Netflix’s Newest Starlet is Stealing Hearts in Her TV Debut – You Won’t Believe Who!

Jenna Ortega has it all: she’s the lead actress and executive producer of the most-watched American series on Netflix, she’s involved in exciting projects, and she’s a voice for her generation, unafraid to take a stand on political and social issues.

Now 22 years old, she is no stranger to Hollywood, having started her journey on a TV set back in 2012 when she was just 10 years old. Young Jenna had one dream: to become an actress. She was later noticed by Disney for a role in Harley, the least of my worries, which gradually elevated her fame.

“I’m lucky to live my passion, acting, and do what I love every day. It took a lot of courage and determination to carve out a place in this profession, try to land roles, and consider myself a viable option for major projects.” she wrote in 2023 in her book “It’s All Love”.

2012, a pivotal year for Jenna Ortega

After numerous auditions with her parents, young Jenna landed a small role in an episode of the procedural series CSI: NY (in season 9). It’s impossible not to be charmed by the adorable young actress, who had to perform a rather dramatic scene: her character is shot and the cop played by Eddie Cahill tries to rescue her.

That same year, she appeared alongside Rob Schneider in his comedy Rob. The sitcom, which was cancelled after 1 season, follows a callous bachelor who ends up getting married and becomes part of a tightly-knit Mexican-American family. Ortega only appeared in episode 6, but her infectious energy left a lasting impression on viewers.

Missing out on her teenage years

Her big break came thanks to Netflix, which first cast her in Richie Rich, then in season 2 of the super hit You before choosing her to play Wednesday, a spin-off series about the eldest child of the Addams family. The show was an instant success worldwide. However, the sudden fame was hard for Ortega, who has spoken about her depression and anxiety in interviews and in her memoirs:

“When I finally saw a therapist and she mentioned depression, it felt like a punch in the stomach. At that moment, it became real. I also felt a huge relief that I no longer had to wonder if I was overreacting – no, I was dealing with a mental illness.”

Jenna Ortega, who once considered quitting acting to lead a quieter life, also expressed that she regretted missing out on the most fun parts of her teenage years due to her relentless work schedule and projects. But all her hard work paid off, as evidenced by the success of Wednesday on Netflix and her notable appearances in films (Scream, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice…).

Wednesday, now streaming on Netflix.