A creative mind with an expansive imagination, Northern Californian native Mimi Torres has built an exciting career in entertainment. Originally from the San Francisco area, Torres relocated to Los Angeles and has lent her voice to countless projects, including video games such as Fallout 4 and The World of Final Fantasy, as well as web series such as Sugar Pine 7, among other on-screen acting roles.
Overall, over the last decade-plus, and now in 2025, Mimi Torres takes the spotlight as the charismatic Horror Host Scream in the new Magonlia Selects series, Scream and Cry Horror Movie Review. A series with a creative team led by seasoned film industry veteran Heidi Holicker; others involved include E.G. Daily and Juliet Landau.
A fun, different watching experience, Scream and Cry Horror Movie Review’s first season consists of twelve episodes, with hopes for more. Eager to be part of it all, Mimi Torres sat down to talk about playing Scream, her prior roles, plus more.
Cryptic Rock – You have been involved in entertainment for some time now, both as a voice actor and an onscreen actor. How would you describe your journey in entertainment to this point?
Mimi Torres – My journey has been extremely lucky and blessed. I went to school in Sausalito at a place called Voice Trax. I met my agent there. They asked me to move to LA, which is the dream; everyone wants to be asked to come to LA to work. I got here.
I’ve had amazing managers and agents. I’ve had the support of Thom Pinto, who plays VO Guy, who has introduced me to numerous people in the industry. He’s also the one who got me this job. I’ve come here, and I’ve gotten to work on really amazing projects. I feel that my journey has been one of the really lucky ones.
Cryptic Rock – That is a very positive thing to hear. You have been a part of a lot of cool things through the years. This leads us to Scream and Cry Horror Movie Review. How did the part come about for you, and what did you think of the concept behind everything?
Mimi Torres – I was so excited. I grew up watching scary movies with my grandma. I’ve always liked the scarier side of things. The opportunity to work with this talented cast and crew was very enticing and exciting. To have been chosen for a role that puts me pretty front and centre, it’s an honor. There was nothing but excitement about taking this job.
Cryptic Rock – Wonderful. You are the host and curator of the show. The character Scream (whom you portray) comes across as a highly intelligent character who has a lot of wit and charisma. What was it like playing Scream?
Mimi Torres – Thank you. It was great. It was really cool to embody someone who is so on top of their game, motivated, knowledgeable, and kind. It was really great to slip into this person who may look very different from me, but has many characteristics I wish I embodied more in my own life.
Cryptic Rock – Interesting. In what aspects? Meaning confidence?
Mimi Torres – I think confidence and the way that she steers the ship and keeps people in line. She sets these boundaries all while maintaining comedy and respect for the people around her.
Cryptic Rock – Certainly. She really is a great character. To date, this series has had 12 episodes. In this, 12 different films are analyzed and reviewed, and so on. What was that like for you learning about these films? Did you learn new things about these films or get to look at them from a different perspective?
Mimi Torres – Yeah. It was really great getting introduced to some of these films as well. Some of these films I had not had the privilege of watching before I found out we were going to review them. I learned about many new directors and actors.
It was definitely a learning experience, and it made me even more interested in Horror. I typically lean towards Thriller in my own life, but it made me go, “Oh, you know what? I think maybe Horror might also be my thing.”
Cryptic Rock – That is really cool to hear. You mentioned being front and centre. Before this, by and large, you have done voice acting. This is a bit of a different animal in that your emotions and facial expressions are on the screen for everyone to see. You do a fantastic job with it all. What was this experience like? Did you feel a little intimidated?
Mimi Torres – Thank you. Yes, it was very intimidating because there’s something so safe about acting in a booth where you don’t have to worry about your facial expressions. I’m a very expressive person. When I watched some of the show’s clips, I went, “Oh, my God, my face. I do so much with my face,” which I didn’t realise because I’ve never really videotaped myself while doing voiceover. It’s nerve-wracking knowing that people are watching your work rather than just listening to it. There’s a whole other level of pressure outside of acting with just your voice.
Cryptic Rock – That’s a great point that you bring up. Sometimes, the average person does not look into the nuance and the hard work that goes into voice acting. You talk about all the facial expressions that you have to make. You have to emote these feelings as a voice actor over what’s being shown on the screen.
