Dove Cameron Embraces New Chapter with '56 Days' Role

The former Disney star discusses her transition to adult roles and the responsibility she feels for complex characters.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 3:07pm

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Dove Cameron, who rose to fame on Disney shows like 'Liv and Maddie' and 'Descendants', is starring in the new Prime Video thriller series '56 Days'. The 30-year-old actress opens up about the 'responsibility' she feels to do justice to her complex character Ciara, and how she's embracing a more adult chapter in her career after being typecast from her childhood fame.

Why it matters

Cameron's shift from Disney stardom to more mature, nuanced roles reflects a common challenge for child actors - transitioning to adult parts and shedding their youthful public image. Her experience highlights the evolving nature of Hollywood and the opportunities available to former child stars who are able to successfully reinvent themselves.

The details

In '56 Days', Cameron plays Ciara, who begins an intense relationship with Oliver that is examined through flashbacks and a police investigation. The actress says she feels a deep 'responsibility' to her complex characters, wanting to 'do them justice'. Cameron was first approached about the show two years ago at the Met Gala, reconnecting with creator Karyn Usher whom she had met a decade prior about a different project that ultimately went to another actress.

  • Cameron was in New York for the Met Gala two years ago when she first got the call about '56 Days'.
  • Cameron first met the show's creator Karyn Usher about a different project around 10 years ago.

The players

Dove Cameron

A 30-year-old actress who rose to fame on Disney shows like 'Liv and Maddie' and 'Descendants', and is now starring in the new Prime Video thriller series '56 Days'.

Karyn Usher

The creator of the '56 Days' series, whom Cameron had first met about a different project around 10 years prior.

Avan Jogia

Cameron's co-star in '56 Days', playing the role of Oliver.

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What they’re saying

“There's this feeling that when I read a script, when I really love the character that is like, it's not work-related. It's almost as though they're a real person to me and I feel this sense of responsibility. 'I understand you, I want to do you justice.' I think that she's a deeply complex character. I'm always drawn to characters that need a little bit of defense.”

— Dove Cameron, Actress

“People are more complex and more fragile and more affectable than we make them out to be. People are not one-dimensional and it doesn't make them good or bad. It makes them something in between. I think that presenting complex characters like this and asking the audience to understand and empathize with them is actually a really beautiful psychological exercise into understanding other people around you or not dehumanizing people.”

— Dove Cameron, Actress

What’s next

The '56 Days' series is set to premiere on Prime Video in the coming months, with anticipation building around Cameron's performance in the complex lead role.

The takeaway

Dove Cameron's transition from Disney stardom to more mature, nuanced acting roles in shows like '56 Days' reflects the evolving opportunities available to former child actors who are able to shed their youthful public image and embrace more complex, adult characters.