Recently, Maria Pendolino received glowing feedback from Audiofile for her narration of Dr. Ashley Shew’s collection of essays Against Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement, which is available on Audible. The review highlighted Maria’s skill in delivering the technical descriptions and capturing the emotional heart of Shew’s ideas. Her clear and direct narration helped listeners gain a better understanding of new concepts about technology and disability studies.
Journey in Voice Acting
Internationally recognized and award-winning, Maria Pendolino has a signature voice print that has been heard across commercials, promos, documentaries, trailers, narration, animation, video games, telephone systems, radio imaging, e-learning courses, explainer videos, and more. Her youthful tone and delivery resonate with Millennial and Gen Z audiences, the dominant population of the coveted 18-49 demographic.
A performer from a young age, Maria caught the acting bug when she auditioned for a local community production of The Sound of Music at age 11. Her professional career began in New York City, where she worked in musical theatre, television, and film. Audiences may recognize her from Lifetime’s hit drama ARMY WIVES, where she played the moody army wife, Mary Ann. Additionally, she appeared in an episode of LOCKED UP ABROAD for the National Geographic channel and acted opposite Bollywood superstar Sridevi in ENGLISH VINGLISH, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Transitioning to voiceovers in 2010, Maria booked her first spot for a local university in her hometown of Buffalo, NY. Since then, she has recorded thousands of spots, narrations, and projects for clients worldwide.
Championing Inclusivity and Disability Awareness
After moving to New York to pursue her acting career, Maria was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis, prompting a significant shift in her career and lifestyle. Leveraging her platform, she collaborated with other disabled colleagues to create a database that links disabled actors with directors seeking to cast them in roles. As a disabled voice actor, Maria’s journey is a testament to resilience and talent. She uses her platform to advocate for inclusivity and better representation of disabled individuals in media. Her unique perspective enriches her work, making her a sought-after voice in the industry.
Expanding Horizons
In addition to voice acting, Maria loves writing and comedy. She has performed stand-up comedy at Helium Comedy Club and is currently working on her first adult animated comedy pilot. As a commercial voiceover talent, her voice has been featured in campaigns for global brands like Comcast/Xfinity, Dannon, American Express, Hoover, and Panera. You can hear her voice on broadcast & cable television commercials, radio spots, streaming ads on Pandora & Spotify, and pre-roll ads on YouTube, Hulu, and Pluto TV.
In the world of narration, Maria has worked on a variety of documentaries, covering topics from pop culture to true crime. Her corporate work includes narrating business training programs, explainers, how-to videos, and tutorials for software and apps. Her ability to make complex information understandable and approachable is a testament to her versatility.
Animation and Video Games
Bringing characters to life in animation and video games, Maria is a master of accents and vocal placement, capable of performing like a vocal chameleon. She plays the lead character, Prim, in the Prim Adventure Game released in 2022. Her “north star” voiceover goal is to originate a singing animated villain in the style of Ursula the Sea Witch from The Little Mermaid.
Recognition and Awards
Honored to be the telephone system voice for businesses of all sizes, Maria brings a friendly and relatable tone to messages and prompts, keeping customers engaged and informed.
A proud member of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) – Buffalo/Niagara Chapter, the Buffalo chapter of the American Advertising Federation (AAF), and the Buffalo Broadcasters Association, Maria has also served on the board of Alleyway Theatre, and as a member of the Rising Champions for Justice with the Erie County Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP).
A two-time Voice Arts Award winner, Maria has received numerous nominations and awards, including the coveted 40 Under 40 Award presented by Biz Journals. In 2021, she won two Reed Awards for excellence in political advertising and was nominated for three One Voice Awards.
Personal Life
Living in Buffalo, NY, with her husband Eric and their four rescue cats—Two Scoops, Mozzarella “Mozzie” Cheese, Nellie, and Panini—Maria enjoys a fulfilling personal life. As a fun fact, Maria and Eric appeared on an episode of HGTV’s hit show House Hunters.
