biography jenna ortega

Jenna Ortega

Actor Jenna Ortega is best known for her starring role in the hit Netflix show Wednesday .

Quick Facts

Movies and tv shows: 'wednesday,' 'you,' 'iron man 3,' and more, personal life.

2002-present

Who Is Jenna Ortega?

Actor Jenna Ortega plays the lead role in the hit Netflix show Wednesday . Ortega, who is of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, has been acting since she was 9 years old. She successfully transitioned beyond her early Disney Channel stardom with roles in several horror films, such as X and Studio 666 . In this decade’s reboot of the Scream franchise, the bonafide scream queen plays Tara Carpenter. Her performance as Wednesday Addams earned her a 2023 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

FULL NAME: Jenna Marie Ortega BORN: September 27, 2002 BIRTHPLACE: La Quinta, California ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Libra

Born on September 27, 2002, in La Quinta, California, Jenna Marie Ortega has been acting since she was 9 years old when she landed her very first gig starring in a Colgate toothpaste commercial. Her parents, Edward and Natalie, supported Ortega’s dream of becoming an actor, though they “have no interest whatsoever in [Hollywood] or in the film industry,” Ortega said in an Elle interview .

Still, Ortega is grateful for the support she receives from her family saying, “they sacrificed a lot for me to do what I do.” Before she became famous, Ortega’s mom would drive her from their family home in California’s Coachella Valley to Los Angeles for auditions, a trip that would take hours of driving each way.

Natalie is an emergency room nurse, and Edward works in the California district attorney’s office. Ortega, who is of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage, is one of six siblings.

After a brief appearance in Iron Man 3 , Ortega hit her stride with several large roles including a recurring one in The CW television show Jane the Virgin , the Netflix series You , the main character in Disney’s Stuck in the Middle , and the most recent entries in the Scream film franchise as Tara Carpenter. Her onscreen success wasn’t always the case, however, and Ortega has been vocal about having a hard time landing roles at times because she felt that casting directors didn’t think she had “the look they were going for.” Still, Ortega’s dedication to acting paid off as she began landing bigger and bigger roles in the mainstream media.

Ortega’s largest role to date is as the lead in Netflix’s Wednesday , in which she portrays the iconic Wednesday Addams in a modern, live-action take on the beloved The Addams Family series. Ortega’s portrayal of the titular character earned her Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations as well as an award for Best Performance in a Show at the 2023 MTV Movie and TV Awards. Other Hollywood heavyweights appeared alongside Ortega in Wednesday including Catherine Zeta-Jones , Luis Guzmán, and Ortega’s beloved offscreen friend Gwendoline Christie. In the show, Christie plays Principal Weems and towers over the 5-foot-1-inch-tall Ortega with her 6-foot-3 stature.

The former Disney child actor has also become somewhat of a scream queen, having landed several roles in slasher films including X , Insidious: Chapter 2 , and The Babysitter: Killer Queen . Ortega has also joined the long-running Scream franchise as a cast member in the reboot films.

Read more about Ortega’s major roles, including her upcoming appearance in Beetlejuice 2 :

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Ortega portrayed a young Jane Villanueva, alongside the adult version of the titular character played by Gina Rodriguez , across several episodes of this hit show on The CW. In flashbacks, Ortega depicts Jane as she maneuvers major obstacles in her day-to-day life. Ortega reprised this role across 30 episodes from 2014 to 2019.

Stuck in the Middle

Ortega played middle-child and aspiring inventor Harley Diaz in Disney’s Stuck in the Middle . Ortega starred in the series starting in 2016 until its cancellation in 2018. Stuck in the Middle  wasn’t Ortega’s only Disney role; she also voiced Princess Isabel in the animated Elena of Avalor series.

In season 2 of Netflix’s You , Ortega played Ellie Alves, the younger sister of a reporter who lives in the same building as obsessive serial killer Joe. Fans and showrunners alike enjoyed Ortega’s performance as Ellie so much that she was invited to return for season 4 but ultimately had to turn the offer down due to scheduling conflicts while filming Wednesday .

The Fallout

Ortega starred as a survivor of a mass school shooting in Max’s 2021 film The Fallout . Ortega’s performance was highly praised as Vada, a high schooler forced to deal with moving through the aftermath, trauma, and grief of the event.

Scream (2022) and Scream VI

Ortega portrays high schooler Tara Carpenter in Scream (2022) and recreates the famous opening scene in which a serial killer named Ghostface taunts her after she picks up a call from an unknown number. Ortega’s role in this movie—especially after her parts in other horror flicks like Insidious: Chapter 2 and the gore-filled X , which came out on the heels of 2022’s Scream —began to cement her status as a slasher film mainstay. Scream VI was released in March 2023 and saw Ortega reprise the role of final girl Tara Carpenter.

Ortega stars in the Netflix hit series Wednesday , which was the most watched premiere of 2022 . Ortega’s nuanced performance as Wednesday Addams was widely praised and helped secure a second season.

In the show, Ortega is enrolled at a school full of paranormal (and paranormal-adjacent) students after being kicked out of a regular public school because she intentionally maimed the swim team. Once Wednesday’s settled into her new digs–which she hates–she finds herself at the center of several mysteries and resolves to discover the truth. Ortega was hands-on with this character, making changes to scripts and even choreographing the much-loved dance sequence seen in the first season’s fourth episode.

At 20 years old, Ortega has also made waves with Wednesday on account of her 2023 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy. According to The Hollywood Reporter , this makes her the second youngest leading actress nominee in a comedic role after Patty Duke’s 1964 nomination at age 18

Beetlejuice 2

Nearly four decades after directing the cult-classic Beetlejuice , Tim Burton is getting behind the camera to direct the film’s sequel, Beetlejuice 2 . Ortega, who previously worked with Burton on Wednesday , will star in the flick as Lydia Deetz’s daughter alongside Winona Ryder and Micheal Keaton , who are confirmed to reprise their roles. Beetlejuice 2 is slated for a September 6, 2024, theatrical release.

