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As soon as Ruby Rose Turner gets her driver's license, she's headed to the beach.

"I'm so ready for a girls road trip with my friends," declares the 18-year-old actress at her summer photo shoot, taking a short break in the shade to snuggle her pup Cinnamon (one of her family's five tiny dogs). "I'm getting my Starbucks drink, putting on some Lana Del Rey and driving to the ocean."

Also on Ruby's summer Pinterest board, besides jumping into her car and making memories with her besties? "Bowling, amusement parks and drive-in movies," she shares. And, ya know, casually starring in one of the most anticipated movie reboots of the summer (Descendants: The Rise of Red premieres July 12 on Disney+).

@disneydescendants

Joining the cast of the iconic series she grew up loving is surreal for Ruby. "This has pretty much been a dream of mine since I was a kid," she confesses. (Srsly, she's a true Descendants fan: The very first song she ever downloaded on her phone was "Evil Like Me" from the OG flick.)

Though Ruby admits she's a teeny bit nervous for the movie to come out ("it's such an honor to be part of it—but definitely overwhelming"), she's manifesting pure positive energy. "I know so much in life is out of my control, so I just try to accept that and stay grateful for where I am and what I'm doing," Ruby says.

So put on your heart-shaped sunglasses, bb! Let's take a ride (maybe even stop in Auradon...) with the queen of our summertime hearts.

@disneydescendants

Once upon a time, it all began in the suburbs of Los Angeles, when a 7-year-old Ruby impressed an agent during an open call audition at her hometown dance studio. Soon, she jetted off to Miami to shoot her first professional TV gig (dancing on the Spanish-language program Sábado Gigante.) "I came home and was just like, 'Oh my goodness, I want to do that again,'" Ruby remembers. 

Then came more opportunities and finally her big break: booking the role of Cami Wrather on Disney Channel's 2018 sitcom Coop & Cami Ask the World. Being cast as a star on a Disney show as a middle schooler (a path shared by Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter, to name a few) could get intense, but for Ruby it was pure fun.

"It was the time of my life—best cast, best show," Ruby shares. "I realized from that experience that I love acting enough to do it forever."

But, soon, the curveball that was 2020 came her way. Coop & Cami ended as quarantine hit, and, like all of us, Ruby was forced to take a step back and assess what was truly important to her. During lockdown, she spent tons of QT with her parents and sibs: sister Nadia and brothers Alec and Alfie. (She's especially close to Nadia, 20, who Ruby says is a grounding and guiding force in her life. "I don't know who I'd be if not for Nadia," she says.)

On the Rise

Flash forward two years, and Ruby was off to Atlanta to take on the role of Bridget, the young Queen of Hearts, in Descendants: The Rise of Red.

While Ruby shared lots of qualities with her Coop & Cami alter ego (they're both outgoing, spunky and high-energy), taking on Bridget was a bit more challenging—especially when it came to giving context to a character as infamous and complex as the queen of hearts.

"Bridget definitely has a sweetness to her and wears her heart on her sleeve, but not in the way people might expect," Ruby explains. "She is who she is—and she has nothing to prove to anybody."

By the end of filming, Ruby had learned a lot from her confident character. "When it comes to confrontation, my go-to is usually stop, drop and roll, like 'Where's the exit?! I can't handle this,'" she laughs. 

Now, when life's inevitable problems pop up, Ruby's trying to channel her inner Queen B (Bridget, that is). "She's resilient—she defends herself, she fights back and she does it in her own unique way," says Ruby. "We all need that friend who hypes you up to go after what you want. I've learned a lot from her."

While Ruby can't give us too many spoilers to the fourth chapter in the beloved franchise, she predicts fantastic onscreen friendships (especially between Bridget and Kylie Cantrall's Red), time travel scenes, fabulous costumes (think: glitter/pink/cupcake) and the kind of belt-along soundtrack you'll have stuck in your head 'til school starts.

But the real magic for her was the incredible bond the entire cast formed behind the scenes. As one of the younger stars on set, Ruby was initially intimidated—but relaxed once she realized she'd acquired a squad of super talented, hard-working besties for life. 

@rubyroseturner

"We are obsessed with each other," shares Ruby. "Lunchtime was the best, with, like, 15 of us just squished together in a little trailer...talking, crying, laughing, dancing. I left the experience with so many new best friends."

And while nothing's been announced, Ruby says she'd be down for another chapter: "If I had the opportunity to work with this cast again, I'd say yes in a heartbeat," she enthuses. "I think Bridget has a lot more stories to tell."

