Honestly, it’s kinda wild to look back at Ariana Greenblatt in Stuck in the Middle and realize that the tiny girl in the indoor dollhouse is now a full-blown movie star. If you’ve been keeping up with Hollywood lately, you’ve seen her everywhere—from the pink-hued world of Barbie to the gritty sci-fi of Borderlands. But for a whole generation of Disney Channel fans, she’ll always be Daphne Diaz, the youngest, most mischievous sibling of the Diaz clan.
She was literally six years old when she booked that role. Most kids that age are struggling to tie their shoes, but Ariana was out here filming 57 episodes of a major sitcom.
Who Was Daphne Diaz, Anyway?
In the show, Ariana played the youngest of seven children. If you’ve ever been "stuck in the middle" of a big family, you know the youngest usually has two options: be invisible or be the boss.
Daphne chose to be the boss.
She was known for her signature "tea times" with her dolls, but don't let the cuteness fool you. She lived in a literal dollhouse inside the family’s living room and was basically a tiny dictator with a dry sense of humor.
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What made the character work?
- The Sarcasm: For a kid who hadn't even finished first grade, Ariana’s delivery was surprisingly sharp.
- The Independence: Daphne did her own hair and picked her own clothes.
- The "Queen" Energy: She frequently reminded her siblings that she was essentially running the house.
It’s actually pretty funny—Ariana has mentioned in older interviews with Just Jared Jr. that she loved playing Daphne because the character made her own rules. That "no-nonsense" energy clearly translated to her real-life career trajectory.
The Cast Connection: Was It Real?
People always wonder if the Diaz family actually liked each other when the cameras stopped rolling. According to basically everyone involved, they really did.
Ariana has often described the cast as her "second family." Since she was the baby of the group, actors like Jenna Ortega (who played Harley) and Isaak Presley (Ethan) treated her like a real younger sister.
It wasn't just for show. They’d grab dinners together off-set, and because many of the cast members were only-children in real life, the set of Stuck in the Middle was their only chance to experience that "big family" chaos. Jenna Ortega once said they saw each other Monday through Friday, so the bond was instant and unavoidable.
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Why Stuck in the Middle Was the Ultimate Crash Course
Working on a Disney set is basically acting bootcamp.
Ariana didn't have a huge resume before this. She actually booked three different Disney jobs—Liv and Maddie, Legendary Dudas, and Stuck in the Middle—during a single family vacation to L.A. when she was six. Imagine going on vacation and coming home with a career.
She told Unpublished Magazine that the show taught her everything about storytelling and filmmaking. While other kids were in traditional classrooms, she was learning how to hit marks, deliver lines to a multi-cam setup, and handle the pressure of a professional set.
Life After the Diaz House
A lot of Disney stars struggle to move on, but Ariana’s transition was almost suspiciously smooth.
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- Avengers: Infinity War (2018): Just as Stuck in the Middle was wrapping up, she appeared as Young Gamora. If you can handle being on screen with Josh Brolin’s Thanos, you can handle anything.
- 65 (2023): She played a character who didn’t even speak the same language as Adam Driver’s character, forcing her to rely entirely on physical acting.
- Barbie (2023): As Sasha, she played the "unimpressed daughter," which felt like a more mature, cynical version of that Daphne Diaz spark.
- Ahsoka: She stepped into the Star Wars universe as a young Ahsoka Tano, proving she could handle heavy prosthetic work and high-intensity action.
Where Can You Watch It Now?
If you’re feeling nostalgic or want to see where it all started, Stuck in the Middle is currently streaming on Disney+. You can also find individual episodes or seasons for purchase on platforms like Apple TV and Google Play.
It’s a weirdly comforting watch. Even in 2026, the "big family" tropes hold up, and seeing a young Jenna Ortega and Ariana Greenblatt sharing the screen is a trip, knowing they’re now two of the biggest names in the industry.
What’s Next for Ariana?
She isn't slowing down. At 18, she’s already a L'Oréal ambassador and has a slate of massive films like Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (releasing late 2025/early 2026) and the Netflix horror-thriller Fear Street: Prom Queen.
She’s even hinted at wanting to write and direct. Given how much she learned on that Disney set a decade ago, it wouldn't be a surprise to see her behind the camera sooner rather than later.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
- Rewatch the Pilot: If you go back to the first episode of Stuck in the Middle, pay attention to Ariana’s comedic timing—it’s actually impressive for a six-year-old.
- Track the Transformation: Compare her role in Barbie to Daphne Diaz. You can see the same "boss" attitude, just evolved for a teenage audience.
- Check Out Her Newer Work: If you only know her from Disney, watch 65 or Ahsoka to see the range she developed after the show ended.
Ariana Greenblatt's time in the Diaz household wasn't just a "kid show" phase—it was the foundation for one of the most successful post-Disney careers we've seen in years. It just goes to show that sometimes, being "stuck in the middle" is exactly where you need to be to get noticed.