Jenna Ortega: The Rising Star of Hollywood

Ortega is one of the most talented and versatile young actresses in Hollywood today. She has appeared in a variety of genres, from comedy to drama to horror, and has earned critical acclaim and awards for her performances. She is also a proud Latina who embraces her heritage and culture. In this blog post, we will explore her life, career and achievements, and why she is a rising star to watch out for.

Beginnings Jenna Ortega was born on September 27, 2002, in Coachella Valley, California. She is the fourth of six children of parents of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent. She became interested in acting at the age of six, and got her first agent at the age of eight, after her mother posted a video of her doing a dramatic monologue on Facebook. She made her acting debut in 2012 with a guest appearance on the sitcom Rob, followed by a role on the crime drama CSI: NY. In 2013, she made her film debut with a minor role in the superhero blockbuster Iron Man 3 as the vice president’s daughter. She also starred in the horror sequel Insidious: Chapter 2 as Annie. Both films were successful at the box office.  In 2014, she landed the role of Zoe Leon on the legal drama Rake, and also began playing the recurring role of young Jane on the popular comedy-drama Jane the Virgin. She received recognition for her portrayal of Jane’s childhood self, who narrates her stories through her diary entries. She continued to play this role until 2019. Also in 2014, she starred as Mary Ann in the direct-to-video comedy film The Little Rascals Save the Day, based on the classic characters created by Hal Roach.

Ortega joined the cast of the Netflix original series Richie Rich as Darcy, a gold digger who spends Richie’s money without his consent. The show was panned by critics and viewers alike, but Ortega was praised for her comedic timing and charisma. In the same year, she also appeared in the drama film After Words as Anna Chapa, a young girl who befriends a suicidal woman (played by Marcia Gay Harden) in Costa Rica. The film received mixed reviews, but Ortega’s performance was well-received. In 2016, Ortega got her breakthrough role as Harley Diaz on the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle. The show follows Harley, a creative-engineering prodigy who navigates life as the middle child in a family of seven children. The show was told from Harley’s perspective and showcased Ortega’s charm, wit and intelligence. The show ran for three seasons until 2018, and earned Ortega an Imagen Award for Best Young Actor/Actress in Television in 2017. In 2019, Ortega joined the cast of the Netflix thriller series You as Ellie Alves, a savvy teenager who lives next door to Joe Goldberg (played by Penn Badgley), a serial killer who becomes obsessed with her sister Delilah (played by Carmela Zumbado). Ortega delivered a captivating performance as Ellie, who becomes entangled in Joe’s web of lies and secrets. She received positive reviews from critics and fans for her role.

Ortega voiced Brooklynn, a social media influencer and dinosaur enthusiast, on the animated series Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous, based on the Jurassic Park franchise. The show follows a group of teenagers who are stranded on Isla Nublar after a dinosaur outbreak during their adventure camp. The show has been renewed for four seasons so far. In 2021, Ortega starred in two Netflix films: Yes Day and The Fallout. Yes Day is a family comedy that follows Allison (played by Jennifer Garner) and Carlos (played by Edgar Ramirez), parents who decide to give their three children a “yes day”, where they have to say yes to everything they ask for 24 hours. Ortega plays Katie, their rebellious oldest daughter who wants to go to a music festival with her friends. The film was a hit on Netflix, becoming the most-watched film on the platform in its first week of release. The Fallout is a teen drama that follows Vada (played by Ortega), a high school student who struggles with the emotional aftermath of a school shooting that kills her best friend. The film explores the themes of grief, trauma, friendship and healing. Ortega delivered a powerful and nuanced performance as Vada, earning rave reviews from critics and audiences. She won the Best Actress award at the South by Southwest Film Festival, where the film also won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature.

Max for distribution. In 2022, Ortega starred in two slasher films: Scream and X. Scream is the fifth installment of the Scream franchise, which follows a new group of teenagers who are targeted by a masked killer known as Ghostface. Ortega plays Tara Carpenter, the sister of Sam Carpenter (played by Melissa Barrera), one of the main protagonists. The film was a commercial and critical success, becoming the highest-grossing film in the franchise and receiving praise for its humor, suspense and homage to the original films. X is a horror film directed by Ti West, which follows a group of filmmakers who travel to a remote mansion to shoot an adult film, only to discover that the house has a dark and violent history. Ortega plays Lorraine, one of the actresses who participates in the film.

Film Festival and received positive reviews for its atmosphere, gore and performances. In 2022, Ortega also began starring as Wednesday Addams on the Netflix horror comedy series Wednesday, based on the iconic character created by Charles Addams. The show follows Wednesday as she attends Nevermore Academy, a mysterious boarding school where she tries to master her psychic abilities, solve supernatural mysteries and deal with her eccentric family. Ortega received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Wednesday, capturing her dark humor, intelligence and charisma. She also received nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her role. Ortega has several upcoming projects in the works, including Death of a Unicorn, a fantasy drama film where she plays Ridley, a young woman who discovers .