In Her Feels

She may be hanging with the VK crowd (IYKYK) on film, but in her own life Ruby's not exactly in her villain era. Instead, she's leaning into the personality trait she most has in common with Bridget: wearing her heart on her sleeve. 

"I'm such a crier. Sometimes, I need to let it all out," she confesses. "Like, if I wake up and I'm not feeling 100%, which is so normal, it's just so much easier not to pretend."

@rubyroseturner

That's where music, Ruby's biggest outlet, comes in. She's been writing her own songs for years as a hobby ("whatever I'm feeling, I want to write about it," she says) and loves performing (get excited for her big Descendants dance numbers "Life Is Sweeter" and "Shuffle of Love"). 

Now that she can check "act/sing/dance in a project" off her bucket list ("it was the ultimate goal of mine"), Ruby might even start exploring her own music career. "I'd love to put out some stuff and see where it goes," she says. 

Destination: Unknown

What's the next stop for Ruby? More acting (she's got an indie coming-of-age film, Almost Popular, releasing soon)—and even more adventures. 

"I hope I keep evolving," she shares. "Maybe releasing some new music, changing up my style, doing a cool project or moving to another city. Just continuing to push myself past my comfort zone."

We know this for sure: From the Cali coast to Auradon Prep, this breezy road trip is about to be anything but boring. After all, we've got Ruby in the driver's seat...and life up ahead is looking, well, pretty darn rosy.

The Fresh Prints of Bel-Air

Kimono, $81, and pants, $89, Molly Bracken. Top, $65, Revolve. Earrings, $10, Forever 21. Studs, Ruby's own.

A silky co-ord set in boho florals is summertime incarnate, especially when paired with a crocheted halter crop top. A perfect example of how to beat the heat (and bring it at the same time).

Go With the Flow

Dress, $145, JMP The Label. Bodysuit, $18, necklace, $10, and bracelets, $8, Forever 21. Rings, $90 each, Maison Miru.

Contrasting textures—an open-weave tank, a ribbed one-piece, a chunky turquoise puka shell-esque necklace for example—make this fit worthy of any poolside paradise.

Ruffle Things Up

Dress, $30, boots, $45, and earrings, $8, Forever 21. Necklace set, $168, and bracelets, $160 for a set of 5, Artizan Joyeria.

This angelic all-white ensemble is a little bit sweet (a strapless eyelet dress, floral pearl earrings), a little bit sassy (blinged-out booties, mixed metal necklaces) and a whole lotta chic. Think Cool Girl in School...just not in school.

Give Prints a Chance

Top, $59, and pants, $74, Molly Bracken. Sneakers, $75, Skechers. Earrings, $8, and cuff, $10, Forever 21. Necklace, $105, Catherine Weitzman.

A brightly colored retro jumpsuit works anywhere from the beach to a music festival. Just add minty skater-sneakers and that darling daisy eye makeup to match.

Slip Into Something More Sum-merable

Blouse, $535, Forte_Forte. Dress, $15, Forever 21. Pants, $45, Meshki. Shoes, $130, Steve Madden. Earrings, $91 as part of a set, and necklace, $40, Berricle. Bracelet, $160 for a set of 5, Artizan Joyeria. Ring on right hand, $210, and ring on left hand, $115, Catherine Weitzman.

Pair the lacy trim on a '90s slip dress with lace flares, towering Mary Janes and a sheer button-down, and you'll be the most glam hippie chick to ever do it.

This Ain't Texas...

Sweater, $40, boots, $70, and hat, $25, Forever 21. Shorts, $20, H&M. Studs, Ruby's own.

...but there's a little cowgirl in all of us. Bring her out with a Western-inspired hat, scalloped denim shorts and spangly fold-over boots. Beyoncé would be proud.

Flower Power

Dress, $35, T-shirt, $15, earrings, $7, purse, $25, and bracelet set, $10, all Forever 21. Sneakers, $80, Skechers. Belt, $200, Alice + Olivia. Studs, Ruby's own.

Botanical-print earth tones on a sweet sundress echo the rusty Topanga landscape. Layer it with a lemon-colored tee and butterfly-printed hightops, and add a top handle raffia bag for the perfect nature girl tote.

Photographed by Mike Azria. Styled by Lo VonRumpf. Hair by George Fragkioudakis. Makeup by Sophia Hutch. Fashion copy by Sara Gaynes Levy.

by Katherine Hammer | 7/12/2024