Maria Pendolino

Geico is well-known for its clever advertising campaigns. As a millennial, Geico’s gecko commercials are a favorite memory of my youth. A “core memory,” as the youth of the 2020s would say. Little did I know that I, Maria Pendolino, would one day grow up to be a Geico commercial female voiceover. After all, when these commercials first came out in 1999, I was in the prime of my TV-watching days. After I returned from school, I used to go into the living room and turn the TV on for an hour or so to relieve whatever stressors were facing my adolescent psyche. 

This was when everyone still had cable — there were no streaming services to peruse, and even satellite TV was a bit of a splurge for most people. And there was no targeted advertising based on our browsing habits. This landscape created a bit of a monoculture where we all watched the same episodes and specials simultaneously. It also meant we all watched the same commercials. More specifically, we were all watching Geico commercials. 

What makes Geico commercials so popular? 

Long before I was ever in the market for a car or home insurance, I knew that Geico could save me 15% or more on these expenses. That’s the power of a clever marketing campaign. “Clever” is a great way to describe Geico commercials. Even in the early days, before “viral marketing” was even a phrase in our collective conscience, Geico knew that making commercials that were funny and enjoyable to watch would have an impact. 

Consider this: the introduction of Geico’s famous gecko character came to be because so many people confused the name “Geico” with “gecko.” The gecko’s first appearance broke the fourth wall by speaking directly to the audience, asking them to kindly stop confusing the name “Geico” with the word “gecko.” 

Fast forward to 2005, and the gecko (whom we are pleased to inform you have the real name of Martin) was voted “America’s favorite advertising icon.” Throughout the years, Geico has tried (successfully) to incorporate different characters and subplots into their advertisements, but Martin still continues to pop up now and then to this day. 

Which leads us to the question — what makes Geico commercials so beloved anyway? It’s human nature to naturally detest advertisements. As a result, we often see companies trying too hard to “come to peace” with their ad efforts. Geico is successful because they don’t try too hard. They’re naturally funny and endearing. They’re entertaining, which means that people want to watch them. 

Who does the voiceover for the Geico commercials?

Let’s give credit where credit is due. There have been a lot of different voiceover artists who have used their talents to bring Geico commercials to life over the years.

First, let’s start with the case of Martin. There has been a long list of actors who have played the amphibian, including Thomas Bromhead, Dave Kelly, Richard Steven Horvitz, Andrew Randall, and even Kelsey Grammar. But the voice actor most commonly associated with Martin is probably Jake Wood, an actor very famous in his native UK for playing in soap operas. 

Aside from the Geico storyline, some of Geico’s other famous ad campaigns have included the caveman (played by John Lehr) and the camel (played by “This is Us” actor Chris Sullivan). 

Who does the female voiceover in Geico commercials? 

If you’re wondering who provides the female voiceover in recent Geico commercials, there’s a good chance it was me, Maria Pendolino. 

My Geico journey started in 2022. To date, I have provided voiceovers for three popular Geico commercials, as you can see here: 

“Secret Identity” 

In typical Geico fashion, this commercial’s humor is just the right amount of “out there” or “absurd.” In it, we see an office worker trying to hide the fact that he’s a famous superhero. Unfortunately, his efforts fail when he forgets to remove his superhero costume before coming to work. 

While this commercial features a few different talented on-camera actors, it’s my announcer voiceover that comes in near the end, announcing the benefits of bundling your insurance with Geico. 

“Special Effects”

This sci-fi themed Geico ad features a starship team preparing to fight off an intruder, only the “intruder” is nothing more than a man in a motion capture costume with ping pong balls glued on. We’re led to believe the movie didn’t finish their special effects. My voiceover comes on in the end to warn viewers the dangers of cheaping out on their special effects….and of not bundling their home and car insurance. 

Maria Pendolino: here for your voice acting needs

As you can see from the above posts, I am the kind of female voiceover talent who is pretty much down to voice anything. In fact, if you’re planning a funny ad campaign, I definitely want to hear from you. 

Aside from the Geico commercials, you may have also heard my voice speaking for brands like Dannon, Hoover, The Knot, Xfinity, and Glad Trash Bags. Being somewhat of a “vocal chameleon”, I can happily adjust my services to whatever style you’re looking for, but I especially pride myself on being a conversational, approachable voice that’s welcoming to listeners. 

If you’re looking to book your next commercial, feel free to check out my demos or request a live audition. I can’t wait to see what you and your advertising teams have in the works!

Maria Pendolino is a professional voice actor with more than ten years worth of experience. A trained professional actor, Maria worked for years in New York City before she moved to a home studio in Buffalo, NY, where she still works to this day.
http://animationWhen you work with Maria, you join the ranks of many other major brand companies who have entrusted Maria to capture their character’s voice. She proudly works in many different fields ranging from corporate voice overs to e-Learning videos to animated shows and movies. Get in touch today to see how Maria can bring your project(s) to life.

