Image Source: Wikipedia, Animation Magazine

Dove Cameron was recently cast as Ellen, the elder sister to Nate in the classic comic series Big Nate. Though Big Nate is practically a universe in itself, Dove Cameron did not know much about the comics and the books of the franchise. "I wasn't aware of Big Nate and the really devout following before I read what would turn into our show," she shared with Screen Rant. "I just knew that it was very beloved, and I knew that it had its own comic."

Telling how she first got accustomed to the comics, she shared that her small town held a garage sale that had a separate section for comics and she went to the sale to search for Batman comics. In the end, she was converted into a DC fan. 

"Because I ended up loving Marvel and I ended up loving DC, that just became very important to me. But that's the comic world that I lived in," she explained. "I know that there's some people that are really comic book people, and I would never want to step on their toes, but I grew up loving the romance of comics. I loved Archie Comics growing up, but that's not really the space I inhabit anymore."

So, when she said yes to Big Nate, it was for the nostalgia that it held for being the old school comics. She referred to it as "a love letter to classic animation and classic cartoon style, but with this really gorgeous visual." She continued, "It's CGI and 2D, and they use natural light."

"The 2D is paying homage to how the original comics were, and it's giving a very cartoonish feel and movement to a very grounded-in-reality setting with the lighting," she explained about the animations' style. "And they have managed to make it feel so nostalgic. So, I was really excited about being a part of something that felt like going back to all of my favorite cartoons growing up, but bringing such a beautiful new elevated light to them."

Talking about her character in the series, Ellen, Cameron shared the struggles of recording in a pandemic, along with the sibling rivalry her character shares with other characters on the show and being inspired by her castmates. 

"I very rarely ever get to work with any of the other cast. But I did, in the past, work with them a few times. We were trying to figure out how we were going to record in the pandemic, and there were a few times we were all together," she revealed. "And it was mind-blowing, watching Ben do his thing. I was like, "I need to step up my game."

Appreciating Ben, she shared that he is "funny" and is very creative and that seeing him in his element is inspiring for others. Dove Cameron revealed that she thinks Ben is better than her in the field and that is an endearing quality for her as she gets inspired to better herself, pushing her to work harder and reach that level of brilliance. 

Yet, the castmates have not received the honor to have worked together for Big Nate and there is particularly not a relationship with the other actors who are starring in Big Nate. Though it might be "weird," admitted Cameron, they do have chemistry in their relationship. Explaining that she works on the recordings that Ben gets to do before her, they have struck a balance in their work. 

Revealing what aspect of her character calls the most out to her, Cameron said, "Ellen is really a product of the show itself. The whole show, I think I went into it nervous and really trying to be like, "Okay, I'm gonna build this character. They expect this, this, and this. I'm going to really be a good student with this." And the longer I was a part of the cast, the more I was like, "No, they really want the individual to bring what they're bringing."

She shared that it is her who gets to shape the character the way she wants, and because the comedy is open in its expanse she gets to shape things and influence the character. 

Still, the actress revealed, "I think what I'm excited about with Ellen is that she just gets more and more ridiculous. The storylines are insane, literally. There's even one storyline that I don't want to give away, but I turned to the producer and was like, "Can we do that?" And he was like, "Yeah, we checked. We checked, like, five or six times." I was like, "Okay, so I'm not crazy to think that is wild." And he was like, "For sure. We barely got away with it."

The creators are also really adept at what they are doing and the content of the show has been wonderful until now. She also revealed that the show is a product of "really wonderful programming that is actually funny, rather than doing everything by the book." "This show makes me howl with laughter. I'm just excited for people to see how ridiculous heights are that we're allowed to stretch to, including Ellen," she added. 

Apart from Big Nate, Dove Cameron has a few other works lined up her way. While she said that she can not yet share anything about Schmigadoon, she is excited about the show and to come back whenever it does. 

Ben Giroux, Dave Cameron and Rob Delaney will star in Big Nate; Credits: Deadline

She also revealed, "And then I have a movie coming out called Good Mourning with Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox and Pete Davidson that's coming out. Yeah, it's a very fun one. I can't actually tell you anything about that, because we're a Band of Brothers. We're like, "Hey, blood pact. Nobody talks about it," she ended.