Jenna Ortega Feels ‘Incredibly Misunderstood’ and Says Even Her Name Feels Like It ‘Doesn’t Belong’ to Her Anymore

“People feel entitled to those bits and pieces of your life,” the ‘Wednesday’ actress said.

Jenna Ortega at the 2025 Met Gala in New York City on May 5, 2025.

Jenna Ortega is opening up about feeling “incredibly misunderstood” in Hollywood.

The 22-year-old Wednesday actress sat down for an interview with The Hollywood Reporter and, when asked if she thinks the public’s persona of her is accurate, she responded with a resounding “not at all.”

“I think that’s part of my struggle with that side of the job, because you feel incredibly misunderstood,” she explained.

“It’s almost to a point where it feels like your name doesn’t belong to you. I almost don’t even resonate with it anymore.”.

“I hate assumptions, and a big part of this job is that people are going to make assumptions about you,” she added.

Tim Burton (L) and Jenna Ortega (R) at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 2024.
The question then turned to the topic of, as Ortega put it, “the death of the movie star.”

Wednesday director Tim Burton, who was also participating in the interview, admitted he “miss[es] the days of mystery … when you didn’t know everything about actors.”

“We know too much,” Ortega agreed.

“And the people feel entitled to those bits and pieces of your life where if they were put under the same microscope, they wouldn’t feel nearly as comfortable,” she added.

Ortega also discussed how she feels about being recognized in public.

“Sometimes you go out, and it’s a mess,” she said.

“And other times, I could be walking for hours and no one gives a s—.

If you really want to go unseen, you can do it.”.

As for when fans recognize her on the street, Ortega said she’s “always scared.”.

“Somebody shouting your name in public is insane,” she shared.

“Sometimes I feel uncomfortable when it’s grown men approaching me.”.

Ortega also revealed that “sometimes people shout vile things.”.

“Like, you don’t stop for somebody because you’re going to be late for something and they’re calling you a ‘c— w—-‘ in front of your mother,” she said.

“It’s horrific.”.