Ortega’s net worth is reportedly in the neighborhood of $5 million. However, it’s unclear what Ortega gets paid for certain roles, including her salary for Wednesday .

Ortega is notoriously private about several aspects of her life, including who she dates. Opening up about her dating life in a March 2023 Armchair Expert podcast interview with Dax Shepard, Ortega said she’s not especially interested in dating at the moment because of how demanding her work schedule is and because of the vulnerability a relationship requires.

Ortega also told Elle that the idea of dating stresses her out and that at least for the moment, “I don’t need to think about that right now.” Still, that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from churning. There’s been speculation that Ortega might have been romantically involved with actor Pete Davidson, but there’s no evidence to substantiate this claim.

She currently lives in Los Angeles.

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Jenna Ortega

IMDbPro Starmeter 41 37

• Contact info
• 11 wins & 28 nominations total

21st Century Scream Queens

• Wednesday Addams
• Goody Addams
• 2022–2025 • 14 eps

• Tara Carpenter

• Vada Cavell
• Astrid Deetz
• Post-production

• Cairo Sweet

• Brooklynn (voice)
• 48 episodes

• Gabriella Espinosa (voice)

• Skye Willow

• Katie Torres

• Princess Isabel
• Additional Voices (voice)
• 39 episodes
• executive producer

• performer: "Road Trip"
• performer: "Four Seasons: Winter: I. Allegro Non Molto" (uncredited)
• performer: "Conversations"
• performer: "Baby I Need Your Loving"
• performer: "Grown Up Enough"
• performer: "Let Love Light The Way"
• performer: "The Avaloran Birthday Song (Finale)"
• In-development projects at IMDbPro

Personal details

• 5′ 1″ (1.55 m)
• September 27 , 2002
• Coachella Valley, California, USA
• Parents Natalie Ortega
• Relatives Isaac Ortega (Sibling)
• Other works Rake-Scott Winant
• 1 Interview
• 4 Magazine Cover Photos

Self-verified on IMDbPro

Did you know.

• Trivia Learned to play the cello for her role as Wednesday (2022) .
• Quotes The way I interact with the world-my work, interacting with people, decision-making-comes from a place of love and light.
• How old is Jenna Ortega?
• When was Jenna Ortega born?
• Where was Jenna Ortega born?

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Jenna Ortega

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Jenna Ortega (born September 27, 2002, Coachella Valley , California , U.S.) is an American actress who began her career as a child actor, starring in such Disney Channel shows as Stuck in the Middle (2016–18), and later went on to gain international fame with the lead role in the hit Netflix series Wednesday (2022– ). Ortega often discussed her Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage and the difficulty she had in finding roles as a Latina performer.

Ortega was born in Coachella Valley, California, the fourth of six siblings. Her father, Edward Ortega, is a businessperson of Mexican descent, and her mother, Natalie Ortega, is a nurse of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage. Both parents were supportive of their daughter’s desire to become an actress, even though Jenna Ortega struggled early on to find roles. She later commented that she was often rejected by casting directors because she “did not have the look they were going for.”

In 2012 Ortega nonetheless made her acting debut with a minor role in the short-lived television sitcom Rob and a guest appearance on CSI: NY , a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation . Her first big-screen part was in the blockbuster Iron Man 3 (2013) portraying the U.S. vice president’s daughter. Ortega soon received a recurring role in the television series Jane the Virgin (2014–19), playing the younger version of the title character. Her appearances on the hit show helped her gain some recognition in Hollywood. She was then cast in the films The Little Rascals Save the Day (2014) and After Words (2015) as well as the Netflix series Richie Rich (2015).

Ortega’s breakout role, however, came playing Harley Diaz in the Disney sitcom Stuck in the Middle . She starred as the middle child of seven siblings, who invents gadgets to deal with living in a large family. At the same time, Ortega voiced Princess Isabel in the Disney animated series Elena of Avalor (2016–20).

Ortega gained further fame when she starred as Ellie Alves in the second season (2019) of the hit Netflix show You . She followed that up with a string of slasher films that include The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020), Scream (2022), Studio 666 (2022), X (2022), American Carnage (2022), and Scream VI (2023). For her role as Tara Carpenter in Scream , Ortega won most frightened performance at the 2022 MTV Movie and TV Awards.

In between horror films Ortega also took on more lighthearted fare, portraying the teenage daughter in the family comedy Yes Day (2021). She was also highly praised for her acting in The Fallout (2021), in which she was cast as a survivor of a high-school shooting. That same year the 17-year-old actress released the book It’s All Love: Reflections for Your Heart & Soul , which details the challenges of her life and career. Among the topics are depression, love, and her struggles with building a career as a Latina in Hollywood.

In 2022 Ortega accepted the starring role in the Netflix series Wednesday . In the Tim Burton -produced horror-comedy, Ortega portrays Wednesday Addams, the iconic character originally from The Addams Family comic. In the streaming series, her parents enroll her in Nevermore Academy to train her in her psychic powers. She won best actress in a horror series at the Critics’ Choice Super Awards and was nominated for best actress in a musical or comedy television series at the Golden Globe Awards .

