Samantha Lorraine on Bringing Dora to Life, Exploring New Roles, and What's Next
Few characters have left a mark on childhood pop culture quite like Dora the Explorer. Now, as the iconic franchise celebrates its 25th anniversary, a new Dora is stepping into frame. Enter Samantha Lorraine, the rising actress bringing the beloved adventurer to life in Paramount+’s live-action reboot, Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado. And with the title role comes some big boots to fill—quite literally—but Lorraine wears them with the perfect blend of warmth, wit, and boldness that has defined Dora for decades.
Still, for Lorraine, the role is more than just a career milestone—it’s deeply personal. She grew up in a bilingual household, watching Dora the Explorer as a young Latina, and that early connection to the character is immediately felt in her performance. Fortunately for fans, The Search for Sol Dorado builds on the original show’s legacy while reimagining Dora with fresh energy—blending heart, humor, and just enough danger to keep things thrilling. It’s a story that lets Lorraine lead with confidence, and a spark that feels entirely her own.
But Dora isn’t the only major moment for Lorraine this year. She also stars opposite Dafne Keen in Night Comes, a survival-horror thriller directed by Jay Hernandez, proving she’s just as fearless off the map as she is on it. With only a handful of credits to her name, Lorraine is already carving out a career defined by range, intention, and charm—whether she’s reviving an iconic franchise or braving the wilderness.
Now, she sits down with Stardust to talk about growing up with Dora, stepping into the role, and what it means to be part of a legacy that helped change the face of kids' television.
Growing up, what kind of relationship did you have with Dora the Explorer? Did you ever imagine playing her someday?
Samantha Lorraine: As a kid, Dora the Explorer was my show—so fast forwarding to this point in my life and getting to play her has been totally surreal. If baby Samantha saw what she’d be doing in a few years, she’d definitely be geeking out.
This marks Dora’s first live-action film since 2019. What was important to you in honoring the character’s legacy while making her your own?
Samantha Lorraine: Dora has such admirable traits that we all know and love. Whether it was her positivity, leadership skills, or teaching abilities, it was really important to me that it was implemented in Dora and the Search for Sol Dorado. So, anyone who is a true lover of the show will see how much we took care of her and poured genuine love and respect into her. As far as making her my own, I wanted people to see how quick-witted and sharp she is. Half of the problems she solves in this movie I kept thinking to myself, ‘wow, I would've never been able to solve that!’
The film blends action, culture, and adventure—what kind of training or prep went into becoming Dora this time around?
Samantha Lorraine: Connecting to my friends and family and trying to integrate her pivotal qualities into my real life really helped nail down her character for me. I definitely tried to explore my connection to nature and understand my type of learning process and levels of curiosity. We did loads of stunt training for lots of high-adrenaline stunts in this movie. Dora falls a lot in this one, but she gets right back up!
Considering that Sol Dorado is full of high-energy sequences that really lean into the adventure aspect—do you have a favorite scene or moment from filming?
Samantha Lorraine: Oh gosh, honestly, they all come to mind! My absolute favorite action scene was probably the tram chase. Shooting that was utter chaos in the best way possible. Hundreds of extras, hundreds of shots, and a hundred degrees. That was the scene that made me realize how epic this movie is!
With Dora's 25th anniversary here, what do you hope today’s kids take away from your version of the character?
Samantha Lorraine: I hope kids can realize they have the power to achieve the dreams they want. There are also so many different messages they can take away from this film because so many characters have such incredible arcs. For me personally, Dora taught me that it's okay to not know the way sometimes, but as long as you stick to your path, you'll find the right way to go.
From Dora to your upcoming film Night Comes, you’re getting to explore some really different genres. What is it that typically draws you to a role?
Samantha Lorraine: The most exciting thing for me to watch is definitely the psychological horror genre, which I’ve yet to do, but something like The Killing of a Sacred Deer is by far the most interesting type of character for me. Funnily enough, acting in a family fun adventure like Dora to a dystopian thriller like Night Comes was such a fun ride. Dora and my character in Night Comes are, oddly enough, both optimistic and hopeful about the world.
What was it like working with filmmaker Jay Hernandez on Night Comes, and how does your character fit into the story?
Samantha Lorraine: Jay Hernandez is such a brilliant mind, and I've never worked on a set quite like his before. It was so creatively fulfilling to step onto a set where the director would ask their actors to rehearse the scene before placing the camera. Jay let Dafne Keen and me play in our scenes, and I think that's what makes this movie feel so genuine. I can’t wait for people to meet my character, Samantha. She's such a bright light in a dimly lit world, and I try to be just like her in my day-to-day.
