Voicing Val Ortiz: Lilimar Hernandez’s Journey to Disney’s Inside Out 2

Who is Lilimar, the voice of Inside Out 2’s Latina character, Val Ortiz?

Hollywood is celebrating a new milestone for Latino representation! “Inside Out 2”, the Pixar sequel to the 2015 blockbuster, features its first Latino character, Val Ortiz, voiced by none other than Venezuelan actress and rising voice star, Lilimar.

Lilimar Hernandez, often known simply as Lilimar, was born on June 2nd, 2000, in Margarita Island, Venezuela. At the age of 6, she moved to Miami with her family, where she began her journey into acting, starting classes when she was just nine years old.

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Her early work includes playing Sophie in the Nickelodeon series “Bella and the Bulldogs” from 2015 to 2016, a role that would mark her first significant breakthrough in the industry. She then went on to portray Sage in another Nickelodeon series, “Knight Squad,” which ran from 2018 to 2019. However, her most notable role came in 2019 when she was cast as the lead character in the animated series “Cleopatra in Space” on Peacock, which was particularly special for her as she also sang the theme song, calling it her “first big show.”

Lilimar has not only shined on the small screen but also in short films. At just 14, she starred in “Pedro Pan,” a short film that depicted Operation Peter Pan, a historical event where over 14,000 Cuban children were relocated to the United States between 1960 and 1962.

Her latest venture has taken her back into the world of voice acting. Lilimar lends her voice to Valentina “Val” Ortiz in Disney Pixar’s “Inside Out 2.” Val is a new character in the film franchise, serving as Riley’s idol and a representation of the Latina community.

Lilimar opens up about playing the voice of Val Ortiz

The movie revisits the mind of recently-turned teenager Riley just as headquarters is undergoing a sudden demolition to make room for something entirely unexpected: new emotions! Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust, who’ve long been running a successful operation by all accounts, aren’t sure how to feel when Anxiety shows up. And it looks like she’s not alone.

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Lilimar shared her excitement about joining the Disney Pixar project in an interview with Circuito Onda. Initially unaware of the project’s specifics, she auditioned without knowing what movie it was for. She reflected, “I came in doing auditions. I knew it was a Pixar project, but I had no idea why. I did my job as best I could, I sent it, and that’s it. Then one day my manager calls me and tells me it’s for Inside Out 2.”

Lilimar felt a personal connection to Val, saying, “Naturally, I think they chose me because I had something in common with Valentina and I had her aura. We do have quite a few similarities. I also had the opportunity to use my voice, I didn’t have to make many changes to it.”

Valentina Ortiz is a Dominican-American high school hockey player and the popular girl at camp. She is admired by Riley and her friends, making her a pivotal character in the new movie. Lilimar’s portrayal brings a touch of authenticity and relatability to Val. She described Val as “a really cool girl, the leader of the team, and she has all these great things. But in the end, she is real, she is human, she is a girl, and she also goes through all these anxieties and things that Riley went through.”

Lilimar also highlighted the movie’s deeper message, created and supported by a team of expert psychologists to ensure it resonates with both children and adult viewers. She expressed, “It’s a film with a very powerful message.”