Carolina Ravassa Brings Polaris to Life for X-Men ’97 Season 2

When X-Men ’97 returned for its second season, it brought a wave of new mutants into the fold, including one with a very personal connection to the show’s central antihero.

Carolina Ravassa joined the animated revival this season as Polaris — aka Lorna Dane — Magneto’s long-lost daughter.

It’s a role that finds Ravassa stepping into a decades-old corner of the X-Men mythos, following in the comics’ footsteps of a character who’s spent years searching for her place in the world. It’s something that isn’t lost on Ravassa, whose own career has spanned everything from indie films to major video game franchises like Overwatch.

I recently spoke with Carolina Ravassa about landing the role, balancing Polaris’s strength with her vulnerability, and what it’s like recording a show that so many fans grew up with.

Landing the Role of Polaris

Ravassa didn’t even know she was auditioning for Marvel when she first read for the part, as the show and its characters were kept under a code name during casting.

“It was kind of funny that I didn’t know what I was auditioning for,” Ravassa said. “So it was just a pleasant surprise to then find out I was a part of X-Men.”

What mattered more than the mystery, she explained, was how quickly she connected to the character without necessarily knowing Polaris’s larger comic-book history.

“I didn’t need to know her entire backstory to connect to the two scenes that I did for the initial audition,” Ravassa said. “I guess, for the most part, when we truly connect immediately, that’s when we book them, and so that’s when the jobs work out.”

That connection, she added, speaks to the care put into the project as a whole. “There’s just so much love that’s put into this project between the writers, and the creators, and everybody involved, that it’s just an honor to be included.”

X-Men ’97 was built as a direct continuation of the beloved ’90s animated series. While that history looms large over the show, Ravassa said she felt fortunate that Polaris herself came with a relatively blank slate.

“I was kind of grateful that there wasn’t a lot of Polaris before, so I didn’t have to try and mimic or do something that had been done before,” Ravassa said. “And they didn’t ask for that either. So Polaris got to be my own.”

Having already watched all of Season 1 and knowing many of her castmates going in helped ease any nerves about joining a project with such devoted fans: “I just knew I was in good hands with the directors and the producer and writers, and they’ve been really lovely with all their help.”

Rather than let the pressure of expectations take over, Ravassa said she leaned on lessons learned from years of voice work on games with massive, vocal fanbases.

“I’ve also worked on so many video games where some people love it, and some people hate it, and I’ve learned that you can’t satisfy millions of people. So I kind of just hope for the best, and luckily it really has been positive.”

Where She Hopes Polaris Goes Next

Asked what she’d like to see explored further, Ravassa pointed to the chemistry between Polaris and Bishop: “We’ve got a little bit of subtle flirting happening with Bishop.”

“I have no idea where it will go, so I’ll let the writers do their thing, and I’m excited for whatever happens there.”

Beyond romance, Ravassa is most invested in watching Polaris grow into her own power, particularly following X-Men ’97 Season 2 Episode 6, “Danger.Exe,” in which Lorna fully accepts her identity as Magneto’s daughter.

“She’s very badass, and she’s edgy, and she’s been through a lot, and she’s survived it. She’s a fighter for sure — I think once she has now accepted that she’ll get to understand herself so much more, you know? And then deep self-discovery happens.”

Balancing Power and Vulnerability

Much of that self-discovery plays out in a pivotal scene between Polaris and Professor X, and Ravassa credits the writing itself for making the character’s swing between vulnerability and ferocity feel effortless to perform.

“They have a beautiful scene with Professor X that’s very intimate, and it’s written so beautifully that you can’t help but be vulnerable and be seeking advice and answers from a mentor figure,” Ravassa described.

“And then, once they have to fight Danger, and Professor X is like, ‘You need to channel your father and his energy,’ she’s like, ‘No.’ It’s impossible not to be fierce and strong and defiant there.”

“So I’ve never questioned, like, ‘Should I try and be more strong here and then be a little more vulnerable here?'” she continued. “I think it just naturally happens because they’ve set that tone. I really am grateful for the team, and our director’s just fabulous — she’s helped me find nuance in all the moments.”

Inside the Recording Booth

Curious how the voice cast’s chemistry comes together when actors often aren’t in the booth at the same time, I asked Ravassa to walk me through the recording process.

“I so wish we could record together. It would be really cool,” Ravassa agreed. “I think in some instances they do manage to get both in the booth together — it’s just scheduling is too hard. So I think we all go in separately.”

Actors typically record several takes of a single line before moving on, she explained, leaving the editors to piece together the strongest combination afterward: “We’ll go in and do three takes of a line, and then we might do three more, and then three more. So they have A, B, C, D, E, F, G options, and they circle the ones they love.”

“That’s why I feel like the magic really happens in editing, because we give all these options, and then they have to find the beautiful balance between what one character said and how the other responded.”

A Warm Welcome

With Polaris folded into a show that already commands a passionate fanbase, Ravassa revealed the response to her performance has been overwhelmingly positive so far: “God, I feel so lucky. For the most part, I’ve only seen really positive responses.”

“I’ve gotten lovely messages on Instagram and TikTok about how they love the show and the performance and the way Polaris has been portrayed. Some people have even said, ‘Oh my gosh, this is just the voice I imagined she spoke in. I’m so glad it’s you.'”

It’s a reception she doesn’t take for granted, especially for a second season. “It’s rare for things like this to do so well in Season 2, and I’m just pleasantly surprised, and so grateful.”

—

Featured Image Credit: Diana Ragland

X-Men ’97 Season 2 is streaming on Disney+.

Follow us on X and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!