You’ve probably seen her face—that intense, often watchful gaze—and wondered why she looks so familiar. Maybe it was the cult-heavy tension of Devil in Ohio or the gritty, found-footage chaos of American Vandal. Xaria Dotson has this specific way of taking over a scene without saying a word, and honestly, her filmography is way more interesting than most people realize.
She isn't just another face in the "teen drama" crowd. She’s basically carved out a niche for herself in the "traumatized but resilient" category. It’s a tough spot to fill.
What has Xaria Dotson been in? The big ones
If you’re trying to pin down where you know her from, it’s almost certainly one of three major projects. She’s a Netflix regular, but she also spent some time in the weird, dark corners of Facebook Watch.
Devil in Ohio (2022)
This is the one that really put her on the map for a wider audience. In this limited series, Xaria plays Jules Mathis.
She’s the daughter of a psychiatrist (played by Emily Deschanel) who makes the questionable decision to bring a cult escapee into their home. Jules is the heart of the show in a lot of ways. While the adults are busy dealing with the "devil" of the title, Jules is just trying to survive high school while her life is being slowly hijacked by the mysterious Mae.
The dynamic between Xaria and Madeleine Arthur (who played Mae) was genuinely unsettling. It wasn't just typical sibling rivalry; it was a slow-burn psychological invasion. Xaria had to play "the normal girl" while everything around her was spiraling, which is a lot harder than it looks.
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The Birch (2019–2021)
Before the Netflix cult drama, she was the lead in The Birch. If you haven't seen it, it’s a horror series from Crypt TV that aired on Facebook Watch.
She played Evie Grayson.
Evie is a kid who’s been bullied to the brink and decides to summon a bloodthirsty forest monster for protection. It’s dark. It’s messy. Xaria carried two seasons of this, evolving from a victim to someone who’s essentially trapped by the very monster she called for help. It’s probably her most "raw" performance because the show leans so heavily into the supernatural horror of being a social outcast.
American Vandal Season 2 (2018)
Long before the forest monsters and the cults, she was Tori Carucci in the second season of American Vandal.
This show was a masterpiece of mockumentary storytelling. While the first season was about "who drew the dicks," the second season was about "The Turdburglar." It sounds ridiculous, but the show treated its characters with a level of respect that most teen dramas lack. As Tori, Xaria was part of the core student group caught up in the investigation. It was a smaller role compared to Jules or Evie, but it was the first time a lot of people noticed her ability to play grounded, believable teenagers.
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The early days in Portland
Xaria didn't just stumble into Hollywood. She’s been doing this since she was literally a baby. She’s from Portland, Oregon, and her first gig was actually a print ad for Fred Meyer when she was only 9 months old.
Growing up, she was basically a theater kid. Her parents worked at a vocational school for acting and modeling, so she was around the craft her whole life. She even won a "best acting" award at the Portland 48 Hour Film Festival back in 2013 for a short called Red Courage.
She also spent time studying digital media and working on commercials for brands like Google and Lincoln Navigator. That technical background probably helps her understand the "vibe" of a set better than actors who just show up and wait for their trailer.
Notable guest spots and shorter roles
Aside from the big three, she’s popped up in a few other places that might be tickling your brain:
- Chad (2021): She appeared in the episode "Sword." If you missed this show, it’s Nasim Pedrad’s cringe-comedy about a Persian-American boy.
- American Brothers (2019): A smaller film project where she played a character named Sarah.
- Double Oh Awesome (2016): One of her earlier credits from the Portland scene.
Why she’s a "watch this space" actor
Honestly, the reason people keep searching for "what has Xaria Dotson been in" is that she feels like she’s on the verge of a massive breakout.
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She has this "indie-horror" aesthetic that works really well in the current streaming landscape. She doesn't do the "glossy" Hollywood thing. Her characters usually have a bit of dirt under their fingernails and a lot of baggage in their heads.
In The Birch, she talked about how she related to Evie's "quiet nature" and her connection to the outdoors. That authenticity is probably why her performances in horror and thrillers feel so earned. She isn't just screaming at a monster; she's making you feel the loneliness that led her to the monster in the first place.
Practical next steps for fans:
If you want to catch up on her work, here is exactly where to go:
- Netflix: Watch Devil in Ohio for a heavy mystery and American Vandal Season 2 for some top-tier mockumentary satire.
- Facebook Watch/YouTube: Search for The Birch. Most of the episodes are short and easy to binge, but don't watch them alone if you're squeamish about "tree-based" horror.
- Instagram: She’s fairly active there, sharing behind-the-scenes looks at her life in the PNW and her upcoming projects.
She’s currently 28 (born December 27, 1997), which means she’s moving out of those "teen" roles and into more adult, complex characters. Keep an eye on her casting announcements for 2026—she’s definitely a favorite for casting directors looking for someone who can handle "dark and complicated."