Jenna Ortega Biography

Birthday: September 27 , 2002 ( Libra )

Born In: Palm Desert, California, United States

Jenna Marie Ortega is a American actress renowned for her portrayals in popular television series like ‘Jane the Virgin’ and ‘Stuck in the Middle’. Beginning her career as a child artist at 8, she has been successful in creating a decent position for herself in the entertainment industry. Her debut role was that of a ‘Girl’ in an episode of the TV series ‘Rob’. It was followed by other projects, including TV series ‘CSI: NY’ and ‘Rake’ and films ‘Iron Man 3 and ‘Insidious: Chapter 2’. Her big break came when she landed up playing ‘Young Jane’ in the critically acclaimed and Golden Globe winning satirical romantic comedy-drama TV series ‘Jane the Virgin’. She has also won hearts by portraying a young engineering prodigy, Harley Diaz, the central character in Disney Channel’s single-camera situational comedy TV series ‘Stuck in the Middle’. She can also be seen tickling the funny bones as Nina in ‘Know It All Nina’ and as Darcy, one of the main characters in Netflix's sitcom TV series ‘Richie Rich’. Her other ‘Disney Channel’ endeavour includes giving voice-over as Princess Isabel in the channel’s computer-animated TV series ‘Elena of Avalor’. She played Wednesday Addams in the Netflix series, 'Wednesday,' in 2022. She also starred in Netflix hit 'Yes Day,' where she played a major role.

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Also Known As: Jenna Marie Ortega

Age: 21 Years , 21 Year Old Females

siblings: Aaliyah Ortega, Isaac Ortega, Markus Ortega, Mia Ortega

Born Country: United States

Actresses American Women

Height: 5'1" (155 cm ), 5'1" Females

Ancestry: Puerto Rican American, Mexican American

U.S. State: California

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Ortega has also garnered more than 12.3 million fans on TikTok, jenna0rtega .

She played princess Isabel in the 2016 Disney series  Elena of Alavor. In the 2018 Netflix series You , Jenna Ortega played Ellie Alves.

In the 2021 film The Fallout , she played the character Vada. In the 2022 Netflix series Wednesday , she appeared as Wednesday Adams.

She is also a skilled dancer and has showcased her moves in several projects.

See the events in life of Jenna Ortega in Chronological Order

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Jenna Ortega is going to be everywhere in 2023 – here's everything you need to know about the Wednesday star

If you've been binge-watching Netflix series Wednesday since its November release, you'll already be very familiar with Jenna Ortega – our very own modern day Wednesday Addams and the latest cult actor on our radar.

The 20-year-old star may have found extra fame on Netflix's latest must-watch show, but she's actually been in the biz since she was a child actor, and was the main character in Disney's Stuck In The Middle when she was just 12.

Goth glam? Yes, please.

These days, she's got tens of millions of Instagram followers and made The Hollywood Reporter 's Rising Stars list for 2022 – with plenty more exciting roles in the pipeline (including another in the Scream horror franchise). So what else do we know about Jenna Ortega? Read on to find out:

Jenna Ortega is 20 years old

As of 2022, Jenna is 20 – she was born on 27 September 2002 (so yes, she's a libra). 

She was born in California and has Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage

Jenna was born in the Coachella Valley in Southern California. She is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent – her father is Mexican and her mother is Mexican and Puerto Rican. In 2016, she talked about her heritage in an essay for POPSUGAR , describing herself as : “75 percent Mexican and 25 percent Puerto Rican,” and adding: “My great-grandma on my mother’s side migrated from a small ranch near Sinaloa, Mexico. She came to the United States as an illegal immigrant in hopes to make a better life for her four daughters.”

Of her Puerto Rican family, she said her maternal grandfather was “born in Puerto Rico, moved to New York with his family… then moved to California.”

Speaking to Elle , Jenna revealed that her heritage was one of the main reasons she took the role in Wednesday . “I wasn’t looking to do TV again, but a big part of the reason why I said yes is because of the representation factor,” she said. "I know the feeling of growing up and not being able to relate to the people onscreen or never really seeing myself… Wednesday is such an iconic character, and such a badass. It’s really important that her history as a young Latina was shown for the first time — the heritage being shown as normal. It’s nice that there are hints and touches of her heritage there, but it’s not overwhelming. That’s the way life should be.”

“Heartbreak is always a catalyst for a new path.” 

Jenna Ortega has five siblings

Jenna was has five brothers and sisters – she was the fourth born. Her siblings are named Isaac, Mariah, Mia, Aaliyah and Markus (the latter of whom are twins).

Jenna's mum, Natalie, often shares sweet pictures of the family on Instagram .

Jenna is good friends with Olivia Rodrigo

The two former Disney stars are close pals in real life! Having previously met on the Disney Channel comedy series Bizaardvark when they were 16 and 15, Jenna surprised Olivia by presenting her with her Best Music Documentary prize at the 2022 MTV Movie & TV Awards.

Then, Olivia interviewed Jenna for The Face in November 2022, in which they revealed they had been firm friends for ten years.

Jenna Ortega also had major roles in Jane The Virgin and You

Wednesday isn't the only fan-favourite series that Jenna has played a part in. You may not have realised that she played Young Jane in telenovela satire comedy Jane The Virgin – and she was mighty cute, too.

She tweeted of the series finale in 2019: “Still can’t believe Jane the Virgin has finished its run. To be a part of this beautiful story from beginning to end & working w/those I look up to has been one of the greatest blessings. Forever grateful for the cast/crew and ofc, jane gloriana villanueva.”

It doesn't end there, because you may also recognise Jenna from another cult Netflix show – none other than the creepy You , starring Penn Badgley.

Jenna played teenager Ellie Alves in series 2 of the show.

Jenna Ortega is a modern day Scream Queen

Jenna has starred in numerous horror movies. As part of the modern Scream franchise, she plays Tara Carpenter, and is set to reprise her role in the sixth movie.

She also starred in X , The Babysitter: Killer Queen and Insidious 2. During her interview with Olivia Rodrigo for The Face , she explained why she is drawn to the darker genres. “I love things that are a bit off-putting, things when the closer you look, really aren’t that pretty,” she said. “I love things that are disturbing. They’re interesting and there are so many routes and variations of storytelling that you can do with stuff like that. Also, to play a character that is always in a victim position, it’s a nice challenge for me to give them some personality that makes them different from one another.”

