With over two decades dedicated to voice acting, Gaby Milani has built a career marked by iconic characters that span generations, from Princess Aurora in Maleficent to Skye in Paw Patrol, and Envy in Inside Out 2. Before lending her voice to globally acclaimed productions, her story began in childhood, on stages and in music studios, until her encounter with voice acting definitively changed the course of her career. In this interview, the artist revisits memorable moments, talks about the impact of lending her voice to such beloved characters, and reflects on the legacy she has been building over the years in a profession that moves, connects, and remains alive in the public imagination.
Gaby, your artistic journey predates your voice acting career and began to stand out in 2002 with your participation in Galera do Balão, a children’s musical group derived from Turma do Balão Mágico, alongside Bianca Alencar, Renan Ribeiro, and Daniel Garcia. What were the most memorable moments of that phase? And do you believe that this experience influenced your path in voice acting in any way?
I think Balão is significant in every way in my life. I was already working in the arts before, as a model in my city: I did runway shows, photoshoots. And Balão came as a major turning point. The first CD I recorded meant I had to move to São Paulo, and from then on, many moments were significant.
The day I won the Balão Mágico contest on SBT, on Gugu’s show, Domingo Legal, is a very special moment. Our trips are also very memorable because there were four of us kids, we had a team, and we played a lot on the road, we had a lot of fun. We studied at the same school, so we were together every single day of the week.
It was a very enjoyable phase. We participated in many television programs, there were costume fittings, choreography rehearsals… It was truly a very special phase in my life, which marked the entire change in my career. It was after Balão Mágico that I moved to São Paulo and met Dani Garcia. He recorded jingles and voiceovers, and I started going to the studios with him.
That’s how I met Sara, who was our agent for jingles and voiceovers. She got me the audition for LazyTown, and I won the audition to voice Stephanie singing. So that totally influenced—not directly, but 100%—my start in voice acting.
Your resume is quite extensive, ranging from children’s productions to projects aimed at young audiences. How do you perceive the feedback from each type of audience? And what changes, in practice, when working for different audiences?
In fact, I’m going on 22 years of voice acting this year. And, thank God, I have a wonderful resume, a very beautiful history in a field that I love. Voice acting has changed my life in many ways.
Regarding fans and feedback, each audience has its own way of dealing with it. The younger crowd is usually very engaged, following us on social media and in our daily lives. They’re amazing. And I like to emphasize that there are also niche fan bases.
Fans of Scream, for example, are very engaged. They want to know, they want to delve into what it’s like to be part of that story, and I think that’s really cool. With Paw Patrol, it’s curious, because many children don’t realize there’s a voice actor behind it. So it’s really fun when parents come to talk to us.
Generally speaking, dubbing fans, regardless of the niche—be it Scream, Paw Patrol, some series, or princess—are true fans. They are incredible, genuine people who like, respect, and defend our work. This feedback, in general, is very special.
Regarding working for different audiences, what changes, in practice, is within the studio. When it’s a more child-friendly project, we take more care with how we speak, with the clarity of our words, because children are still developing. If it’s a horror film, for example, the goal is to make it as realistic as possible.
So, the care for each audience happens within the studio. But, overall, there isn’t that much difference, because when we have affection for our work, that care exists throughout the entire process.
You’ve lent your voice to some great actresses, and one job that caught my attention was dubbing Elle Fanning in Maleficent, a reimagining of the 1959 classic with a new narrative. What was your experience like on that production? What were the biggest challenges—and also the easiest aspects—of dubbing the actress?
There are no words. Not even in my wildest childhood dreams did I imagine that I would be a princess in practice, that I would be the voice of a Disney princess. It was very special—and it still is today. It’s wonderful to be able to say, “I am the voice of a Disney princess.” It’s very rewarding. It’s a job I hold dear to my heart, with all the affection in the world.
I think the biggest challenge was keeping the secret until the film premiered, because we can’t tell anyone. And, inside the studio, I took great care, along with Rodrigo Andreato, who directed the film, to keep it as close as possible to the original, respecting Elle Fanning’s work as well. That’s part of a voice actor’s job: respecting what the original actor is doing. And I think the result is truly incredible.
