Honestly, if you weren’t glued to the Disney Channel back in 2017, it’s hard to explain the absolute chokehold the Descendants franchise had on an entire generation. But even amidst the neon hair and the high-budget musical numbers, one tiny, bespectacled girl managed to steal every single scene she was in.
We’re talking about Anna Cathcart.
When Anna Cathcart in Descendants 2 first popped onto the screen as Dizzy Tremaine, she wasn't just another "villain kid." She was a fan who had literally manifested her way onto the set. Before she was the snappy, match-making Kitty Song-Covey on Netflix, Anna was just a kid from Vancouver who was obsessed with the first Descendants movie.
Getting cast as the granddaughter of Lady Tremaine—and the daughter of Drizella—was a massive deal. It wasn't just a role. It was her "in" to the Disney machine.
The Audition That Changed Everything
Most people don’t realize that Anna Cathcart was already a bit of a pro before the Isle of the Lost came calling. She’d done Odd Squad on PBS, which is basically the "pre-school to stardom" pipeline for Canadian actors. But Descendants? That’s different.
She was 12. Just a kid.
Disney was looking for someone who could play "innocent but edgy." Dizzy Tremaine was supposed to be the bridge between the grit of the Isle and the glitter of Auradon. Anna brought this frantic, creative energy that felt real. She wasn't playing a caricature; she was playing a girl who just wanted to make people look pretty while living in a literal garbage dump.
👉 See also: Album Hopes and Fears: Why We Obsess Over Music That Doesn't Exist Yet
The chemistry she had with Sofia Carson (Evie) was instant. It felt like a real big-sister, little-sister bond because, behind the scenes, that’s exactly what it was.
Why Dizzy Tremaine Mattered
Dizzy wasn't a main "VK" (Villain Kid) in the sense that Mal or Jay were. She was the next generation.
In Descendants 2, she’s stuck at Curl Up & Dye, her grandmother’s hair salon. While the older kids are dealing with pirate wars and identity crises, Dizzy is just... vibing. She’s making jewelry out of scrap metal. She’s giving Mal a makeover that basically defined the look of the sequel.
Her presence served a specific narrative purpose: she was the reason Mal felt guilty. Seeing a sweet kid like Dizzy trapped on the Isle made the "Rotten to the Core" lifestyle feel a lot less cool and a lot more like a systemic failure.
Key Moments You Probably Forgot:
- The "Rather Be With You" sequence where she absolutely holds her own against Disney veterans.
- Her pure, unadulterated joy when she finally receives her invitation to Auradon Prep.
- That specific scene in Descendants 3 where she finally gets to be a "real" student, even if the stakes were world-ending at the time.
Life on the Isle: The Behind-the-Scenes Reality
Filming these movies isn't just dancing and singing. It’s grueling.
Anna has talked about how she felt like a total fangirl on the first day. Imagine being 13 and walking onto a set where Dove Cameron and China Anne McClain are just hanging out. She has often mentioned how Sofia Carson and China took her under their wing. They weren't just co-stars; they were mentors who taught her how to handle the "Disney life."
✨ Don't miss: The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads: Why This Live Album Still Beats the Studio Records
One thing that stands out about Anna’s time in the franchise is the makeup. The Dizzy look was intense—colorful, messy, and very "Isle chic." She spent hours in the chair, but that’s where she bonded with the crew.
It’s also worth noting that Anna is of mixed heritage (Chinese and Irish). Seeing a mixed-race girl in a prominent Disney role, especially one that wasn't defined solely by her ethnicity, was a huge win for representation in 2017. She’s mentioned in interviews how lucky she felt to grow up in a diverse place like Vancouver, and bringing that "normalcy" to a fantasy world like Auradon was important to her.
What Happened After the Isle?
By the time Descendants 3 wrapped and the Royal Wedding animated special aired in 2021, Anna was no longer just "the kid from Descendants."
She had become a global star thanks to To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
It’s funny to look back at Dizzy now and see the seeds of Kitty Song-Covey. Both characters are meddlesome in the best way possible. Both have a very specific sense of style. And both are way smarter than the adults around them give them credit for.
When Descendants: The Rise of Red was announced, fans were heartbroken to find out that Anna (along with most of the original cast) wouldn't be returning. The franchise moved toward a prequel/time-travel vibe, leaving Dizzy’s story finished.
🔗 Read more: Wrong Address: Why This Nigerian Drama Is Still Sparking Conversations
But honestly? That’s okay.
Anna moved on to lead her own series, XO, Kitty, which is a rarity for Disney Channel supporting actors. Usually, you get stuck in the "B-plot" forever. She broke that mold.
The Lasting Legacy of Dizzy
If you go to a Disney park today or hit up a Halloween store, you’ll still see Dizzy Tremaine costumes.
She represented the "fandom" within the story. She was the character who looked at the heroes with wide eyes and said, "I want to be where you are." Because Anna Cathcart was actually that fan in real life, the performance never felt forced. It was 100% authentic.
She wasn't just a supporting character. She was the heart of the "new" Isle.
If you're looking to dive back into her filmography, don't just stop at the movies. Check out the Under the Sea short film and the Wicked World animated shorts. Her voice work as Dizzy is just as energetic as her live-action performance.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch the "Rather Be With You" music video to see Anna’s early dance skills—you can see the hip-hop training she’s always talked about.
- Compare her performance in Descendants 2 to the first season of XO, Kitty to see how much her comedic timing evolved.
- Look for her cameo in the Descendants: The Royal Wedding special, which serves as the final canonical appearance of Dizzy Tremaine.