Episode Summary
NERDS!! This Episode, we sit down with the legendary Ingrid Oliu — the first-ever voice of Detective Renee Montoya in Batman: The Animated Series, and a powerhouse actress known for Stand and Deliver and Real Women Have Curves. From Boyle Heights to Nicaragua, to the halls of Gotham City, Ingrid shares her inspiring journey as a Latina in Hollywood, community activist, and trailblazer in animation history.
We talk Batman, tacos al pastor, Central American representation in Hollywood, her work alongside icons like Kevin Conroy and Mark Hamill, and what it was like to give voice to one of DC Comics’ most beloved Latina heroes.
It’s heartfelt, it’s nerdy, and it’s filled with Bat-Signal-sized laughs.
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⏰ Timestamps & Topics
00:00 – Intro: From East L.A. to Gotham City
00:49 – Growing Up Geeky: Adam West Batman… in Spanish?!
01:50 – Shared Roots: Nicaraguan pride and family history
05:00 – Activism & Community: Fighting for Boyle Heights
09:08 – The Acting Bug: Learning English through theater in Nicaragua
11:36 – Early Career & Stand and Deliver
13:25 – Almost in Flatliners with Kevin Bacon!
14:03 – Real Women Have Curves & working with Lupe Ontiveros
19:25 – Becoming Renee Montoya: Batman: The Animated Series
23:33 – Representing Latinas in Gotham
25:28 – Working with Andrea Romano, Mark Hamill, & Kevin Conroy
28:09 – Reflections on Career, Theater, and Future Projects
30:44 – Taco Talk: The correct answer is al pastor 🌮
32:25 – Advice for Young Actors (hint: have backup skills & patience)
35:55 – Montoya vs. The Question – Who wins?
36:02 – Upcoming Projects & Where to Find Ingrid
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🔑 Key Takeaways
• Latina Trailblazer: Ingrid Oliu was the first voice of Renee Montoya, a character created for Batman: The Animated Series and later integrated into DC Comics.
• Hollywood Representation: Her career in Stand and Deliver and Real Women Have Curves broke barriers for Latinas in film and TV.
• Community Activism: Beyond acting, Ingrid worked to protect and uplift Boyle Heights, shutting down brothels and drug houses with grassroots activism.
• Geeky Beginnings: Ingrid grew up watching Adam West’s Batman dubbed in Spanish while living in Nicaragua.
• Nerves Never Fade: Even after decades in the industry, Ingrid still gets nervous at auditions — and she’s totally okay with it.
• The Taco Test: If a restaurant can nail tacos al pastor, everything else is gold. Ingrid-approved. 🌮
• Advice to Aspiring Actors: Learn multiple skills, prepare for rejection, and stay kind — because today’s secretary could be tomorrow’s star.
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🔗 Links & Resources
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❓ Listener Questions
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Apple Podcast Tags:
Batman The Animated Series, Renee Montoya, Ingrid Oliu, Stand and Deliver, Real Women Have Curves, Latina Actors in Hollywood, Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill Joker, DC Comics, Batman Voice Actors, Comic Con Panels, Distance NERDing Podcast, Nerd Culture, Latinx Representation
