Selica Torcal is a Spanish actress born in Segovia on February 15, 1932, whose career has been primarily defined by her extensive work in dubbing, establishing her as one of the most notable voice actresses in Spain. Her professional journey began in 1942 with the Compañía Infantil Lope de Rueda, followed by a four-year stint with the Compañía del Teatro Español starting in 1943. This early stage experience laid the foundation for a career that would span across theater, radio, film, and television, with her most iconic contributions coming from a voice that became familiar to generations of viewers.

Torcal's voice is perhaps most famously associated with the title character in the Japanese anime series Heidi, which premiered in Spain in 1975. Her portrayal of the cheerful young girl became deeply embedded in popular culture, though the role came with its own challenges. The demanding recording schedule, which required her to produce the energetic voice of a five-year-old for hours each day, led to her losing her voice. This necessitated her replacement by another actress from episode twenty-one onward. In later interviews, Torcal spoke candidly about the experience, humorously noting that the character left her mute and that she did not hold fond memories of the demanding job, despite acknowledging the tenderness she brought to the role and the phenomenon it became.

Beyond this landmark role, Torcal provided the Spanish voice for a range of memorable animated characters. She was the voice of the bear cub Jackie in the series The Big Bear of Tallac. Her work also included the character Polon in Ochamegami Monogatari Korokoro Poron and Marielle in Tongari Bōshi no Memoru. In the world of Western animation and puppetry, she voiced the beloved Miss Piggy from The Muppets. Her versatility extended into the realm of anime for older audiences, as she took on the role of Marin the Eagle in the popular series Saint Seiya, also known as Knights of the Zodiac, in addition to voicing other characters like Makoto and Eri.

In addition to her animation work, Selica Torcal built a substantial career dubbing the voices of numerous international live-action actresses for Spanish audiences. She became the regular Spanish voice for actresses such as Margot Kidder, most notably in the Superman film saga from 1978 to 1986. She also lent her voice to Pamela Sue Martin and Emma Samms in the television series Dynasty, and to Susan Saint James in McMillan & Wife. This aspect of her work demonstrates her range in covering different genres and her ability to become the recognizable voice of many stars for the Spanish public.

Her career was not confined to the dubbing booth. Torcal maintained a significant presence in theater, with roles in classic productions like Hamlet, Richard III, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Fuenteovejuna. In her later career, she appeared in musicals such as My Fair Lady in 2001 and plays like Maribel and the Strange Family in 2005 and Filomena Marturano in 2006. She also made appearances in film and television, including a role in the 2012 television comedy series Con el culo al aire. Her work in short films earned her recognition, including a nomination for a Goya Award for her role in Zumo de limón in 2011 and a nomination for Best Actress at the Fugaz Awards for Ni una sola línea.