Need a witch voiceover for an upcoming project? You’ve come to the right place! Professional voice actor Maria Pendolino loves the witchy laughs, and all the ghouls and goblins! Just email Maria at maria@voicebymaria.com with a sample script and be ready to cackle along!
With the Halloween season upon us, we welcome the idea that fictional witches are making a steady appearance. Whether it’s in commercials, home decor, or movies, the witches are here. But here’s the thing. Those in the know recognize that witches are “in” no matter the season. There is just something inherently cool about a magical woman who can cast spells and fly on a broomstick. I’ve been a voice actor for over ten years and offer voiceover services of all kinds. But I have a huge soft spot for portraying witch-like characters and doing witch voiceover. 

Witch Voiceover Acting — A Special Skill

We know that witches can use their powers for good and are right at home as a protagonist in a story. But the real fun begins when witches are cast as villains. Many brands and companies will hire voice actors to play the witchy villain. They’re looking for somebody who can pull off the particular sound of a witch’s voice. It’s often shrill, shrieky, and maniacal — although every witch is different. When you’re looking for the voiceover of a particular witch character, you’ve come to the right place!

If you’re looking for a friendly, animated witch or one who’s wicked to her core, I offer a variety of witchy voiceover services. Legend has it that I keep a framed photo of Ursula the Sea Witch in my at-home studio, and I’m here to tell you that the rumors are true. It’s my voiceover north star. 

A Brief History of Voicing “Wicked Witches”

Why is there such a fixation on the witch as a character? I could spend thousands of words talking about the history of witches (witch hunts and witchcraft in a sociological context). But we’ll leave that to the history book writers. Let’s look at witch-themed characters in recent media and the voice actors who play(ed) them.

The 1930s: The Evil Queen (Snow White and the Seven Dwarves)

As a child, the Evil Queen from Snow White used to terrify me. However, rewatches during my adult years have only made me appreciate such bone-chilling voice acting. We’re supposed to be afraid of “the Queen” — she feeds people poisoned apples, for Pete’s sake — and the style of voice acting definitely makes sure we understand how dangerous she is.  

The Evil Queen was played by Adriana Caselotti, who later went on to be named a “Disney Legend” in 1994. She was the first woman to hold this title (1994 seems a little too recent for comfort, don’t you think?) 

The 1950s to present: Witch Hazel (Looney Tunes) 

Many people forget that Looney Tunes actually has a witch character. Yup, it’s not all about the bunny, pig, or duck. Witch Hazel, apart from being a hilarious play on words, is also the name of a villain who — wait for it — lures children away so she can eat them. The mid-20th century just had a different concept of what makes good kid’s TV, didn’t it?

Witch Hazel was initially voiced by Bea Benaderet, a comedian turned actress known for voicing animated female characters. 

The 1950s: Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty) 

As much as sleeping for 100 or so years sounds super appealing at times, it wouldn’t be fun if you had Maleficent the witch as an enemy. Okay, so I think Maleficent is technically a fairy, but something about her brooding voice acting is very evil, witch-like. She was voiced by Elanor Audley in the Disney movie, who was also famous for her voice acting on radio shows. 

The 1980s: Ursula (The Little Mermaid) 

My personal favorite villain. There is just so much to love about Ursula. In fact, I don’t think that she gets anywhere near enough credit. Sure, she’s evil, but she’s also a woman on a mission, and I respect that. When I grew up loving the voiceovers of Disney characters, I always loved Ursula more than Ariel or any other Disney princesses. 

Plus, there’s Pat Carroll’s classic interpretation of the character. A legendary actress, Carroll only recently passed away in 2022. In her lifetime, she was a recipient of an Emmy, Grammy, and Tony awards. She even used her vocal talents in “Poor Unfortunate Souls,” which you can’t deny is a bop. 

The 2000s: Yubaba (Spirited Away)

Spirited Away is one of the most beloved Studio Ghibli movies, and for good reason. This magical film tells the story of a young girl who enters into a world with Kami, who are famous spirits in Japanese folktales. She must take a job with the Yubaba to save her family. 

Yubaba is a witch who works as a bathhouse operator. In the English-language interpretation, Yubaba is played by Suzanne Pleshette. Pleshette was known for her airy and sultry vocals, perfect for witchcraftery. 

Present Day: Red Bull Witch 

Yes, you know Red Bull Gives You Wings. Have you ever thought about how convenient this fact is for witches? This means they hardly have to be good at riding a broomstick. That’s the idea behind the recent advertising campaign from Red Bull.

The Red Bull witch’s voiceover is classic — shrill and wispy. And, of course, the lines are funny, engaging, and very witchy! I just love how she interacts with her teenage-witch daughter! The Red Bull Witch Voiceover performer uses different resonators to create a melodious and witchy sound! 

Maria Pendolino: Nice Person, Great Voiceover, Mean Voiceover Characters

Look, I’m actually pretty nice. I just “play a witch on TV and the radio.” So don’t be afraid to reach out — check out my voice acting demos, request a quote, or request an audition. 

Now that I think about it, I love playing witches so much because it’s so different from how I behave in my everyday life. I love all kinds of voice acting, whether narrating an e-Learning video, providing corporate training, or performing a commercial. But I genuinely have a soft spot for any sort of dramatic animated character, especially those of the witchy persuasion.