Karla Souza has built a remarkable and multifaceted career that defies easy categorization. She famously captivated international audiences as law student Michaela Pratt, a character desperately covering up multiple murders in the hit ABC series How To Get Away With Murder. She later claimed two International Emmys for producing and starring in the powerful drama Dive (La Caída), effortlessly constructing a filmography that bridges the creative landscapes of Hollywood and Mexico. Yet, despite her extensive list of accolades and critical successes, it took a little blue engine to finally impress arguably the most fickle and honest audience of her entire life: her three children, ages 8, 6, and 2.
Souza is the newly announced Spanish-language narrator of Thomas & Friends Railway Stories: Really Helpful Engines, an engaging 30-minute special that heralds a fresh and exciting era for the enduring franchise. The project introduces refreshed character designs, three original songs, and a heartwarming storyline centered on the timeless values of friendship, teamwork, and helping others. Furthermore, as Souza discovered shortly after signing on to the project, she is breaking barriers as the first woman—and the first Mexican woman—ever to narrate Thomas & Friends.
Recently, Souza sat down for an interview to discuss the new special, why the concept of "work-life balance" is an elusive myth, the liberating reality of officially surrendering to minivan life, and how playing an expectant mother on television years ago unexpectedly prepared her for the realities of raising three children.
A First-Time Project to Share With Family
With her children currently aged 8, 6, and 2, Souza finds herself right in the heart of the demographic prime for the iconic train franchise. When asked whether her children were fans of the property prior to her involvement, or if they truly understood what their mother was doing in the recording booth, Souza admitted that this venture represents a major milestone for her family dynamic.
"This is actually the first project that I’m able to watch with them, so it was very special," Souza shared. She noted that she was eager and excited to finally share a piece of her professional life with them for the first time. However, the introduction did cause some initial confusion in the household. "They were very confused as to why I wasn’t making the train sounds and why that was somebody else. There was a lot of confusion with that part of it, but I love this new chapter of being able to share these kinds of things. And it was the first thing that I did for that kind of age range."
Looking toward the future, Souza expressed a profound appreciation for the longevity of the franchise and the unique opportunity to leave a tangible artistic legacy for her descendants. "I just find it so special to think that maybe, when they have kids, they’ll be able to show old Grandma… there’s something to be said about doing projects that can live on for generations."
Making History as a Trailblazing Narrator
The significance of her role extends far beyond her own living room. As a Latina artist stepping into a traditionally male-dominated narrative space, Souza recognizes the cultural weight of representing her community in such a globally recognized property. When informed of the historic nature of her casting, she expressed deep humility and excitement.
"I wasn’t aware that this is the first time that a woman and that a Mexican woman is the narrator of Thomas and Friends," Souza said. "I am so honored, and I’m very excited that female voices get to guide these new generations in seeing women in these kinds of positions."
Souza also praised the deliberate pacing and tone of the refreshed franchise, contrasting it favorably with the high-octane sensory overload found in much of modern children’s media. In an era where young minds are constantly bombarded by hyper-stimulating digital content, she finds immense value in media that encourages quiet reflection and emotional intelligence.
"I love how Thomas and Friends has content that isn’t in overdrive, as a lot of the kids’ content nowadays is extremely saturated with, I don’t know, stimulation is just being thrown at you," she explained. "I find that this type of content is not only going to provoke imagination, but it’s also going to turn on their hearts how to be a better person, how to work as a team, how to learn from mistakes in a calmer way. So it’s been a great thing to watch with my 2-year-old as well as with my 6- and 8-year-old. That doesn’t really get to happen as much, so I’m really grateful for that."
Dismantling the Myth of Balance
Balancing a demanding international acting and producing career while raising three children across two countries is a monumental task, but Souza is remarkably candid about how she approaches the daily chaos. When asked what balance actually looks like in her life, she was quick to dismiss the term entirely.
"Yeah, it’s not possible," Souza said bluntly. "I think that word is thrown around as if it were possible to have a balanced life. I mean, anyone who’s near my life is like, ‘How do you do this?’"
Drawing a parallel to her new favorite subject, Souza explained that survival relies heavily on infrastructure rather than effortless equilibrium. "I think the trains have systems; they’re on the tracks. There are times when the train leaves. If there’s a delay, there’s an announcement to all the people that there’s a delay. It’s the same. If I didn’t have all these systems and a community of people around me to support me, my husband, my family, our nanny, the school, everything, we would not be able to do this."