It's giving Dracula's wedding.

Jenna cut a fringe for her role in Wednesday

She told Elle : "For Wednesday , we were doing hair and makeup tests at Tim [Burton]’s house, and at one point we tried clip-on bangs. Tim really liked it, but there was just something off about it. So I looked over at the hairdresser and asked, ‘Do you want to just cut bangs?’ I felt really lucky, because we were on the same page about everything. It was nice to be doing this version of Wednesday, and I’ve kept the fringe. There’s something about bangs that feels so much like myself. I don’t care about the extra work that goes into them. I’ll go the extra mile for these bangs.”

Jenna has been honest about her breakouts and acne

The Neutrogena ambassador also told Elle: “I do a lot of horror films, and my skin cannot stand stage blood. I have instant breakouts every time. That’s why I started doing more than the bare minimum with washing my face and staying hydrated. I use the Neutrogena Stubborn Texture Daily Cleanser , because it gives me a deeper clean while still being gentle on my skin. It takes off all the stage dirt and oils, and I know my skin really likes it. And I use sunscreen every day.”

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Jenna Ortega

Table of Contents

Jenna Ortega (American Actress)

DISCOGRAPHY

Jenna Ortega BIOGRAPHY

American actress Jenna Marie Ortega was born on September 27, 2002. Her first acting role was as a young Jane in the comedy-drama series Jane the Virgin on The CW (2014–2019), for which she won notoriety. She starred as Harley Diaz in the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle from 2016 to 2018, for which she received an Imagen Award. She appears in the Netflix family film Yes Day (2021) and as Ellie Alves in the second season of the thriller series You in 2019.

EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION

The fourth of six children, Jenna Marie Ortega was born in Palm Desert, California, on September 27, 2002. Her mother is an emergency department nurse with Puerto Rican and Mexican ancestry, while her father is a former sheriff who works for the California district attorney’s office.

California’s La Quinta was where Jenna was raised . She asked her mother to allow her to pursue a career for three years, since she had wanted to be an actor since she was six years old. Her mother tried using school and football as diversionary activities for her. Ortega nearly gave up acting to take part in the former.

After enrolling in public school, she went to John Glenn Middle School and Amelia Earhart Elementary School . After winning a role in Stuck in the Middle (2016), she left school in the eighth grade to participate in Disney productions and later obtained a residence in Los Angeles.   Ortega used to spend her weekdays working in Los Angeles and her weekends at home.

She debuted in a movie in 2013 as the daughter of the vice president in the superhero movie Iron Man 3. Ortega made a supporting cast appearance in the horror movie Insidious: Chapter 2 in the same year. Both made good money at the box office, with the former being one of the all-time highest-grossing films.

Between 2014 and 2019, Ortega had recurring appearances on The CW comedy television series Jane the Virgin, playing a younger Jane Villanueva opposite Gina Rodriguez’s adult portrayal

Ortega starred as Harley Diaz, the middle kid among seven siblings and an ambitious inventor, on the Disney Channel sitcom Stuck in the Middle from 2016 until 2018 It was “one of the best days of my life,” she remarked, after landing the part. Inspired by her own family and her ties with her brothers, Ortega thought that becoming a star on the show was similar to her own life 

The Netflix thriller series You cast Ortega as Ellie Alves in 2018, and the second season premiered on December 26, 2019 Similar to the previous season, this one also garnered favourable reviews

She published her first novel, It’s All Love, in 2021. Subsequently, Ortega portrayed a resolute adolescent who longs for greater autonomy from her parents in the Netflix comedy film Yes Day (2021).

Ortega hailed the Netflix comedic horror series Wednesday (2022) a “new chapter” in her career after she was cast as Wednesday Addams in May 2021. In order to honour Gomez Addams’s ethnicity, the creative team looked for a Latina to play the part.

In Scream VI, Ortega played Tara Carpenter once more. She claimed that, in contrast to the last movie, where she “was screaming and crying the entire time,” her character in this one had more individuality . Ortega took into account a number of the characteristics of Tara when constructing her personality, such as her sense of humour, favourite colour, and style of clothing and makeup.   Scream VI, which was released in March 2023, made over $169 million after spending between $33 and $35 million.

In Wednesday’s second season, Ortega is returning to the role of Wednesday. Having been “naturally already very collaborative” in the first season, she also became an executive producer, which she regarded as a “natural progression” . Ortega assisted in managing the characters, costumes, and screenplay.

Jenna Ortega has an estimated net worth of $3 million .

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The Interview

Childhood Stardom Is Rough. Jenna Ortega Is Still Recovering.

Credit... Devin Oktar Yalkin for The New York Times

Supported by

By Lulu Garcia-Navarro

• Aug. 24, 2024

If you have a tween daughter, as I do, you know that Jenna Ortega is a big deal. In 2022, Ortega starred as the title character in Netflix’s “Addams Family” reboot, “Wednesday,” and quickly became beloved by viewers for her character’s snarky, dark and brutally honest personality. The show was a hit, and suddenly Wednesday — and by extension Ortega — were everywhere: on merch, on the streets for Halloween and all over the internet doing her meme-able dance moves . It was the kind of star-making, culture-saturating role that is life-changing for a young actor. It was also, as Ortega told me over the course of our two conversations, completely disorienting to become so famous so fast.

Listen to the Conversation With Jenna Ortega

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Amazon | iHeart | NYT Audio App

Ortega didn’t appear out of nowhere. She started as a child actor on the Disney Channel, played the young version of Jane in the CW series “Jane the Virgin” and later starred in the “Scream” and “X” horror franchises. Now she is 21. Her next big role is in the new movie “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 classic, which opens nationwide on Sept. 6. (Burton also directed several episodes of “Wednesday.”) Ortega plays the daughter of Winona Ryder’s character, and she told me that they bonded over each having found enormous success in Hollywood at a young age.

