Latin actor and voice-over artist Paula Velasquez was born in Venezuela but moved to Mexico when she was seven. She began her journey in entertainment as a professional dancer and soon after was hooked on acting. From theatre productions in Mexico City to the silver screen in Hollywood, Paula has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the prestigious New York Film Academy.
Aside from being a talented on-screen actress, Paula is a successful voice-over actor, where she uses her ethnic diversity and dulcet Latin tone to voice some of the world’s biggest brands.
We chatted with Paula about voice acting and working on the latest LAY’S® Potato Chips commercial.
Welcome, Paula! We love to snack here in America, and LAY’S has been an American favorite for over 75 years. Before we tuck in, though, can you tell us about yourself?
Hi guys! I am an actor originally from Mexico and now live in Los Angeles. I work in film, television, and commercials, where I get to speak in Spanish and English.
Tell us about the national commercial for LAY’S.
Yes, I auditioned for a LAY’S commercial last year and booked it.
Fun fact…Walkers is the brand name used in the UK and Ireland, Smith’s in Australia, and Lay’s is the brand name used in most other countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Yes, I knew that! PepsiCo owns both brands. In Mexico, they are Sabritas and have some super-hot flavors!
How different is voice acting from on-screen acting for you?
When acting on camera, you are using your voice along with your body and reacting to your environment, but with voice acting, you need to express emotion and sell the character you are playing but only with your voice.
With voice acting, you can hide behind the microphone and read from a script, but your voice must be big enough to deliver the script to the audience without any other distractions … like a set or costume. It’s just the voice doing all the work, selling the brand.
Preparing for an acting role is different from that for a voice role, although I think both are incredibly important. You still need to be in character regardless of the acting job.
What’s up next for you?
I have been really busy recently with movies and other voice-over work, especially using my Spanish accent and language skills—projects like ‘Dora the Explorer,’ EA Games, Louis Vuitton, etc. I love working on voiceovers as much as my on-screen work. It allows me to use all aspects of being an actor.
Finally, how can people keep up with you?
Thank you! People can follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or IMDb.