Growing up without a working mother meant Souza had no early blueprint for managing a career and a household simultaneously, making her journey a continuous, highly demanding learning curve. She admits that maternal guilt remains an ongoing topic of discussion in her therapy sessions, acknowledging that the emotional weight is both real and difficult to navigate. Yet, she finds reassurance in a powerful counter-narrative: showing her children what it means to passionately pursue a purpose and impact society.
"I will say that also the ability to see my kids watching me do something that I love, watching me impact society in a way, watching me live out my purpose, is as important as being with them 24-7."
Parenting as an Ultimate Mirror
With a two-year-old toddler in the house alongside her older children, Souza has observed fascinating differences in the developmental stages of her family. Parenting her youngest has provided immediate, sometimes humorous insight into her own behavior and household dynamics.
"My 2-year-old started saying words that were like, ‘Where did she hear that?’" Souza recalled with amusement. "I’m like, ‘Obviously from us; there’s no other place. This word isn’t going to magically appear in her mouth. That is why she is saying that word.’ It’s funny how you’re in denial of, like, ‘I don’t do that,’ but surely we do."
Souza views the parenting journey as a profound mirror for personal accountability, noting that children quickly notice hypocrisy when adults attempt to enforce lessons they themselves struggle to practice. Whether it is attempting to teach breathwork during moments of frustration or observing how her youngest daughter mirrors the behavior of her eight-year-old sister, Souza recognizes the immense impact of environmental modeling.
"Whenever I’ve noticed that working on myself is actually the best way to show up for them and to model it, that’s how I see it with my 2-year-old and my 8-year-old," she noted. While she consciously tries to avoid overburdening her eldest daughter with premature caretaking responsibilities, she notes a natural, tender pull toward looking after her baby sister.
Surrendering to the Minivan Era
With her youngest firmly establishing her reign as the "queen of the household," Souza has officially accepted a major lifestyle shift, marked by a quintessential milestone of modern parenthood: purchasing her first minivan.
"The 2-year-old’s my last one. We just bought ourselves our first minivan, so I’ve given up. That’s it; I’m a mom of three. I’ve never had a minivan in my life, and we just got one. I’m like, ‘All right, that’s who I am now,’" she joked.
Despite initial hesitations about abandoning sleek, stylish vehicles, Souza has quickly discovered the undeniable functional perks of the quintessential family carrier. "The kids just get in and they get out, and it’s just so comfortable. I feel more powerful driving it than I thought I would be. I’m like, ‘This is actually cooler than I thought.’ But yes, I’ve given up on the cool, sexy cars now and I’m like, ‘All right, I’m going to embrace it.’"
Reflections on the Past and Looking Forward
The conversation also touched upon the 12th-year anniversary of the premiere of How To Get Away With Murder, prompting Souza to reflect on how her perspective on her past roles has shifted now that she is a mother of three. Playing Laurel Castillo—a character navigating the harrowing trials of pregnancy and early motherhood amidst intense dramatic chaos—now strikes her with a sense of lingering disbelief.
"Man, I am in awe of Laurel being able to be a mom at that period of her life. I’m still shocked. And I’m shocked that I, as a human being, was able to… I think I was pregnant when I did that scene on the elevator where she’s having these contractions and there’s a potential stillbirth. Nowadays, knowing so much more, I’m like, ‘I don’t know how I could do that today,’" Souza reflected.
However, she credits those intense formative acting experiences with granting her an unexpected vote of confidence, proving that she was capable of stepping into the role of a mother despite years of personal self-doubt. Looking back at her younger self, who often wondered how professional ambitions, travel, and family could ever coexist, Souza offers an encouraging message to women facing similar hesitations.
"For all the moms out there, all the women out there, who feel like they wouldn’t be able to do it, I was that person," Souza said. "I was definitely thinking, ‘How can I still have a career and do what I love and travel with my friends in a minivan? How can I do all these things and still have kids?’ It’s possible. Does it all look the same as when I was single? No, it doesn’t, but it is possible. It’s tough, but that’s the caveat. It’s the silver lining."