When we spoke — I caught her in Ireland, where she was filming the second season of “Wednesday” — I found Ortega to be a thoughtful and curious person who, like many young people, is still finding out who she is. “I’m just navigating,” she says of this stage of her life. “I’m on my own little personal expedition.” Only she is doing it under the glare of a massive spotlight.

When did you first see the original “Beetlejuice”? Honestly, I can’t really put a date on it. I feel like I had to have seen it maybe when I was 8 or 9. I was terrified of everything when I was younger. I actually had a recurring nightmare about Beetlejuice. I saw a really terrible Halloween costume before I really knew what the movie was, and I think that the mold and smearing, bleeding green and black Party City makeup gave me a scare. I just remember that image, and then I watched the movie later, and I thought, Oh, man, this is what the guy was dressed as. This is just as scary.

What were your nightmares about Beetlejuice? I shared a room my entire life growing up. I was the bottom bunk on a bunk bed, and I had a dream that Beetlejuice would come down and swing around the banister to my bunk wearing a Superman cape, and he would offer me grape juice and say, “Got any grape?”

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Jenna Ortega

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Biography by Wikipedia

Jenna Marie Ortega is an American actress. In television, she portrayed Young Jane on the romantic-drama series Jane the Virgin, Harley Diaz on the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle, and Ellie Alves on the Netflix thriller series You. In 2016, she began voicing Princess Isabel on the Disney Channel animated series Elena of Avalor.

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Jenna Ortega Height, Age, Family, Bio, Boyfriend, Net Worth, Facts

Jenna Ortega is an American actress who caught the spotlight for playing young Jane on The CW’s romantic-drama and satirical series, Jane the Virgin on The CW, and for her role as Harley Diaz on Disney Channel’s Stuck in the Middle. Since 2016, she’s voicing the character Princess Isabel in the Disney Channel animated television series Elena of Avalor.

• 1 Jenna Ortega Biography
• 2 Family and Education
• 3 Jenna Ortega Boyfriend
• 4 Physical Statistics
• 5 Professional Statistics
• 6 Favorite Things
• 7 Jenna Ortega Net Worth
• 8 Social Media Profiles
• 9 Jenna Ortega Facts

Jenna Ortega Biography

Jenna Ortega was born on the 27th of September 2002, in Coachella Valley, California, United States of America. She’s currently 19 years old.

Family and Education

Jenna Ortega is the fourth of six children to Natalie Ortega. Details about her father are unknown. Having been born in California, she’s got Mexican-American roots from her father’s side while her mother is of mixed Mexican and Puerto Rican ancestry.

Her siblings are Markus, Mia, Isaac, and Aaliyah.

Jenna Ortega Boyfriend

There is no information on her love life available at this time. It looks like she is not ready for a relationship right now as she wanted to focus on her acting career. However, rumors about her dating stories might surface at times. She was rumored to have dated singer Jacob Sartorius in 2017.

Physical Statistics

Professional Statistics

Ortega made her acting debut in 2013 with the film, Iron Man 3, where she played the role of Vice President’s daughter.

Her notable acting credits include Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) and After Words (2015).

Television Debut

Jenna Ortega was cast in a minor role in the CBS sitcom Rob in an episode titled “The Baby Bug”.

She had a recurring role in television series like Rake as well as cast in series like Richie Rich, Bizaardvark, Elena and the Secret of Avalor, and Elena of Avalor (voice role).

Brand Endorsements

Jenna Ortega has done endorsement work for Burger King, Fruity Pebbles, Old Navy, NASDAQ, OMX Group, Kool-Aid, and Target.

Her breakout role came in 2014 when she was cast to play a recurring role of Young Jane in the critically acclaimed and Golden Globe-winning satirical romantic comedy-drama TV series, Jane the Virgin.

She has also made heads turn by portraying a young engineering prodigy, Harley Diaz, the central character in Disney Channel’s single-camera situational comedy TV series ‘Stuck in the Middle’. Her performance in the series has won several hearts as well.

Favorite Things

• Food – Chocolate cake, Pizza
• Sneakers – Adidas, Converse, Ugg, Vans
• TV Shows – Cooking shows
• Movies – The Lion King (1994), White Chicks (2004)
• Stores – Forever 21, Tilly’s, H&M, Zara
• Ice Cream – Ben & Jerry’s
• Netflix Series – Stranger Things
• Place – New York

Jenna Ortega Net Worth

As of 2024, Jenna Ortega has a total net worth of $3 million dollars. She lives with her family in Coachella Valley, Southern California, United States.

Social Media  Profiles

• Facebook –  Jenna0rtega
• Instagram –  jennaortega
• Twitter –  jennaortega

Jenna Ortega Facts

She expressed her interest to act at the age of 6 and started doing auditions at the age of 8.

She was eight years old when she landed the role of a girl in the television series Rob.

Jenna has two dogs, named Anna and Brooklyn.

She is terrified of walking into elevators.

Jenna Ortega is obsessed with the Musical.ly app.

When she’s not on a shoot, she likes playing soccer, tumbling, cheerleading, and reading.

She cites  Angelina Jolie , Beyoncé , Selena Gomez , and Lupita Nyong’o as her fashion idols.

In March 2018 Ortega joined the cast of the ABC television pilot Man of the House, playing the role of Elena who is described as an “a beautiful and mean spirited only child, who doesn’t adjust well to living with her cousins”

In 2020, Ortega was included PopSugar’s “20 Under 20 list.

She published her first book titled It’s All Love: Reflections For Your Heart and Soul in January 2021.

She co-starred alongside the likes of Maddie Ziegler , Shailene Woodley , Julie Bowen, John Ortiz, Niles Fitch, and Will Ropp in the 2021 high school teen drama film, The Fallout.

