua, and we went through great lengths to make sure that the pronunciation was right,' says Belli, who also consulted with Incan culture experts on the Andean kinship principle of 'ayllu,' along with the use of 'quipu,' a recordkeeping device of knotted cords — both elements which are included in the storyline. 'We've seen figures like 'Indiana Jones' exploring other cultures, but Dora is the only mainstream [adventurer] exploring her own culture,' says Belli. 'And she's celebrating and interested in the history more than the treasure.' Dora's innate curiosity is part of what cultivated her popularity among young children since Nickelodeon launched the series. Who can forget the pip-squeak who broke the fourth wall to reel in preschool audiences with problem-solving questions? Even if its repetitive verbiage drove parents a little mad? (You try saying 'Swiper, no swiping!' three times fast!) But for creators Chris Gifford and Valerie Walsh Valdes, the idea of Dora, as the world has come to love, was not so straightforward. Their early brainstorm sessions, along with Eric Weiner, first sprung up concepts of a little boy bunny who would follow a map toward a final destination — tagging along with him was a red-haired girl named Nina and a pocket-sized mouse named Boots. Nickelodeon's executive producer Brown Johnson— creator of the network's preschool block, Nick Jr. — pitched the idea of the main character being Latina after attending an industry conference that underscored the dearth representation of Latinos in the media. According to the 2000 U.S. census, Latino communities were the nation's fastest growing ethnic group at the time — and 20% of the kindergarten population across eight states, including California, identified as Latino. The call for Latino characters was so resounding at the time that it caused some advocacy organizations to launch a weeklong boycott in 1999 to protest the dearth of Latino representation — Latinos made up fewer than 2% of TV characters at that time, despite making up 11% of the population in 1999. ' So we said, okay, how do we do it?' says Gifford. 'One thing that we picked up on very early was using the language in a way to solve problems, almost as a superpower,' says Gifford. 'I think that was a huge part of the success of Dora.' Gifford calls Dora's use of Spanish a 'game changer,' and that certainly seems to be the case — in the show, magical passageways remain locked unless the viewer utters the occasional Spanish phrase or word. At the end of every successful mission, Dora belts out her victorious tune: 'We did it, lo hicimos!' Released on August 14, 2000, the first episode of 'Dora the Explorer' moved forward in spite of an English-only movement bubbling up in California politics a few years prior; Proposition 227 passed in 1998 by a large margin, effectively curtailing bilingual education in the state. 'It was not the time that [someone] would think to [make Dora a bilingual character], but of course it was exactly the right time for it to happen,' says Gifford. The release of 'Dora the Explorer' could not be more timely. While political angst pushed against the use of Spanish in the classroom, the country was simultaneously experiencing a 'Latin Boom,' a pop culture movement propelled by Hispanic musical acts like Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias, who broke ground in the U.S. mainstream with bilingual hit singles like the famed 'Livin' la Vida Loca' and 'Bailamos,' respectively. At the same time, actors like Rosie Perez, Salma Hayek and Jennifer Lopez were also making great strides for Latinas in film. 'There was this awareness [that] the Latino talent we have in this country [was] all coming to the forefront,' said Walsh Valdes. 'The zeitgeist was there for us.' But Dora's appeal did not entirely hinge on her being a Latina character. In fact, she was designed to be ethnically ambiguous for that reason, suggested Carlos Cortés, professor emeritus in history at UC Riverside, who consulted the creative team. 'Let's let everybody be a part of this,' says Walsh Valdes on the choice to write Dora as pan-Latina. Instead, the focus of the show remained on the missions; whether it was returning a lost baby penguin to the South Pole, or leading aliens back to their purple planet. In its first year, 'Dora the Explorer' averaged 1.1 million viewers ages 2 to 5 and 2 million total viewers, according to Nielsen Co. The original show stretched on for almost two decades before closing out on Aug. 9, 2019. 'We saw such excitement from [little kids feeling] empowered by this girl who can go to a place like the city of lost toys... and little kids who can't tie their own shoes can feel like they're helping her,' says Gifford. The Dora world has also expanded into a tween-coded sequel, 'Dora and Friends: Into the City!' and the spin-off 'Go, Diego, Go!' — the environmental protection and animal rescue show starring Dora's cousin Diego. Last year, Dora got a reboot on Nickelodeon's parent company Paramount+, which was a full circle move for Kathleen Herles, who voiced Dora in the original series. Now, Herles takes on the motherly role of 'Mami' in the 2024 animated series, now available to stream on Paramount+. 'Talk about going on another adventure,' says Herles in a video call. Herles still remembers panicking after her audition back in 1998. Gifford, who was in the room, asked to speak to Herles' mother, a Peruvian immigrant with slim knowledge of the entertainment biz at the time. 'Being Latina, at first I [was] like, 'Oh my God. She's going to think I got in trouble,'' says Herles. The opportunity not only changed the course of Herles' life financially, but it also opened the door for her to travel the world and reenter the realm of entertainment after a brief career in interior design. Coincidentally, at the time of our call, the 34-year-old voice actor was house hunting in Los Angeles, preparing to move from her native New York City so that she can pursue more career opportunities. 