Highlights
- Jenna Ortega is an up-and-coming actress who has received critical acclaim for her role in the Netflix show Wednesday, which has boosted her star power and net worth.
- Ortega is currently working on Beetlejuice 2 and has six other projects in the pipeline, proving that she will be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry in the coming years.
- While Ortega doesn't want to be limited to one genre, she has a love for horror and could potentially become the new "darling of horror" since Jamie Lee Curtis in the Halloween franchise.
Jenna Ortega has been making headlines ever since the Netflix show Wednesday was released to the platform, with her playing the titular role. When the debut aired in November 2022, fans and critics alike were outspoken in their beliefs that Jenna's role in the Netflix show is going to be her next big break.
So who is this upcoming star? Here's everything about Jenna's life and career so far.
Updated July 2023: Jenna Ortega is an actress in demand right now. And with 'Wednesday' receiving 12 Emmy nominations, including Best Actress in a Comedy going to Ortega, her star power is only going to continue to rise, along with her net worth, which has gone from $3 million to $5 million in a matter of just over six months.
Additionally, Ortega is currently in production on 'Beetlejuice 2' where she is playing Lydia's daughter. A role that fits perfectly into the love Ortega has for the horror genre. She also has six other projects that are in various stages of production, meaning that Ortega is going to be a fixture on both the big and small screen in 2023, 2024, and beyond.
While Ortega does not want to be "pigeonholed" with her career, she is setting herself up to be the darling of horror. And with no one truly being given that title since Jamie Lee Curtis tackled the 'Halloween' franchise, it could be the next natural step for Ortega and her career.
9 Who Is Jenna Ortega?
Jenna Ortega is a 20-year-old American actress from Coachella Valley, California. She grew up as the fourth of six children, with none of her siblings having an interest in the entertainment industry. Jenna's father is of Mexican descent, and her mother has both Mexican and Puerto Rican ancestry.
Since beginning her career as an actress at a young age, Jenna has been a part of a multitude of TV shows and movies, leading her to become one of the biggest young stars in Hollywood today.
8 What Was Life Like For Jenna Ortega Growing Up?
Jenna became an actress when she was young, so she really didn't have much of a normal childhood. After appearing on a show called Stuck In The Middle, Jenna began being homeschooled for the majority of her time in high school.
She has expressed regret for this already, saying that she missed out on the traditional high school experience and teenage milestones like going to prom and attending graduation. In an interview on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Jenna said that Disney has its own prom for teenage actors, but that she thought it was "awkward".
7 How Did Jenna Ortega Become An Actress?
As mentioned, Jenna got into acting at a young age, beginning when she was just 6 years old. At age 8, she started receiving auditions and made her debut in 2012 with a guest appearance on a show called Rob. Following that, she made an appearance as Aimee Moore in an episode of CSI: NY.
In 2013, she appeared in her first film, playing a minor role as the Vice President's daughter in Iron Man 3. After that, she held a supporting role in Insidious: Chapter 2 as Annie. By 2020, Jenna had moved her way up to a spot on PopSugar's 20 Under 20 list.
6 What Inspired Jenna Ortega To Become An Actress?
In an interview with Collider, Jenna said that she was initially inspired to pursue a career in acting after watching Dakota Fanning star in the movie Man on Fire. Specifically, she said, "After watching Dakota, who obviously was so talented from such a young age, I decided that I wanted to be the Puerto Rican version of her." She went on to say that she also takes inspiration from her Jane the Virgin co-star, Gina Rodriguez because she admires that she shares a similar story to hers as well as her efforts and ability as an actress.
Jenna has also said that her inspiration for taking a variety of different roles comes from her desire to not be "pigeonholed as an actor," though she has said that she loves the horror genre, in which she's held numerous roles.
5 When Did Jenna Ortega's Career Breakout, And How Much Is She Worth?
After some of her earlier roles, Jenna took on some bigger projects with Yes Day (2021),Jane the Virgin, the Scream series, and Netflix's You, the latter being a role that she said she'd be more than happy to return to.
While those projects definitely got the ball rolling, one of Jenna's biggest breaks came just this year, when she played the lead role of Vada in the film The Fallout, available on HBO Max. Many critics spoke about the movie being her "breakout" film role, and she was named the "Next Big Thing" by the Hollywood Reporter. Even more recently, Jenna took on a lead role in Netflix's Wednesday, where her fame has skyrocketed.
With all of these hit projects under her belt and more upcoming, the 20-year-old has already managed to amass a net worth of $5 million.
4 What Has Starring In 'Wednesday' Done For Jenna Ortega's Career?
Following her hit role in The Fallout, Jenna took on a role in what has become Netflix's next hit show, Wednesday, playing the titular lead character. The horror series is based on Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family, who discovers her psychic abilities and uses them to solve a local murder.
The show was released onto the streaming platform on November 23, 2022, and within three weeks, it became the second-most watched English language series on Netflix.
The show and Jenna also received their first Golden Globe nominations amid high praise for the series and her performance. Unfortunately, neither won.
While Wednesday is arguably Jenna's next big break, she has been very open about creative differences and other issues that have cropped up on the show. And because of not wanting the character Wednesday to be too "one-dimensional" Jenna had a big influence in changing the script along the way.
3 What Has Jenna Ortega Said About Her Role On 'Wednesday'?
Jenna's character in the series is cold, emotionless, and defiant, and Jenna has actually said that she has a lot in common with her Wednesday character due to her dark sense of humor. Jenna also mentioned a similarity in looks, saying that people have been telling her that she looks like Wednesday Addams since she was 6 years old.
Although her performance garnered positive reviews from fans and critics, Jenna has said that she can be pretty hard on herself when it comes to watching herself act. Interestingly enough, Jenna actually choreographed one of the dance scenes on Wednesday, but she initially wasn't so sure about it.
2 What Other Work Has Jenna Ortega Been A Part Of?
In addition to acting, Jenna has also been outspoken about political and social issues, taking to social media to post about the Supreme Court overturning Roe V. Wade and the Black Lives Matter protests. For one award show, Jenna wore a jacket that read "I Do Care, and U Should Too," sharing why women should not be afraid to take a stand for causes that matter to them.
1 What Is Next For Jenna Ortega?
As of right now, Jenna has a few projects underway. For starters, she has the film Finestkind scheduled to be released in 2023. What fans are most excited about, however, is Jenna taking the role of Lydia's daughter in Beetlejuice 2. The release date is scheduled to be sometime in 2024. But, between the WAG and SAG/AFTRA strike and the fact that the film is still under production, it is possible that the date could get pushed back to a later time.
And, of course, Jenna will be taking part in the already highly-anticipated Season Two of Netflix's Wednesday. We can't wait to see all that is in store for this young actress!
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