Jenna Ortega: “As grateful as I am” for Wednesday, It Took Away the One Thing I Enjoyed Before Becoming Famous

Jenna Ortega confessed that despite all the benefits, her newfound stardom following Wednesday did not come cheap.

Jenna Ortega was catapulted to worldwide stardom after she appeared as the titular character in Netflix’s Wednesday series.

Although she started with projects like Iron Man 3, Insidious: Chapter 2, and Jane the Virgin, her role as Wednesday Addams established her as a leading Hollywood face.

By now, Jenna Ortega has delivered hits like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Scream, and Scream VI.

But the stardom has also brought the actress face-to-face with a harsh reality.

During a chat with The Weeknd for their upcoming movie, Ortega confessed that he misses the anonymity she had before her stardom.

Stardom took something very precious from Jenna Ortega

Jenna Ortega in a still from Wednesday | Credits: Netflix.

When Netflix dropped the first season of Wednesday on November 22, the supernatural comedy show took over the world instantly.

Besides record-breaking viewership, Jenna Ortega was also welcomed with critical praise for her portrayal of the titular character.

Recently, during a conversation with VMagazine, Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye asked Ortega if she misses the anonymity from her early acting days.

The 22-year-old actress was quick to respond, “Oh, most definitely“.

She confessed that before Wednesday, she not only had “way less pressure,” but she also found the hustle of finding new jobs very “exciting“.

As grateful as I am, and it was a dream role, it was so nice to have had way less pressure.

I love the hustle.

There’s something about the actor’s come-up and struggle that I really enjoyed.

Sleeping in the cars, driving all around LA for auditions, and waiting for weeks, feeling sick to my stomach that I wasn’t going to get the job I really wanted.

The adrenaline rush of it all was so exciting.

Jenna Ortega as Tara Carpenter in Scream VI | Credits: Paramount Pictures.

Jenna Ortega further added that she loved the sense of anxiety that prevailed before her newfound stardom.

I don’t know if it’s common, or if you can relate to this, but it kind of feels like you’re perpetually in this loop of anxiety.

I hold so much more pressure and weight in my body than I ever did, and I think it’s just kind of the expectation of it all.

Nonetheless, it is not the first time for Jenna Ortega to give such views on her stardom.

During a press junket for Scream VI, the actress said to Associated Press (via Business Insider) that being famous is “really stressful“.

She claimed that stardom comes with immense pressure, as her words “can be twisted“, people may make assumptions, or can also “over-s*xualize” her.

Jenna Ortega is open to joining the music industry on one condition

Jenna Ortega and The Weeknd in a still from Hurry Up Tomorrow | Credits: Lionsgate.

Despite Jenna Ortega’s statements about her stardom, she is slated to star in some notable upcoming projects.

Among them, Hurry Up Tomorrow is a musical psychological thriller, starring her with Abel Tesfaye, popularly known as The Weeknd.

While talking about the movie, Jenna Ortega confessed that although she is fond of music, she does not have the “strength to participate in the music industry.”.

Yet the Golden Globe and Emmy nominee considered the prospect and added that she “would love to compose” but under an alias.

I used to always think that I have thick skin, but the reason why I do what I do is because I’m sensitive.

I don’t think that I have the strength to participate in the music industry.

I do think if I ever did make music, it would be under an alias, and I wouldn’t talk about it.

I wouldn’t acknowledge it, and it would just be for me.

I would love to compose.

However, Jenna Ortega said that she needs to learn to play the piano first.

Following Hurry Up Tomorrow, she is all set to hit Netflix again with the next season of Wednesday.

The series will be released in the new Netflix format of two parts and is expected to shatter several records.

Wednesday Season 2 will be streamed in two parts on August 6, 2025, and September 3, 2025, on Netflix (USA).