You probably know the voice. That specific, slightly sarcastic, Scottish-adjacent lilt belonging to Rayla on Netflix’s The Dragon Prince. It’s a role that has basically defined a generation of fantasy fans. But honestly, if you only think of Paula Burrows as a Moonshadow Elf, you’re missing out on a massive chunk of what she actually does.
She’s a shapeshifter. Not in a magical way, but in a "how is that the same person?" kind of way.
The Dragon Prince and the Voice Myth
Let’s get the big one out of the way first. Paula Burrows is Rayla. She’s been doing it since 2018, and through seven seasons, she’s turned a character that could have been a generic assassin into someone deeply human—or, well, elven.
There was a lot of noise online early on about her accent. People were debating if it was "real" Scottish or some weird hybrid. Fact is, Paula was born in Scotland and moved to Canada as a kid. Her mom is Scottish. So when people complain the accent sounds "off," they’re usually just not used to a natural dialect that hasn't been polished by a Hollywood dialect coach.
But here is the thing most people miss: she voices multiple characters in that show.
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- Rayla: The sarcastic hero.
- Opeli: The high-strung, formal council member.
- Berto: A literal parrot.
Listening to her jump between a high-stakes emotional scene as Rayla and the stiff, authoritative tone of Opeli is a masterclass. It’s not just "doing a voice." It's a complete shift in personality.
Live-Action Roles You Probably Missed
If you look at the Paula Burrows movies and TV shows list on IMDb, it’s a weird, wild mix of Vancouver-shot procedurals and Hallmark-style sweetness. She’s part of that elite group of working actors who seem to pop up in every major production filmed in the Pacific Northwest.
You might have spotted her in The Good Doctor as Kate Spotts, or perhaps in the sci-fi drama Debris as Cheryl. She’s also done the "Christmas movie" circuit, which is basically a rite of passage for Canadian actors. In Never Kiss a Man in a Christmas Sweater, she plays Grace. It’s a far cry from wielding twin blades in Xadia, but she brings a certain groundedness to those roles that keeps them from feeling like cardboard.
The Gritty Side: Unspeakable and Firebug
For the folks who want to see her do something heavier, you have to track down Unspeakable. This was a miniseries about the tainted blood scandal in Canada during the 80s. It’s dark. It’s heavy. Paula plays Jessica Hartley, and it shows a level of dramatic weight that The Dragon Prince only touches on during its saddest moments.
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More recently, she’s been linked to projects like Firebug, starring Taron Egerton. She plays Ellie Tillman. It’s these kinds of roles—the gritty, grounded dramas—where you really see her training from Studio 58 (a legendary acting school in Vancouver) shine through.
Why Does She Keep Playing the "Nice Girl"?
In an interview with GeekGirlCon, Paula actually mentioned that she’s often cast as the "nice girl." She joked about wanting to play a villain. Honestly? I can see it.
If you’ve seen her work in the indie short The Dangers of Online Dating, you know she has a sharp comedic timing that hasn't been fully exploited by big studios yet. She plays a character (also named Paula) who is a sexual health nurse with a phobia of... well, the consequences of dating. It’s awkward, it’s cringey, and it’s brilliant.
What’s Actually Next for Paula?
As of 2026, her schedule is still heavily dominated by the expansion of the Dragon Prince universe, but the transition into more high-profile live-action is clearly happening.
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She’s becoming a staple in the "Vancouver sci-fi" world. Think shows like Resident Alien or Charmed (where she played Flora). These aren't always leading roles, but she’s the kind of actor who makes a five-minute scene memorable enough that you end up Googling her name during the credits.
Practical Steps for Fans
If you want to actually follow her career properly, don't just wait for Netflix recommendations.
- Watch "The Dangers of Online Dating": It's the best showcase of her comedic range outside of voice acting.
- Check her "Sewing" Instagram: Weirdly enough, she’s a huge "sewist." She makes her own clothes. It’s a great way to see the actual person behind the characters.
- Look for her in "Firebug": This is likely her biggest mainstream live-action break in recent years.
Paula Burrows isn't just a voice in a booth. She’s a classically trained stage and screen actor who happens to be world-famous for an accent she grew up hearing at the dinner table. Whether she's playing a parrot or a grieving mother in a medical drama, she stays authentic. And in an industry full of "fake it 'til you make it," that's actually pretty rare.