'To me that's really a testament to [the power of] Dora... because Dora's an explorer, and she gave me the opportunity to explore,' says Herles. For 18-year old actress Lorraine, who stars as Dora in 'Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado,' this marks her first lead role in any film. She fills big shoes; Isabela Merced, who now stars in HBO's 'The Last of Us,' was cast in the first live-action, standalone 2019 film for the franchise, 'Dora and the Lost City of Gold.' 'When it comes to Latino representation, [Dora] was a trailblazer for that,' says Lorraine. 'Being able to see a Latina woman in charge and taking the lead? We need more of that to this day.' The Miami-born actor of Cuban descent, who previously starred in the 2023 Netflix movie 'You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah,' answers the audio call after having just arrived in New York City, where she entertains the possibility of a Broadway career. Like many young adults her age, Lorraine grew up enchanted by Dora's adventures — so much that she admittedly got the same bob haircut. 'She's my role model,' says Lorraine. 'Every time we would shoot a scene, I would think to myself, 'What would little Samantha want to watch?'' Throughout every Dora series and film, courage is the connective tissue in her story. 'Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado' reminds audiences that the true navigational force behind the pint-size girl was always within her. And with a full rollout of fresh Dora content — including the new third season of the rebooted 2024 series 'Dora,' and an hour-long special called 'Dora & Diego: Rainforest Rescues' — even 25 years after the Latina explorer first appeared on screen, it's clear that her legacy is enduring. 'She will always be that girl,' says Lorraine. '[She's] that girl who yearns for adventure and has that curiosity spark in her, and that thirst for knowledge.'
USA Today
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
The star of 'Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado' says 'I can't believe this is my life'
NEW YORK – Samantha Lorraine gets emotional as she thinks about her journey from childhood fan of "Dora the Explorer" to the actress who plays her on screen. Lorraine takes on the title character in the live-action movie "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado" (streaming now on Paramount+). "Everybody in Miami grew up with (Dora)," Lorraine, 18, recalls of her upbringing, saying her diverse group of friends loved the animated series. "Getting to see my little cousins watch the trailer and hearing them say, 'Oh, like Sammy (is) Dora!' I can't believe this is my life." As Lorraine talks about filming the movie in Colombia, trying on Dora's trademark pink shirt and orange shorts outfit and seeing the movie's billboard in Times Square, the actress exudes the same positive, can-do energy of the character she portrays. But that doesn't mean she replicates Dora's personality exactly. In one scene where Dora is trying to cheer up her cousin Diego (Jacob Rodriguez), the explorer tells him "a change in latitude can help that attitude." "I would try to think that in my brain," Lorraine says with a laugh, admitting she probably wouldn't use that exact quote in an unfortunate situation. But she enjoyed the opportunity to embody Dora's go-getter attitude. "Hopefully in a few years to come, people look back and think it's a classic movie for families." What happens in the new 'Dora' movie? In "Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado," the bilingual explorer is 16 and attempts to find the treasures of Sol Dorado before an enemy group discovers it first. Diego joins his younger cousin on the journey, although his mind is in other places, namely New York City where he's hoping to continue his career. Gabriel Iglesias voices Boots, who returns as Dora's pet monkey and unlike the 2019 live-action film is actually wearing his boots. As seen in the movie's trailer, Dora's explorations take a detour when she loses her beloved map. "It's a sort of a symbolic message for grief in a way," Lorraine says of the plot twist. "'Who am I without those things because they're so important to me?' No matter what external things happen around you, you are who you are. And if you know who you are, you're good. You're set for life." The live-action reboot is a part of a celebration marking the 25th anniversary of "Dora the Explorer." The franchise launched on August 14, 2000 and received 15 Daytime Emmy nominations, winning for best title design in 2011. The series also earned a Peabody Award in 2004 and two NAACP Awards. "I would do anything to come back to the 'Dora-verse,'" Lorraine responds when asked about her future with the character. "I don't want to change how it turned out because it's so epic, but I always think about the memories that we created and I think, 'How can we recreate that? How can I do that again?'" Who is Samantha Lorraine? Born Samantha Lorraine Luis, the actress was was previously seen in 2020's limited series "The Walking Dead: World Beyond" and the 2023 Netflix movie, "You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah." Lorraine's career began when she was 8 after she heard a radio ad for a workshop that offered kids the chance to be the "next Nickelodeon/Disney star." Her parents took her to the workshop where she landed an agent and began her journey to Dora. Lorraine attended school in Miami, and would head to dance practice and casting calls in the evenings. Lorraine's parents kept her in South Florida, as opposed to moving to Los Angeles or New York. The actress is grateful, calling her parents "my rocks." "Kids don't tell their parents often that they love them or appreciate them," she says. "I try to make it a point because they are the reason why I do what I do. And I would not be in this position were it not for them."