Mimi Torres – Correct. One of the things I learned early on in voiceover school was that it is our job to figure out what a raised eyebrow sounds like. When you’re on camera, they can see that. When you’re in the booth, and they can’t see your face, you have to use your voice to express what’s happening on that character’s face, which is a challenge in itself.
Cryptic Rock – Right. All 12 episodes of Scream and Cry Horror Movie Review (through Magonlia Selects) are available on various streaming platforms, including Amazon, Sling, and YouTube. Hopefully, more people will see you. Do you have aspirations for your role as Scream to lead to more on-screen acting performances in the future?
Mimi Torres – I would love that. Any opportunity to make art, I am game for. If this helps me get more opportunities, that’s amazing.
Cryptic Rock – Fantastic!. Scream and Cry Horror Movie Review features a lot of cool people, including Heidi Holicker, Juliet Landau, and E.G. Daily (who voices Cry). What was it like working with all these people who have extensive resumes and impressive accomplishments?
Mimi Torres – It was very nerve-wracking at first. Once we came together and worked together, knowing that everybody is putting their heart and soul into this and helping each other out, it doesn’t get any better than that.
Working with E.G. Daily was amazing. I grew up watching her work. I was totally inspired by her work to get into voiceover in the first place. To be able to sit next to her, work with her, feel like I’m able to keep up; being coworkers with somebody that you idolize, what a gift.
Then we have the amazing Bill Prokopow. What doesn’t he do? He’s composing, making these hilarious, wonderful songs for the show. Donte Paris is amazing. What he can do with the one-liners is great. Juliet Landau is Buffy royalty, and being able to work with somebody like that is just a dream. The whole thing’s been a dream.
Cryptic Rock – It sounds like it was a great experience. Your co-host, Cry, is a fun character. What was it like working opposite a puppet?
Mimi Torres – It was a challenge, but it was also really cool to be able to form a relationship with this tiny, scruffy little guy. It was interesting watching his soul being built by E.G., and then being able to look at him as almost a younger sibling, playing off of him.
Also challenging and amazing to watch were the puppeteers and how much they brought him to life. Remembering that I’m talking to him, not the voice actor who’s off camera, was a challenge. It was great.
Cryptic Rock – Some of the best characters in Horror are puppets. The Crypt Keeper from Tales from the Crypt. Who doesn’t love him? He has a wicked sense of humor, but it’s great.
Mimi Torres – Yes. Also, Chucky. There are so many really cool puppets in Horror.
Cryptic Rock – Exactly. You said that you grew up watching Horror films with your grandmother. You are a fan of the genre. Do you have any favorites?
Mimi Torres – I am a fan of the genre. I think my favorite Horror film from growing up was The Haunting (1999). The house is the bad guy. That movie scared me to pieces. I remember I was watching it with a blanket over my face. I had to sleep on the floor of my parents’ room for probably a month afterwards. I loved that thrill of being scared, but also knowing that I’m pretty safe.
Cryptic Rock – That is a good one. Some of our best memories are the ones we spend with our loved ones. Even if it is watching a Horror movie, it is a pleasant memory. What are some of the ones you watched with your grandmother or that really stuck with you?
Mimi Torres – Poltergeist (1982) was one that I remember watching with her. I have a very specific memory of watching that over Thanksgiving. That was definitely one that I enjoyed watching and enjoyed being terrified with her. She also had a lot of off-brand cartoons that were really spooky. I wish I could remember the names, but I can’t. Slightly outside of the genre, she was also really big into Unsolved Mysteries, which is a horror all of itself, and America’s Most Wanted.
Those are the ones that I really remember enjoying with her and being terrified while watching with her.
Cryptic Rock – It sounds like you had a pretty cool grandmother. Would you say she was one of your main inspirations to get involved in acting in the first place?
Mimi Torres – Maybe not necessarily an inspiration. She’s not an actor herself, but the support I’ve gotten from her throughout the years has definitely made me feel that, even when times are tough in the industry, I have enough people believing in me that I can keep pushing forward.
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