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Jenna Ortega Reflects On Her Experience As A Child Actor

Jenna Ortega has been making waves in the entertainment industry, with her upcoming role in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice set to further solidify her star status upon its release on September 6. However, Jenna's journey in acting began long before her current success. Her first major role was in the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle, which aired from 2016 to 2018.

In a recent interview with the New York Times, Jenna opened up about her experiences as a child actor and the impact it had on her. She reflected on the unique challenges of being a child in an adult workplace, stating, 'Child acting is strange. I see why my parents felt hesitant about it, because you’re putting a child in an adult workplace.'

Jenna emphasized how her early acting career shaped her perspective on life, noting that it 'completely changed my way of thinking and going about life.' She also highlighted the bond she shares with other child actors, describing it as a 'secret little language' that they all understand.

Despite some regrets and challenges along the way, Jenna expressed gratitude for the valuable lessons she learned as a child actor. She credited her parents for ensuring she maintained a balance between work and personal life, prioritizing education and well-being.

One of the positive outcomes of her early acting experience, Jenna shared, was gaining a deep understanding of the technical aspects of filmmaking and television production. This knowledge has made her feel confident and comfortable on set, enhancing her overall work experience.

However, Jenna also revealed that her time as a child actor had its drawbacks, making her more cautious and introverted in dealing with others. She acknowledged the difficulty of navigating relationships in a competitive industry at a young age, where not everyone had her best interests at heart.

Despite the challenges, Jenna expressed a sense of resilience and appreciation for the growth and insights she gained from her early career. Her story serves as a reminder of the complexities and nuances of being a child actor in the spotlight.

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Home » Biography » Celebrities » Actresses » Jenna Ortega Biography: Age, Height, Movies, Boyfriend, Net Worth, Instagram, Wife, TV Shows

Jenna Ortega Biography: Age, Height, Movies, Boyfriend, Net Worth, Instagram, Wife, TV Shows

Jenna Marie Ortega  (born September 27, 2002) is a multi-talented American actress whose career skyrocketed when she first became a child actor. 

She garnered widespread attention for her captivating portrayal in the critically acclaimed CW comedy-drama series Jane the Virgin (2014-2019). Her subsequent performance as the lead character in the Disney Channel series  Stuck in the Middle  (2016-2018) was met with great acclaim and even earned her an Imagen Award.

Her range of talents was further highlighted when she played the role of Ellie Alves in the hit series, You (2019) and took on the lead role in the 2021 family movie,  Yes Day . Her versatility was further evident in her critically acclaimed performance in the 2021 teen drama,  The Fallout  and her upcoming roles in the  Scream  and  X  horror movies (both 2022).

Moreover,  Jenna Ortega  is currently starring in the Netflix horror comedy series  Wednesday  (2022), where she showcases her acting prowess and impresses viewers with her comedic timing. Prestigious award-giving bodies have recognized her outstanding performances, earning her nominations for the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Jenna Ortega  was born and raised in Coachella Valley, California, in the year 2002 and is the fourth of six siblings. Her siblings, Aaliyah Ortega , Isaac Ortega , Markus Ortega , Mia Ortega , and Mariah Ortega , have been a constant source of support and camaraderie throughout her journey.

Jenna Ortega ‘s father, Edward A. Ortega , hails from a Mexican background, while her mother, Natalie Ortega , has a mixed heritage of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent. Growing up in a multi-ethnic household, she was exposed to diverse cultures, which helped her develop a rich sense of identity and appreciation for diversity.

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Jenna Ortega ‘s early career took off as a child actor, but it came at the cost of sacrificing a traditional high school experience devoid of iconic adolescent milestones like prom or graduation. Not having the opportunity to participate in these rites of passage has undoubtedly been a source of sadness for her. However, she remains grateful for the opportunities that have come her way, realizing that not many people get to pursue their passions at such a young age.

Despite her unique challenges,  Jenna Ortega  has remained focused and committed to her craft, with her career trajectory only gaining more momentum. She has undoubtedly carved out a unique path for herself, proving that pursuing one’s passion can lead to a fulfilling and successful life.

Personal Life

In  addition to her impressive acting career,  Jenna Ortega  has also demonstrated a strong passion for charitable causes and activism. In 2016, she selflessly hosted a meet and greet to raise funds for a young girl battling cancer.

Furthermore, her notable fashion statement at the 2018 Radio Disney Music Awards garnered significant attention from the media. Wearing a jacket emblazoned with the phrase “ I Do Care, And U Should Too ,”  Jenna Ortega  used her platform to express her disapproval of Melania Trump ‘s controversial jacket reading “ I Really Don’t Care. Do U? “

When asked about the topic, the actress explained, “ I saw what Melania Trump wore on the way to visit the immigrant children, and I was so deeply offended that I knew what I wanted my statement to be… ” Moreover, she has been a devoted supporter of the Pride Over Prejudice movement since age 13, advocating tirelessly against discrimination in all its forms.

Regarding her personal life,  Jenna Ortega  has had romantic relationships with Asher Angel in 2018 and Isaak Presley . She was rumoured to have also dated Jacob Sartorius (2017).

Despite the ups and downs of her personal and professional life, she remains an inspiring role model and a symbol of strength and compassion.

From a young age,  Jenna Ortega  showed an immense passion for acting. Thanks to her mother’s encouragement and the support of her agents, she began auditioning for roles at just eight years old. In 2012, her dreams became a reality when she made her debut appearance on the television show  Rob . The same year, she landed a role on  CSI: NY , playing  Aimee Moore  in the episode  Unspoken .

