Jenna Ortega facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jenna Ortega
Ortega at the 2024 Venice Film Festival
Born	Jenna Marie Ortega (2002-09-27) September 27, 2002 (age 22) Palm Desert, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	2012–present

Jenna Marie Ortega (born September 27, 2002) is an American actress. She started her career as a child actress. Many people first knew her as the young version of Jane in the TV series Jane the Virgin (2014–2019). She later starred as Harley Diaz in the Disney Channel show Stuck in the Middle (2016–2018), a role that won her an Imagen Award.

Ortega became famous for playing Wednesday Addams in the Netflix series Wednesday (2022–present). This role earned her nominations for major awards like the Golden Globes and Primetime Emmys. She has also starred in popular horror movies, including Scream (2022), X (2022), and Scream VI (2023). Because of these roles, she is sometimes called a "scream queen" for her generation.

Besides acting, Ortega is known for her sense of fashion. She also supports many charities and speaks out on important issues.

Early Life and Family

Jenna Marie Ortega was born on September 27, 2002, in Palm Desert, California. She is the fourth of six children. Her father is of Mexican descent and works in a district attorney's office. Her mother, who is of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, is an emergency room nurse.

Ortega wanted to be an actress from the age of six. She begged her mother for three years to let her try acting. At first, her mother tried to get her interested in other things like soccer. But Ortega was determined. Her mother eventually posted a video of her acting online. A casting director saw it and signed her to an agency.

Getting started was not easy. Her mother drove her to auditions in Los Angeles, which could take up to six hours. She often went to auditions five days a week. She attended public school until eighth grade. After she was cast in the Disney show Stuck in the Middle, she moved to an apartment in Los Angeles.

Acting Career

2012–2017: First Roles and Disney Star

Ortega's first acting job was in the 2012 TV show Rob. She also had a small part in the superhero movie Iron Man 3 in 2013. From 2014 to 2019, she played the younger version of Jane in the popular series Jane the Virgin.

Her big break with younger audiences came from 2016 to 2018. She starred as Harley Diaz in the Disney Channel show Stuck in the Middle. Harley is a smart inventor and the middle child in a family with seven kids. Ortega said the role was like her own life because she also has a big family. For this role, she won an Imagen Award for Best Young Actor on television.

2018–2021: Moving to More Mature Roles

Ortega in 2020

After her Disney show ended, Ortega wanted to take on more serious roles. In 2019, she played Ellie Alves in the second season of the Netflix thriller series You. Her performance was praised by critics.

In 2021, she starred in the Netflix family movie Yes Day. In the film, she played a teenager who wants more freedom from her parents. That same year, she had a leading role in the drama film The Fallout. She played a high school student dealing with trauma after a school shooting. Critics loved her performance, saying it was powerful and moving.

2022–Present: Breakthrough Success

Ortega promoting Wednesday in 2022

Ortega became a major star in 2022. She played Tara Carpenter in the horror movie Scream. The movie was a big success, and she won an MTV Movie Award for her performance. She also starred in another horror film called X, which also received great reviews.

Her biggest role came in late 2022 when she starred as Wednesday Addams in the Netflix series Wednesday. The show was directed by Tim Burton. To prepare, Ortega learned to play the cello, speak some German, and changed her hairstyle and the way she acted. The show became one of Netflix's most-watched series ever. Ortega's performance was praised by everyone and earned her nominations for a Golden Globe, a Primetime Emmy, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

In 2023, she returned as Tara Carpenter in Scream VI. The movie was another box office hit. She also hosted an episode of the comedy show Saturday Night Live.

Ortega at the Beetlejuice Beetlejuice film premiere at the 2024 Venice International Film Festival

In 2024, Ortega starred in the fantasy movie Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to the 1988 classic. She played Astrid Deetz, the daughter of Lydia Deetz. The film was a huge success, and many people said Ortega's star power helped bring in younger audiences. She also starred in the dramas Miller's Girl and Winter Spring Summer or Fall.

In 2025, she appeared in the dark comedy Death of a Unicorn with Paul Rudd. She also starred in the film Hurry Up Tomorrow with Abel Tesfaye (The Weeknd) and Barry Keoghan.

What's Next?

Ortega is set to return for the second season of Wednesday. She is also an executive producer for the new season. This means she will help make important decisions about the show's story and characters. She also starred in the film Klara and the Sun, which was released in 2025.

Other Work and Activism

Ortega uses her fame to help others. She supports many causes, including rights for immigrants, anti-bullying programs, and women's rights. She once told a magazine, "It's important to embrace your culture... you've got to stay true to yourself."

In 2018, she wore a jacket to an awards show that said "I Do Care and U Should Too." This was a response to a jacket worn by former First Lady Melania Trump. Ortega's jacket got a lot of attention and showed her support for immigrant children.

In 2023, she joined other artists in signing a letter asking for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Ortega has also worked with major brands. In 2023, she became a brand ambassador for Adidas and the fashion brand Dior.

Personal Life

Ortega prefers to keep her personal life private. She believes that talking about her relationships can distract people from her acting work. She has said that her family and friends help her stay grounded and deal with the pressures of being famous.

Growing up in the movie industry made her mature quickly. She says her family helps "keep [her] feet on the ground."

Filmography

Film

Key

Denotes films that have not yet been released

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2013	Iron Man 3	Vice President's daughter	Uncredited
	Insidious: Chapter 2	Annie
2014	The Little Rascals Save the Day	Mary Ann	Direct-to-video
2015	After Words	Anna Chapa
2018	Saving Flora	Dawn
2019	Wyrm	Suzie
2020	The Babysitter: Killer Queen	Phoebe Atwell
2021	Yes Day	Katie Torres
	The Fallout	Vada Cavell
2022	Scream	Tara Carpenter
	Studio 666	Skye Willow
	X	Lorraine Day
	American Carnage	Camila Montes
2023	Scream VI	Tara Carpenter
	Finestkind	Mabel
2024	Miller's Girl	Cairo Sweet
	Winter Spring Summer or Fall	Remi Aguilar
	Beetlejuice Beetlejuice	Astrid Deetz
2025	Death of a Unicorn	Ridley Kintner	Also executive producer
	Hurry Up Tomorrow	Anima	Also executive producer
TBA	The Gallerist	TBA	Post-production
	Klara and the Sun	Klara	Post-production
	Untitled J. J. Abrams film	TBA	Filming

Television

See also

In Spanish: Jenna Ortega para niños