NBC News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
'Dora the Explorer' live-action movie celebrates 25th anniversary of beloved series
Millions of children in more than 150 countries have watched a 7-year-old Latina with her trademark purple backpack take friends on fun television adventures. Now, Nickelodeon's animated series 'Dora the Explorer' is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a live-action movie, premiering on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ on Wednesday, ahead of the July 4 holiday weekend. 'Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado' tells the story of 16-year-old Dora (played by Samantha Lorraine) who is budding into a skilled treasure hunter. The movie follows Dora and her friend Diego (Jacob Rodriguez) as they trek through a jungle to find an ancient treasure that could grant a magical wish. This teenage version of Dora, Mexican director Alberto Belli says, is like Indiana Jones and Lara Croft, but with a spunky 'lo hicimos' ('We did it') attitude that makes her uniquely Latina. But according to Belli, Dora is more interested in the adventure because it can help her figure out who she is and what other people are like. Developing this larger sense of finding her place became a guiding theme for the movie. 'When you're taking a cartoon character into a live action, you need to go a little bit deeper. So we tried to create some more problems,' Belli said in an interview, accompanied by actress Samantha Lorraine. 'She (Dora) loses her bag, which is a spoiler, but it's also in the trailer. So now she needs to find who she really is. And I think right now, more than ever, people feel a little lost.' Dora's backpack typically contains specific items, including a map, which she will need on her adventures. And Belli says that when 'you don't know exactly where you need to go,' you have to look inside yourself to figure it out. Lorraine says that 'Sol Dorado' ('Golden Sun') is more about finding an internal space — 'who you are as a person.' 'When she (Dora) finds Sol Dorado, to me, it was this full circle moment that we had finally finished this character arc,' the young actress said. Many iconic action-adventure characters "usually go and explore someone else's culture. They never explore their own culture,' Belli said. 'What's really exciting about Dora is she loves history. She's exploring her own culture.' The movie incorporates Indigenous Latino traditions that influence Dora's identity. One such tradition was based on 'ayllu,' which is the Andean way of organizing communities to support each other through shared land, resources and responsibilities. 'When it comes to ayllu, friendship and connection is so important, and I think Dora is the epitome of that. She's the connection through most cultures of the world,' Lorraine said, adding that 'Dora the Explorer' has been translated into more than 30 languages. Belli said that they had an expert on set to guide them through different Indigenous traditions, including quipus, which are knotted cords that were used by the Incas to record information. They also had two consultants to work on pronunciation for when Dora had to speak in Quechua, which is an Indigenous language spoken by people in parts of Perú, Bolivia and Ecuador. Lorraine, who identifies as Cuban American, says that playing Dora was a privilege because she offers many Latino children visibility. 'I kept thinking to myself, what do I want my little cousins to see when they watch this movie?,' she said. Lorraine wants 'Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado' to help viewers — regardless of their age — keep their sense of adventure and curiosity alive. Dora has "always been part of pop culture," Belli said, adding that he has a 5-year-old who's a big fan. "When I got the job, he got more excited than I did," the director said with a laugh. "What I love about Dora is she's a positive influence in people; she teaches you how to be positive, energetic and adventurous — and at the same time she teaches Spanish in a fun way, which I think is very cool."
