Pop-Culturalist.com

Caleb Dolden is one of the industry’s most promising rising stars, captivating audiences with his breakout performance in Peacock’s Teacup. The show, inspired by Robert McCammon’s New York Times bestselling novel Stinger, follows a disparate group of people in rural Georgia who must come together in the face of a mysterious and formidable threat to survive. Caleb takes on the unique challenge of portraying two intertwined characters: Arlo and Harbinger.

As Arlo, Caleb embodies the essence of a typical nine-year-old boy—full of life, playful mischief, and a deep bond with his mother and sister. In contrast, Harbinger represents a mysterious entity within Arlo, inherently good yet driven by fear and an unyielding determination to protect those around him. Harbinger’s warnings about an impending, deadly threat create tension and urgency that add layers to the narrative. Caleb’s ability to seamlessly shift between the innocent charm of Arlo and the intense, foreboding presence of Harbinger highlights his remarkable range and depth as an actor, establishing him as a talent to watch in this gripping series

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Caleb about Teacup.

PC: Tell us about Teacup, your character, and what drew you to this project.
Caleb: Teacup is a multi-genre show. It’s a bit like an onion, with many different layers. The first two layers are rooted in horror, while the others explore family dynamics and relationships. At its core, it’s about people and their survival. Teacup even has that layer of the onion that makes you cry. The audience should both cry and laugh at the right moments.

My character, Arlo, is a typical nine-year-old boy. He enjoys playing games with his family, pulling pranks, and is close to his mom and sister. The other side of my character, Harbinger, is an entity within him that is inherently good but fearful and determined to keep people safe. Harbinger is trying to warn them about an impending threat that could be deadly.

What drew me to Teacup was the incredibly well-written script. It offered the opportunity to bring two distinct characters to life and had an intriguing sense of mystery. The more I read Ian McCulloch’s script, the more I grew to love the story and my character. Each time I received a new script, I couldn’t wait to dive in, discover what would happen next, and uncover more layers of the story.

PC: How did you identify and emphasize the distinctions between Arlo and Harbinger to make sure the audience could clearly see the differences between them?
Caleb: Playing two different characters is so much fun. In fact, one of my favorite things to do with my family is play games and pull pranks, which makes Arlo similar to me. Harbinger, on the other hand, is an invisible entity that communicates through me and isn’t accustomed to this world. His speech is different—more fragmented and broken. The distinctions between the two characters are subtle, but we aimed to make them just clear enough for the audience to notice the difference.

PC: Arlo and his older sister Meryl share such a special sibling dynamic. How did you and Emilie Bierre work together to build that bond?
Caleb: You’re right! Emilie Bierre is one of the most special people I’ve ever met. We became friends almost immediately, and the bond you see on screen is genuine. Off set, we spent time doing fun activities like escape rooms, mini-golf, and birthday parties, which really strengthened our connection. Our families grew close as well. Emilie and I now joke that we’re practically siblings. She, Luciano, and I even have our own text message group called the “21 and Younger Club,” and we talk almost every day. My mom always knows when I’m chatting with them because I’m usually laughing.

PC: This is one of your biggest roles to date. What surprised you the most about this experience? What did you learn about your craft along the way?
Caleb: Yes, this is my biggest role to date, and it has probably been the best experience of my life. I learned so much about acting and character development by watching all the other amazing and talented actors. They brought so much experience and knowledge to the set, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything they shared with me.

As filming progressed, I gained so much confidence in both my acting and personal growth. We had an incredible time shooting, and just as much fun between takes with my daily jokes, singing, and sharing a “fact of the day.”

PC: Which scene was your favorite to film, and which one did you find the most challenging?
Caleb: My favorite scene to film was the McNab stabbing scene. It was fascinating to shoot because of the shift when Harbinger recognizes McNab. The most challenging scene, which I can’t discuss yet, was difficult due to the intense emotions involved. That day was also memorable because it was my third-grade graduation. My set teacher, Cindy Sherwood, decorated my chair with balloons and gifts and organized a little awards ceremony for me in front of the entire cast and crew.

To keep up with Caleb, follow him on Instagram. Season 1 of Teacup is available now on Peacock.