Jenna Ortega ‘s acting career continued to grow rapidly. In 2013, she made her big-screen debut in  Iron Man 3 , where she played the vice president’s daughter in a minor role. She then went on to play the role of  Annie  in  Insidious: Chapter 2  and  Zoe Leon  in  Rake . In the romantic-drama series  Jane the Virgin , she played the younger version of  Jane , which ran from 2014 to 2019.

In 2018,  Jenna Ortega  starred as  Dawn , the daughter of a circus owner, in the film  Saving Flora . Critics received the film well, and she was nominated for Best Lead Actress at the Southampton International Film Festival. That same year, she also played the main role of  Ellie Alves  in the second season of the Netflix thriller series  You . Her character, a smart and meddlesome girl who liked to act older than her true age, was praised by fans and critics alike. She said working with her co-stars Penn Badgley and Victoria Pedretti was a pleasure.

Jenna Ortega ‘s versatility as an actress was further demonstrated when she landed a role in the horror-comedy film  The Babysitter: Killer Queen . She admitted feeling nervous on set because the other cast members were already familiar with each other, but her acting chops were undeniably impressive. In 2020, she voiced  Brooklyn  in the Netflix animated series  Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous , which was met with mixed reviews.

Jenna Ortega ‘s creativity and talent extend beyond acting. She announced that she would make her writing debut with the book  It’s All Love , which was released in January 2021. She has also been recognized for her work in the horror genre, earning the nickname “ scream queen ” from multiple media outlets due to her roles in  Studio 666 ,  X ,  Scream , and  American Carnage .

In 2022,  Jenna Ortega  played the titular role in the Netflix series  Wednesday , where she underwent a physical transformation and faced immense pressure during production. Her exceptional performance in the series earned her Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. 

Jenna Ortega  has a net worth estimated to be around $4 million. She made her fortune from her successful acting career, which spans over a decade. 

She has starred in numerous films and television shows, earning an impressive amount of money from her work. She also earns from brand endorsements and other business ventures.

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @Jennaortega
• Twitter handle: @Jennaortega

Filmography

• Insidious: Chapter 2
• The Little Rascals Save the Day
• After Words
• Saving Flora
• The Fallout
• The Babysitter: Killer Queen
• American Carnage
• Miller’s Girl
• Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall
• Day of Our Lives
• Jane The Virgin
• Richie Rich
• Stuck in The Middle
• Elena of Avalor
• Bizaardvark
• Big City Greens

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Jenna Ortega Biography, Age, Wiki, Height, Weight, Boyfriend, Family & More

Biography / Wiki

Jenna Marie Ortega is an American teen actress who is known for the popular roles in ‘Jane the Virgin’ and ‘Stuck in the Middle’ for her portrayals. She has been active in establishing a decent place for herself in the entertainment industry since beginning her career as a child artist at 8. In an episode of the TV series ‘Rob’, her debut role was that of a ‘Girl.’

Her big breakthrough arrived after she starred in the critically acclaimed and Golden Globe-winning comedic romantic comedy-drama television series ‘Jane the Virgin’ playing ‘Young Jane’.

By playing a teenage engineering prodigy, Harley Diaz, the lead character in the single-camera situational comedy TV series ‘Stuck in the Middle’ on Disney Channel, she also won hearts. Her other ‘Disney Channel’ initiative involves offering voice-over as Princess Isabel in the ‘Elena of Avalor’ computer-animated TV series on the channel.

Height / Weight / Age

Born on the 27th of September 2002. She doesn’t appear to be much taller and her height measures 5 feet 1 inch while her weight is 48 kg approximately.

She has a stunning body figure of 32-24-32 and wears number 7.5 (US) in the shoe size. Her beautiful looks are complemented by her dark brown eyes and her hair of dark brown color.

Ortega was interested in acting since a young age and starting early in her career she has now found fame in the Hollywood entertainment industry as an actress and social media celebrity.

Jenna has a huge fan following among youngsters and has earned a lot of wealth from her work on high-grossing projects. She has earned most of her wealth from her career in acting and the total net worth estimated for Jenna Marie Ortega is $2 million US dollars as of now.

Education / Family

A native of California Jenna Marie Ortega was born and raised in Coachella Valley, Palm Desert, California. She has been homeschooled mostly because of her busy schedule and has not attended any college till now. The daughter of Natalie Ortega, she has not revealed the name of her father and grew up with her two brothers and three sisters.

Career / Fashion And Style

In the 2012 American sitcom TV series ‘Rob’, this young Latina forayed into the world of acting at the age of 9 with the bit part of a ‘Girl’. She played the role of Aimee Moore in the ninth season of the popular American police procedural TV series ‘CSI: NY’ after ‘Rob’.

With the critically acclaimed box-office hit ‘Iron Man 3’, an American superhero film, she made her big-screen debut. She was next seen in the American supernatural horror film ‘Insidious: Chapter 2’, directed by James Wan and starring Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne. In the 2014 American comedy-drama TV series ‘Rake’, played a recurring role, Zoe Leon.

By bagging the recurring part of Young Jane, Ortega got her big break. On October 13, 2014, ‘Jane the Virgin’ debuted on The CW. The show gave Ortega a lot of praise and accolades for her portrayal of the younger version of the central character at the age of 10.

On November 20, 2016, American computer-animated TV film ‘Elena and the Secret of Avalor,’ she went on to reprise the role of Princess Isabel. In her TikTok account ‘jenna0rtega’, Ortega has already managed to accumulate more than 3.3 million followers.

Boyfriends, Affairs, Husband and More

Ortega has been in a relationship twice and was previously dating Jacob Sartorius .

Favorite Things

Here we provide you a list of Jenna Ortega’s favorite things.

