The actress Jenna Ortega, famous for her role in “Wednesday,” was born on September 27, 2002. She grew up in the Coachella Valley in Southern California, one of six siblings. Despite her mother’s demanding job as an emergency room nurse and her large family, she always found the time to drive Jenna seven hours to her auditions in LA.
Jenna’s journey into acting was inspired by watching Dakota Fanning’s performance in the 2004 action thriller “Man on Fire,” in which Fanning played the character Lupita Ramos, a young girl protected by a former CIA agent. Jenna expressed her desire to become the “Puerto Rican version of her” during an interview on the “Tamron Hall Show.”
Interestingly, Jenna’s acting career began when a casting agent discovered a video posted by her mother on Facebook when she was just 7 years old. Her mother initially posted the video as a joke for her friends, as she was hesitant about Jenna entering the industry.
It contained a monologue from a book given to Jenna to discourage her from pursuing acting. The casting agent saw the video and offered Jenna roles in commercials for brands like McDonald’s and Old Navy before landing TV and film roles.
In her younger years, Jenna confessed to having a crush on former President Barack Obama, leading her to declare her ambition to become the first female president. Her first acting gig was in a toothpaste commercial when she was nine, and she later starred in TV series like “Rob” and “CSI: NY.”
During an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in 2022, Jenna humorously revealed that she unintentionally became known as the “McDonald’s girl” for a year after starring in three McDonald’s commercials. Each time, she played a child holding an apple, which became a somewhat frustrating experience.
Jenna Ortega made history by voicing Disney’s first-ever Latina princess, Princess Isabel, in the animated series “Elena of Avalor.” She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity and the importance of having a Latina princess.
Jenna is known for her unique and somewhat unusual interests, including conducting animal autopsies as a child. She admitted to dissecting small animals like lizards found in her backyard, which is quite uncommon.
One amusing anecdote in Jenna’s acting journey involved her audition for “Wednesday.” She auditioned after filming a gory scene for the horror film “X” and showed up for her audition covered in fake blood. Surprisingly, the show’s producer, Tim Burton, found it endearing and shared a laugh.
To prepare for her role in “Wednesday,” Jenna learned to play the cello, a skill her character possesses in the series. She began practicing the cello two months before shooting started and developed a deep appreciation for the instrument.
Despite being a vegan for a long time, Jenna had to change her diet while filming “Wednesday” in Romania due to the different food options available there. She transitioned to a pescatarian diet to ensure she met her nutritional requirements.
Jenna’s sense of humor leans toward the dark side, and she shared stories of her twisted humor on the set of “Wednesday,” including jokes exchanged with Christina Ricci.
She is a fan of Sony noise-canceling headphones, carrying them everywhere to enjoy her favorite music and film scores, as well as maintain a sense of comfort. She is a proud ambassador for UNAIDS, working to eliminate the stigma associated with AIDS and promote discussions about the disease. She holds her late grandfather, who passed away from AIDS, in high regard.
Jenna is an avid “Stranger Things” fan, closely following fan theories about the show and embracing her inner nerd. In 2021, Jenna published her first book, “It’s All Love,” which shares personal stories and insights about her experiences as a Latina in Hollywood.
Her career extended into the world of fashion when she landed her first fashion campaign for American Eagle in 2021. She promoted the brand alongside other notable actors and influencers.
To Jenna, fashion is all about feeling comfortable and confident, paying attention to what makes her feel her best.
Jenna Ortega’s Film and TV Apperances
TV Shows:
- “Stuck in the Middle” (2016-2018)
- “Elena of Avalor” (2016-2020)
- “Jane the Virgin” (2014-2019)
- “You” (2019)
- “The Babysitters Club” (2020-2021)
- “Scream” (2021)
- “Wednesday” (2022-)
- “Scream 6” (TBA, announced)
Films:
- “Iron Man 3” (2013)
- “Insidious: Chapter 2” (2013)
- “The Little Rascals Save the Day” (2014)
- “The 33” (2015)
- “Before I Fall” (2017)
- “The Babysitter” (2017)
- “Saving Flora” (2018)
- “The Babysitter: Killer Queen” (2020)
- “Yes Day” (2021)
- “X” (2022)
- “The Fallout” (2021)
- “Mark, Mary & Some Other People” (2021)
- “Scream 5” (2022)
- “Scream 6” (TBA, announced)
- “Jurassic World: Dominion” (2022, upcoming)
- “There’s Someone Inside Your House” (2022, upcoming)
- “The Addams Family 2” (2021)
- “The Babysitter 3” (TBA, announced)
- “The Fallout” (2021)
- “Madres” (2021)
