Francesca Marie Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francesca Marie Smith
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Smith in 2015
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| Born | March 26, 1985 Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1991–2003 2017–2022 |
| Known for | Hey Arnold! Recess |
Francesca Marie Smith (born March 26, 1985) is an American actress. She is best known for using her voice to bring characters to life in popular animated TV shows. Her most famous role is voicing Helga Pataki on the Nickelodeon series Hey Arnold!. She also voiced several characters on Disney's Recess, including Ashley B. and Swinger Girl.
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Voice Acting Roles
Francesca Marie Smith has lent her voice to many characters over the years. She started acting in the early 1990s.
Famous TV Shows
- Itsy Bitsy Spider (1994–1996) as Leslie McGroarty
- Beethoven (1994) as Emily Newton
- Hey Arnold! (1996–2004) as Helga Pataki, a tough but secretly sweet character
- Pepper Ann (1997) as Damiana
- Recess (1997–2001) as Ashley B., Swinger Girl, and Upside-Down Girl
- 101 Dalmatians: The Series (1998) as Amber
- The New Batman Adventures (1998) as Annie
- The Amanda Show (2000–2002) in various roles
- Fillmore! (2003) as Penny Madrid
Movies and Specials
Francesca has also voiced characters in animated movies and TV specials.
- Daisy-Head Mayzie (1995) as Mayzie McGrew
- A Bug's Life (1998) in additional voices
- The Prince of Egypt (1998) in additional voices
- Recess: School's Out (2001) as Ashley B., Swinger Girl, and Upside-Down Girl
- Recess Christmas: Miracle on Third Street (2001) as Ashley B.
- Hey Arnold!: The Movie (2002) as Helga Pataki
- Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade (2003) as Ashley B., Swinger Girl, and Upside Down Girl
- Recess: All Growed Down (2003) as Upside-Down Girl
- Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie (2017) as Helga Pataki
Video Games
Francesca's voice as Helga Pataki has also appeared in video games.
- Nicktoons Racing (2000)
- Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl (2021)
- Nickelodeon Extreme Tennis (2022)
- Nickelodeon Kart Racers 3: Slime Speedway (2022)
Awards and Recognition
Francesca Marie Smith has been recognized for her amazing voice acting.
- In 1998, she won an award for Best Performance in a Voice-Over – TV or Film: Young Actress at the 19th Youth in Film Awards. This was for her role as Helga Pataki in Hey Arnold!.
- She was also nominated for other awards, including for her work on Itsy Bitsy Spider and The Secret World of Alex Mack.
Personal Life and Education
Francesca Marie Smith has also focused on her education.
- She studied at Pepperdine University and graduated in 2008.
- Later, she earned a Ph.D. from USC Annenberg in 2021.
Health Journey
In March 2019, Francesca shared that she was diagnosed with a health condition called multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, which can sometimes make it hard for people to move or speak.
In April 2024, she experienced a difficult period with her MS. This affected her ability to walk, speak, and eat solid foods for a few weeks. To help with her recovery, she started a fundraiser called *FrancescaAndHerMSJourney*.