Some Interesting Facts About Jenna Ortega

• Jenna speaks a little bit of Spanish in addition to English because of her bilingual mother.
• From Angelina Jolie, Beyoncé, Selena Gomez , and Lupita Nyong’o, she takes styling cues.
• She is a night person and considers herself a night owl.
• In 2012, her professional acting career began at the age of 9.
• In her family of 6 siblings, Jenna is the third youngest.
• She enjoys playing basketball, tumbling, cheerleading, and reading in her spare time.
• Ortega has named her two puppies, Anna and Brooklyn.
• She began taking an interest in acting at the age of 6.
• She was providing auditions for different roles by the age of 8.

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Screen Rant

Jenna ortega & catherine o'hara reveal the "childlike excitement and wonder" of beetlejuice beetlejuice set.

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Beetlejuice 2: New & Returning Cast & Character Guide

Beetlejuice 2's lydia deetz replacement fulfills a missing story from the original movie, “i was ultra-clear about that”: michael keaton had 1 hardline condition for beetlejuice beetlejuice return.

• Beetlejuice Beetlejuice captures the original's magic with a fresh perspective and new characters.
• Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Tim Burton return, while Jenna Ortega adds a new spin to the sequel.
• Tim Burton's enthusiasm for the sequel brought a childlike excitement to the set, creating a collaborative and creative experience.

Thirty-six years after the events of Beetlejuice the Deetz family is drawn back to Winter River in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice . Following the death of Charles Deetz, a familiar threat from Lydia's past rears its head when her rebellious teenage daughter, Astrid, finds the mysterious model of the town in the attic. When she accidentally opens a portal to the Afterlife and releases Betelgeuse, Lydia will need to face her past and relationship with Astrid.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice captures the perfect combination of oddities, comedy, and heart from the original with a fresh perspective and voice. Michael Keaton, Catherine O'Hara, and Winona Ryder return along with director Tim Burton to reprise the magic of the original Beetlejuice . Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Justin Theroux, and Monica Bellucci join the Beetlejuice universe , with Ortega bringing a new spin to the angsty, rebellious teenager that Ryder established in the original.

Several iconic actors from the original are returning for Beetlejuice 2, and they'll be joined in the sequel by exciting new additions to the cast.

Screen Rant caught up with Jenna Ortega and Catherine O'Hara to talk about Beetlejuice Beetlejuice . O'Hara explained why the original Beetlejuice was such an important part of her life and shared how Burton seemed invigorated with Beetlejuice . Ortega shared how collaborating with Burton on the sequel compared to Wednesday and reflected on her offscreen relationship with Ryder.

Catherine O'Hara Shares Her Original Expectations For Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice "was just a wonderful time" in the actor's life and the sequel lived up to that.

Catherine, what was your biggest priority when returning to the Beetlejuice universe all these years later? Was there anything that you told Tim that you wanted to specifically do in this one?

Catherine O'Hara: No, I just wanted it to be good like most jobs. But this is pretty special just because it was that experience we had in our lives, and it was a very happy experience. The movie somehow has grown an audience over the years and is not forgotten, and there are great expectations now about what this one's going to be. But for me, I really had a lovely time on that movie. I loved working with Tim and everyone. I met my husband; he was a production designer on that, and it was just a wonderful time in my life. So, I wanted it to be not only good for the audience, but a worthy thing to do. And it was!

Jenna Ortega Gushes Over Her Connection To Winona Ryder

"everything kind of fell into place, and it was rare".

Jenna, Winona said that she has never bonded as hard with someone on a film set as she did with you on this movie. How meaningful was that bond and that relationship that you developed with her?

Jenna Ortega: I would say it was pretty meaningful. That's so wonderful and sweet to hear because, obviously, it feels very real and happened almost instantly. It's weird; sometimes you look at someone, and you just know. I feel like we had that, and I could have never anticipated getting the incredible opportunity to work with her, let alone to get to know and love her. And she's so easy to love. It's very special to me, and I can't really compare it to anything else that I've had either. There were just so many more similarities than I could have imagined - even coincidentally. Everything kind of fell into place, and it was rare.

Tim Burton has called this a reinvigorating experience. Apparently, he was ready to hang it up for films when he did Wednesday , and he was brought back into this world because he was given the opportunity to do a sequel. But was that obvious on set?

Catherine O'Hara: Yes. And when I first met him for this, I could see he needed to be reinvigorated because that's the way he spoke. He was at a place where he just wanted to get back to those early days; what it meant for him, with not so many eyeballs over the shoulder, and just letting go of people thinking they know him. I mean, I'm speaking for him right now, and I shouldn't be. But the impression I got was that it got out of control, who he became. And he just wanted to go back to that feeling where no one's watching, you're just trying to be interesting and funny and express your creativity. And I was honestly so happy for him every day on the set of this movie. He was so alive and happy and full of great ideas and so open to ideas, and it was just a really freeing, creative experience. Jenna Ortega: I caught him a year before all this happened in Romania shooting Wednesday. And I remember he was always so kind and so pleasant, and he was very energetic and if someone was doing a stunt, he would do it first to show it - very hands-on. But I will say it was a very different experience doing this movie with him because it was that childlike excitement and wonder and spontaneity, and you could tell his gears were turning. He was just very obviously invested, and that was so exciting and pushed us to take it further and give more and do more. It just felt so collaborative and nice and safe. It was very sweet to see.

About Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

After a family tragedy, three generations of the Deetz family return home to Winter River. Still haunted by Beetlejuice, Lydia's life is turned upside down when her teenage daughter, Astrid, accidentally opens the portal to the Afterlife.

Check out our other Beetlejuice Beetlejuice interviews:

• Winona Ryder
• Justin Theroux
• Monica Bellucci

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice hits theaters September 6.

Source: Screen Rant Plus

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is the sequel to the original Tim Burton classic that starred Michael Keaton and Wynona Rider in a horror-comedy that involved ghosts trying to scare off new homebuyers from taking their house. The sequel brings back Michael Keaton as the hilarious and sleazy ghost with selfish intentions, now joined by Jenna Ortega in a new role.