Something very special (and rare) is when a voice actor has the chance to meet the original cast. In 2026, you had the experience of talking to Chloe Lang, who played the first character you voiced, 20 years ago. Even though you were very young at the time, do you have any memories of that first job? And what did it mean to relive that story now?
It’s an experience I never imagined in my life. Maybe she doesn’t know, but in a way, she’s part of a complete change in my story. It was my first contact with voice acting, my first job.
So she’s part of it, even if indirectly. It was through LazyTown that I got into voice acting, and that changed my life. I never imagined I would be a voice actress; I thought I would be a singer, which is what I’ve been doing since I was very young.
Voice acting has brought me new possibilities. So, for me, it’s thrilling to be able to talk to her and know that she knows I exist. It’s an indescribable gift. My eternal gratitude goes to you and to Mari, who sent me a message and made this connection, because it was truly very special. I have no words to describe it. The joy is truly indescribable.
2024 was undoubtedly a special year: you voiced the character Envy in Pixar’s animated film Inside Out 2. What was it like behind the scenes of that project—and what was it like to be part of such a huge success that drew thousands of people to theaters?
Regarding Inside Out, I think it was a gift for my 20-year career anniversary. I think God prepared everything for me to celebrate this moment with a character in such an incredible project. Because it was a dream—truly, a dream.
Unlike other projects where you audition, build up expectations, and really want to get the part, having a character in a Pixar story was a dream I’d had for many years. I knew that, at some point, I would achieve it. My character, Envy, is my pride and joy. She’s the realization of a dream, a very special job.
And speaking of challenges, the biggest one in Inside Out was keeping the secret for six months. I couldn’t tell anyone, not even that I had auditioned, or that I had filmed the trailer. It was a total secret. I could only talk about it when my name was officially announced. I think that was the biggest challenge, because I was bursting with joy and I needed to keep it a secret. It was very special. It’s surreal. I think that’s the word: surreal.
Speaking of successes, one character that has become very beloved among children is Skye from Paw Patrol. Today it’s undeniable that the franchise has become a phenomenon, but, back in the beginning, did you already imagine this reach and this connection with the fans?
Paw Patrol is a phenomenon. Back when I auditioned, about 12 or 13 years ago, I never imagined it would be all this. Just like with Backyardigans, I didn’t imagine it either. Actually, with Backyardigans I imagined it even less, because I was a child. With Paw Patrol, I was an adult, but I thought it would be just another ordinary children’s cartoon.
I never imagined it would become this gigantic thing. It’s a project that has my heart completely. The relationship we have in the cast — the main characters, along with Úrsula, who is the director — is like a family relationship. It’s very enjoyable.
And Skye has a curious story: when I went to audition, I thought, “I’m going to pass this test. I’m sure I’ll be the voice of this little dog.” And it was spot on. A few days later, the confirmation came and we started. But we didn’t imagine it would be this phenomenon, a project that would last so many seasons, with movies and so many licensed products. It’s sensational.
One interesting thing about working in the arts—especially audiovisual media—is that the works end up “traveling” through time and being appreciated by different generations. How do you feel knowing that you are building a legacy with your voice? And, looking at your journey so far, how do you see your path at this moment?
When we stop to think that we are leaving a legacy with our voices, it’s inevitable to realize that children grow up listening to us. I have the opportunity to meet many people at dubbing events, and it’s in those moments that I understand the reach of our work and how special it is.
When you see a fan say, “I grew up listening to your voice, watching your work,” that’s very impactful. Today, I’ve even met parents who say, “I heard your voice in Backyardigans, and now my son watches Paw Patrol.”
It’s a huge responsibility, but it’s wonderful to think that we do work that transcends time and generations, that leaves a mark on many people. And even more interesting is knowing that many people recognize my voice and don’t even know who I am. I think that’s one of the coolest things about voice acting: our voice reaches everywhere.
When I look back on my career path, I feel a lot of affection. I’ve always worked since I was a child. I started dubbing when I was 9 years old, and today I’m 31. I look back and see how happy I am. I’ve achieved incredible roles and done important work. Today I’m a dubbing director, which is something I’ve wanted to do since I was a child. I’m very happy doing this. It’s special in every way. And I want to continue delivering my best and helping dubbing become increasingly recognized.
Follow Gaby Milani on Instagram
