FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.couriersun.com AUGUST 21, 2014 • The Courier sun 11 Queens native Fátima Ptacek, voice of Dora the Explorer, talks new show BY ANGY ALTAMIRANO aaltamirano@queenscourier.com @aaltamirano28 Even though Dora the Explorer is getting older and making a move to a big city, the Queens native and voice behind the popular cartoon is not going anywhere. Fátima Ptacek has been the voice of Nickelodeon’s 7-year-old “Dora the Explorer” since 2010 and will now also be the one behind 10-year-old Dora in “Dora and Friends: Into the City!” “She’s stunning, I’m so excited,” said Ptacek about the older Dora, who premiered on Aug. 18 on Nickelodeon. “Now that she’s in the city, she can identify with city kids.” The 13-year-old actress says growing up and still living in Queens helps her understand her new role more because she can identify with being a city kid. “I’m very proud to be living in Queens. It’s one of the coolest places I know,” Ptacek said. “I know it like the back of my hands. I make sure to brag about it to anyone.” She said she loves living in the borough because of its diversity and food options. “I’m a total foodie,” Ptacek said. “What’s great is right where I live we basically have every nationality’s cuisine.” In “Dora and Friends: Into the City!” Dora moves to a city named “Playa Verde” and finds a new group of friends who embark on explorations with her including riding the subway and going to school and to parties. There is also a lot more music in this series, with a “pop feel to it,” according to Ptacek. Along with the new show, the Emmy Award-winning series “Dora the Explorer” will also still air. “I’ve really loved growing up with Dora and I am so lucky to be the first voice of this new show,” said Ptacek who hopes both shows continue on for a long time. “I want my kids to be able to watch the show just how I did.” Along with being the voice behind Dora, Ptacek has also performed on stage and starred in films, such as “The Rebound” with Catherine Zeta-Jones, and television shows such as “Saturday Night Lights” and “Sesame Street,” where she was able to work alongside Michelle Obama. She also serves as an Ambassador for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation and as Youth Ambassador for the Latino Commission on AIDS, and she volunteers for foundations such as the SAG Foundation BookPALS program. Fátima Ptacek, voice of Dora. Photo courtesy Bonnie Osborne/Nickelodeon SAVINGS THAT COUNT. These rates are effective as of 8/15/2014. Rates are subject to change at any time. To earn the APY, account must be opened with, and maintain, a minimum balance of $500. Stated APY assumes principal and interest remain on deposit for the term of the certificate of deposit (CD). Early withdrawal penalties apply. Fees may reduce earnings. Terms and conditions apply. No brokered deposits accepted.
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