Carolyn Hopkins, Voice Of 200 Airports & NYC Subway, Speaks To CBS News (VIDEO)

Ever wonder what the woman whose voice welcomes you at airports and on the New York City subway looks like? CBS News headed to rural Maine to interview 63-year-old Carolyn Hopkins, the woman behind countless welcomes ("Welcome to Charles de Gaulle airport"), statements ("there is an uptown local train one station away") and even weather warnings.

Hopkins voice can be heard at over 200 airports and train stations around the world. Hopkins, for one, says that "traveling can be such a bummer nowadays that people need a friendly voice."

WATCH CBS' chat with Hopkins at her home below.

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Comments

[ZombyWoof]

12:08 PM on 11/15/2011

The first time I heard her voice on the subway it sounded very familiar:

"Danger, the emergency destruct sequence has now been activated. The ship will self-destruct in T minus, ten minutes. The option to override automatic detonation will expire in t-minus, FIVE MINUTES. "

[fortiz557]

01:03 AM on 11/15/2011

Are they the same voices on the GPS systems I wonder?

[nos2001]

08:01 AM on 11/15/2011

i remember the voice of the operator when you called.

[sergal stew]

01:25 AM on 12/27/2011

Is it the same gal?

[MORAL SOLUTION]

11:40 PM on 11/14/2011

In LA, the voice you hear is a retired porn "star."
In Las Vegas, the voice you hear is an ex-escort/coctail waitress.
Those ladies need something stable.

[hpsuksnads]

08:27 PM on 11/14/2011

You know I have been at a few of those airports in the U.S. and never put 2 and 2 together. I just thought it was just a very well computerized voice doing the announcements. This is so cool!

[jbeachboy]

07:17 PM on 11/14/2011

she is the don lafontaine of airports? who are youuuuuuuu, who who, who are youuuuuuuuuu

[sdlvgirl]

06:54 PM on 11/14/2011

Love her. She seems so sweet and nice.

[twfslc]

04:35 PM on 11/14/2011

I believe shes the voice of the O'Hare ATS, as well as the voice remind people not to smoke at O'Hare.

[ecurbwl]

04:04 PM on 11/14/2011

I'm glad they haven't lowered themselves and employed a rapper to announce flight arrivals and other airport announcements. Yo man, you be fasten dat seat belt. We be touchin down 'bout 10 minutes. Put dat seat straight up.

[Michael Theriot]

04:29 PM on 11/14/2011

Word.

[Al Kero]

02:26 PM on 11/14/2011

The voices in the NYC subway system still to this day speak an unknown language

[CAELadyJane50]

01:41 PM on 11/14/2011

I haven't been inside any airport for over twenty years, traveling by air is too expensive. I don't know what it is like listening to a voice at an airport or subway but when it comes to Walmart stores, no voice is a lot better than any voice coming from Walmart employees. Those Walmart employees play with the microphone system like it was a toy to play with. When they see someone they don't like shopping there, they talk into the microphone to invade that person's privacy throughout the whole shopping experience. I've had this happen to me at Walmart stores for over ten years and it never stops; complained through their website, still would not stop verbally harrassing me when I shop there. I have to say "no voice is still alot better than a voice".

[pac511]

08:37 PM on 11/14/2011

wow, you must be fun to take out to lunch too.

[CAELadyJane50]

10:37 PM on 11/14/2011

Thank you for the comment. I read your other comments and I agree with some of what you mentioned.

[PleaseNoPolitics]

01:19 PM on 11/14/2011

Now if I can just put a face to the voice in my head....

[Z trufflesniffer]

01:52 PM on 11/14/2011

I understand. Some days are just not dog days.

[hpsuksnads]

08:28 PM on 11/14/2011

Shoot I has several in my head!!! LOL

[Steven Lowell]

01:02 PM on 11/14/2011

This is awesome. Always great to put a face to the voice!

We know lots of people like this at Voice123.

Cool to hear that she's in NYC!
Steven
Voice123

[skgserenity]

01:01 PM on 11/14/2011

Nice to meet you Carolyn! I love that she seems like just the kind of person with whom I would enjoy spending time. As relaxed and kind as her voice sounds, and I know it must be that smile!

[robertstone1robert]

12:58 PM on 11/14/2011

Welcome to the Huffington Post.

[hpsuksnads]

08:29 PM on 11/14/2011

That's not a voice, that's a nightmare announcement!!!

[robertstone1robert]

09:31 PM on 11/14/2011

Perhaps, I'll get one Carolyn Hopkins to welcome herself.

[mebemommee06]

12:57 PM on 11/14/2011

This is nothing new. Ever see what some DJ's on the radio look like. Btw, its their voice that matters not their looks.