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Known for her sharp wit, dark humor, and remarkable talent, Jenna Ortega’s rise in Hollywood has been quite remarkable. Even though the young actress began her acting career at just 9 years old, all it took was one role to really put her on the map. From her breakout role as Harley Diaz in Disney’s ‘Stuck in the Middle’ (2016-2018) to her captivating portrayal of Wednesday Addams in Tim Burton’s ‘Wednesday’ (2022-), Ortega has consistently demonstrated that she is far more than a rising star. Her ability to tackle a range of roles with much depth and nuance has led many to compare her to Aubrey Plaza, but Ortega is carving her own path in the industry. The young actress stands out for her versatility and her distinct ability to bring complex characters to life. As her career continues to soar, Ortega is rapidly becoming one of the most exciting and dynamic talents of her generation. She is undoubtedly the newest young star to watch for.
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The beginning
Jenna Marie Ortega was born on September 27, 2002, in Coachella Valley, California. In the beginning of her career, she worked on various projects including ‘CSI: NY’ (2004-2013), ‘Iron Man 3’ (2013), ‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ (2013) and the iconic ‘Days of Our Lives’ (1965-) before she was a lead and played Nina in her own show called ‘Know It All Nina’ (2014-2015). In 2016, she gained widespread recognition for her role in the TV series ‘Stuck in the Middle’ (2016-2018), which showcased Ortega‘s talent as she captured the challenges and joys of a large family dynamic told from Ortega‘s character’s perspective.
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Beyond her Disney success, Ortega has made a name for herself in critically acclaimed films and TV series. She portrayed Young Jane in The CW‘s beloved comedy-drama ‘Jane the Virgin’ (2014-2019) and starred as Ellie Alves in the Netflix hit TV show ‘You’ (2018-2024). By 2020, she further expanded her range with a co-starring role as Phoebe in the horror sequel ‘The Babysitter: Killer Queen’ (2020). Although Ortega’s introduction to the horror/ thriller genre was with ‘Insidious: Chapter 2’ (2013), her true breakthrough to the genre was with Netflix’s ‘The Babysitter: Killer Queen’ (2020). From then on, she has starred in ‘X’ (2022), ‘American Carnage’ (2022), ‘Studio 666’ (2022), ‘Finestkind’ (2023) and the American murder mystery / meta slasher franchise ‘Scream’.
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Horror princess
Ortega firmly established herself as the new “horror princess” with her portrayal of Tara Carpenter in ‘Scream’ (2022) and ‘Scream VI’ (2023). However, her most defining role to date came as the iconic Wednesday Addams in Netflix‘s ‘Wednesday’ (2022–), a performance that not only solidified her status in the horror genre but also propelled her to stardom in Hollywood. This role showcased Ortega‘s range and undeniable screen presence, marking her as one of the industry’s most dynamic and sought-after young talents.
Jenna Ortega’s performance in Netflix‘s ‘Wednesday’ (2022–) has been widely praised as a career-defining moment, in which she takes on the role of the iconic Wednesday Addams. Her portrayal balances Wednesday‘s trademark dark, sardonic wit with a fresh vulnerability, making the character more relatable while staying true to her eerie essence. Her expressive eyes, paired with her rigid posture and deliberate movements, help create an aura of detachment that feels both unsettling and intriguing, which is something we didn’t know we’d been missing since April Ludgate.
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Ortega & Plaza
Diehard ‘Parks and Recreation’ (2009–2015) fans immediately spotted the striking resemblance between April Ludgate and Wednesday Addams, but the comparison exploded online after Aubrey Plaza and Jenna Ortega shared the stage to present an award at the SAG Awards. The viral moment fueled the internet’s obsession with linking the two actresses, and now it seems nearly impossible not to draw comparisons between Plaza and Ortega. While the parallels between Ortega’s portrayal of Wednesday and Plaza’s iconic April Ludgate are undeniable, Ortega is clearly forging her own path. She has already proven herself to be far more than just a rising star or the embodiment of Wednesday Addams, just as Plaza has grown beyond her beloved character April. Both actresses continue to redefine their careers, showing they are multifaceted talents with much more to offer.
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Awards
The critically acclaimed actress has been nominated for multiple awards including 1 Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAGs), 1 Golden Globe and 1 Primetime Emmy for her role in ‘Wednesday’ (2022-), 2 People’s Choice Awards for ‘Scream VI’ (2023), 4 MTV Movie + TV Awards for ‘Wednesday’ (2022-) and ‘Scream’ (2022), and 7 Imagen Awards for her roles in ‘Stuck in the Middle’ (2016-2018), ‘Elena of Avalor’ (2016-2020), ‘Yes Day’ (2021) and ‘Wednesday’ (2022-).
Her career lately
Ortega most recent projects include ‘Miller’s Girl’ (2024), ‘Winter Spring Summer or Fall’ (2024), Sabrina Carpenter’s new music video ‘Taste’, and she has reunited with Tim Burton for his brand new blockbuster ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ (2024), in which Ortega plays Astrid Deetz.
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Jenna Ortega’s journey from child actress to Hollywood’s newest sensation has been nothing short of extraordinary. With a career that spans diverse genres and complex characters, she has demonstrated remarkable versatility and depth well beyond her years. From her early roles in ‘Stuck in the Middle’ (2016-2018) and ‘Jane the Virgin’ (2014-2019) to her commanding performances in ‘Scream’ (2022) and ‘Wednesday’ (2022-), Ortega has proven herself to be a powerful talent in both mainstream and niche genres. Her portrayal of Tara Carpenter and Wednesday Addams not only cemented her place as the “horror princess” but also marked a pivotal moment in her career, showcasing her ability to breathe new life into iconic characters while still carving out her own unique identity in Hollywood. As she continues to take on challenging and dynamic roles in both film and television, Jenna Ortega is undoubtedly poised for an even brighter future, solidifying her status as one of the most exciting young talents in the entertainment industry today. We cannot wait to see what is next for our “horror princess”.
By Julia Maia
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