If there’s one actress who has been turning heads in recent years, it’s definitely her. Known for her breakthrough role as Wednesday in the Netflix series of the same name, Jenna Ortega had already made a name for herself in other films like Scream V and VI. But Jenna is a talented actress who has been practicing her craft for a long time, and believe it or not, she has been in more films than you might think. Let’s take a look back at her career.
Jane the Virgin: Yes, Jenna was indeed part of Jane the Virgin. It slipped under my radar—I had never noticed that the incredible Jenna played young Jane, as she portrayed Jane at a very early age. Jenna delivers the scene that would mark Jane for life: the one with the flower representing her purity.
But where Jenna truly shines is in horror films, and she started early and strong with Insidious. Even as a child, she played her role wonderfully. After stepping away from horror for a while, she wowed us with her performances in comedies like Yes Day, where she played her role to perfection (as always) and resumed acting as a teenager.
In recent years, we’ve lost count of the incredible performances Jenna Ortega has given us in films like X, the Scream series, The Babysitter, and of course, Wednesday.
Her ability to keep a stoic face without showing emotion (which is somehow even more expressive) or her incredible acting skills that make us believe in her terror are astonishing. Jenna Ortega has blown us away and has established herself as one of the most important actresses of recent years.
And you probably wouldn’t guess it if you hadn’t noticed, but Jenna is also part of the Marvel universe—she has a minor role in Iron Man 3. But Jenna isn’t just an actress; she’s also involved in several projects where she lends her voice to different characters, like Elena of Avalor, for example.
In addition to being an actress, voice artist, and incredibly talented, Jenna is also an engaged personality who often helps different populations without seeking the spotlight. She’s a proponent of LGBTQIA+ rights, pro-immigration, and anti-discrimination. Jenna is a strong ally for many causes. She also helped a young girl with cancer by organizing a meet and greet with her fans to raise funds. She isn’t afraid to boldly state her values, like the time she wore a t-shirt that said, “I do care and u should too,” in response to First Lady Melania Trump, who wore a t-shirt that said, “I really don’t care. Do u?” while visiting an immigrant camp.
Jenna is not only an incredible actress and an amazing person, but she also doesn’t limit herself in her art. She starred in Sabrina Carpenter’s music video Taste, where she plays a woman in a conflict with the singer over a man. But the ending represents how every conflict over a man should end—the two women become friends.
A memorable video, an catchy song, and a video that will remain etched in our memories. Clearly, whenever Jenna chooses to participate in a project, it’s destined for success.
Jenna has also written a book, It’s All Love, which talks about love, positivity, failure, success, self-acceptance, and the lessons we learn. Jenna candidly shares her life with us, showing how she juggles her career, personal life, and public expectations.
It’s for all these reasons that we understand her numerous award nominations and wins. Jenna isn’t done impressing us. For now, we eagerly await her next movie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, where Jenna plays Lydia Deetz’s daughter, Astrid Deetz. And just from the trailer, we can already see Jenna’s enormous talent shining through.
So, mark your calendars for September 11th in France to see Jenna as Astrid Deetz on the big screen.
