Who did Selena Gomez play in The Fundamentals of Caring? Singer's character in the movie explored

Selena Gomez had a head start in acting with Disney, but that marked only the beginning of her career. Although the Love On singer initially gained massive popularity for her singing, over the years Gomez has continued to refine her acting skills. In 2016, Gomez played Dot in The Fundamentals of Caring, an indie film directed by The Late Show With David Letterman alum Rob Burnett.

The film is based on Jonathan Evison’s 2012 novel The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving. The film follows the life of Ben (played by Paul Rudd), a retired writer and grieving father who decides to become a caregiver, Trevor (played by Craig Roberts), a young man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and Dot, a carefree friend they meet during a trip. The movie first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 29, 2016.

'The Fundamentals Of Caring' Premiere - Arrivals - 2016 Sundance Film Festival. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)

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Selena Gomez's character in The Fundamentals of Caring

Selena Gomez plays the role of Dot, a spirited young adult, in The Fundamentals of Caring. Tired of his monotonous and strict routine, Trevor tells Ben about his dream to take a road trip across America. Along the way, they have an encounter with a hitchhiker, Dot, who continues to take the road trip with them.

Dot is introduced initially in the film as an uninhibited and carefree traveler who wants to escape her dysfunctional family. She is also seen asking Trevor invasive and blunt questions about his muscular dystrophy, such as, "What is wrong with you?" Selena's character develops across the movie and adds much-needed energy and spirit for Ben and Trevor. A subtle romantic relationship also develops between Dot and Trevor.

In an interview with Variety in 2017, the Wizards Of Waverly Place alum revealed how she got the role. Gomez revealed that her manager brought the script to her but added that she would help her get a surprise audition, which means that nobody would know it was Selena Gomez. Gomez added that she did not audition just once, but thrice for the role of Dot in The Fundamentals of Caring. She added,

"It was one of the parts that I fought for. I knew other people were reading for it. So it feels good to feel like I earned it."

At a later point in the interview, Gomez also talked about her acting career and said,

"I haven’t touched the surface of what I’m able to do. I hope I can continue to grow and get better."

In a Flickreel interview in 2016, Robert Burnett talked about his experience working with Selena Gomez and her role as Dot. He said,

“Selena Gomez is a tremendous example of someone who isn’t resting on her laurels."

He added,

"She could easily do that forever. She’s not satisfied just doing Disney movies, she’s pushing out. She did Spring Breakers and now she’s done this with us. It’s impressive. ”

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It is fair to say that Selena Gomez has honed her acting skills over the years and has left the Disney world far behind. Although the singer and actress has acknowledged the significance of being a Disney icon, she has focused on growing her identity apart from it. The Fundamentals of Caring, available to view on Netflix, is an indicator of her acting prowess.