Jenna Ortega Thinks We Need More Weird Stories Like ‘Beetlejuice’ (2024)

What did you mean when you said the episodes are more like movies?

I mean, in the first season we had episodes that really stood out visually, like the dance episode was a really big one for people, and that setting was very particular and it felt like Prom Night, a little bit, or Carrie. Every episode [of season two] that I’ve read so far is like that. It just stands out on its own as a very memorable scene or bit or setting, which I think is what I’m most excited for, because to pull that off for eight episodes is, I think, really incredible and really lucky.

You’d been working for a long time before things really took off.

I have been doing this for 12 years. It’s weird to look back on all the experiences that I’ve had doing the job that I do. And then to be here now is…I don’t know, I feel like it’s some sort of sick prank.

You must have vivid memories of your early years, auditioning and trying to get roles.

I wanted to start when I was six. But I didn’t actually start until I was 10. There’s a lot of things that I’ve done in my career that I used to say I wanted to do, or dreamed about doing. I’m definitely a perfectionist, but I also think that that comes with never being satisfied or never being able to stop and slow down and appreciate what’s been going on or what I’ve seen. The last few months I’ve been able to reflect on the fact that a lot of the things that I wanted to do when I was younger, including work with Tim Burton, have happened. I almost didn’t realize it because I was so focused on the work and had tunnel vision.

Does it still live up to what you imagined?

To still enjoy the job just as much 12 years later—even seeing all of the ugly and wonderful and extreme—I think is pretty cool. I made this decision when I was 10, so I’m living off of a 10-year-old’s choices.

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Anything you wish you’d done differently?

I’m very much a people pleaser. I like to say that I’m not anymore—but I am. I wish that I felt that I was a bit more in control of my experiences. When I was younger, I was just so happy to be a part of the conversation that I wasn’t really playing it in a strategic way. Not that it has to be. I wish that maybe I had felt more autonomy in who I was from a younger age. I think I’ve definitely fallen into patterns of taking myself too seriously or not being able to create much balance in my life.

Balance in what way?

When I was younger, I wasn’t thinking about sleepovers and friends and proms. It was always, “What am I going to do next? How am I going to get this job? What meeting should I take?” It was work and school and sleep and repeat. So it’s been funny as I’ve gotten older to realize, “Huh, yeah, you do need your hands in other bowls and you do need to take a step and a breather.” I’m glad that I realize that now, but it’s strange to have not really had that experience or been eager for that experience when I was younger.

It’s important to have connections back to reality.

Definitely. Everything that’s happened—it almost feels like another person that people are talking about. I don’t feel attached to my name at all, or people’s perception of my name. I have conversations with people all the time about the position that I’m in now and everything that’s happening, but nothing in my personal life has really changed or been altered in any way. It almost doesn’t sound real. I just feel very detached from the whole thing, which maybe helps as well. But at the same time, it’s kind of scary. I don’t know how people do it. I feel like there’s probably some handbook out there that just was never handed to me.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. For fashion and beauty details, go to VF.com/credits.

Jenna Ortega Thinks We Need More Weird Stories Like ‘Beetlejuice’ (2024)

FAQs

What did Jenna Ortega say about the writers? ›

On a March 2023 episode of Dax Shepard and Monica Padman's “Armchair Expert” podcast, Ortega said that many of the original “Wednesday” scripts made no sense to her from a character perspective, and that she changed dialogue without consulting the show's writers.

What ethnicity is Jenna Ortega? ›

Her father, a former sheriff who works at the California district attorney's office, is of Mexican descent, and her mother, who is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, works as an emergency room nurse.

What movie is Jenna Ortega doing next? ›

A new movie from director JJ Abrams. Jenna Ortega and Glen Powell will team up for a currently untitled film by the director of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Is Jenna Ortega going to be in Beetlejuice? ›

The highly anticipated follow-up, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, will see returning cast members like Winona Ryder and Michael Keaton grace the screen alongside newcomer Ortega, who has quickly established herself as a macabre film and TV mainstay, with gothic-tinged works like Netflix's Wednesday and Miller's Girl lining ...

What was the one line Jenna Ortega refused to say? ›

Fyi, the line Jenna refused to say was: “Oh my god, I'm freaking out over a dress. I literally hate myself.

Why does Jenna Ortega blink? ›

During the filming process, Ortega said she found not blinking "pretty annoying," but eventually figured out that she could blink while other characters were saying their lines, keeping her eyes wide open for her own.

Is Jenna Ortega Jennifer Garner's daughter? ›

Celebrity doppelgängers are a thing, guys, not to mention nepo babies who look like their parents – it's a thing called Hollywood DNA, don't you know? But what happens when the two collide? Well, Jennifer Garner and Jenna Ortega, two completely unrelated A-List actors, just demonstrated.

Does Jenna Ortega have freckle? ›

"This eye also gave a nice contrast with the luminous skin, glorifying her freckles." Her freckles are a feature Ortega is keen not to downplay.

What is the full name of Jenna? ›

Jenna is a female given name. In the English-speaking world it is a variation of Jenny, which is itself a diminutive of Jane, Janet, Jennifer and is often used as a name in its own right.

Will Jenna Ortega ever return to you? ›

Jenna Ortega's character is officially coming back for the fifth and final season of You on Netflix. During Netflix's Tudum: A Global Fan Event LIVE from São Paulo, Brazil event on Saturday, the streaming platform teased a number of its upcoming shows and movies, including the very popular You.

What Disney show is Jenna Ortega on? ›

She began acting at age 9 and has portrayed Harley, a creative-engineering prodigy navigating life as the middle child in a family of 7 children in "Stuck in the Middle," a Disney Channel series told from Harley's perspective.

Is Beetlejuice 2 really being made? ›

This highly anticipated sequel will premiere at the 2024 Venice Film Festival on Opening Night (at the end of August), before hitting theaters right after. Beetlejuice 2 continues the story with the very same family.

What gender is Beetlejuice? ›

Full name
Gender IdentitySexual Identity
MalePansexual

Who is playing new Beetlejuice 2? ›

Michael Keaton returns as the foul-mouthed, shape-shifting ghoul joined by new cast members Jenna Ortega, Willem Dafoe, Monica Bellucci and Justin Theroux.

What quote did Jenna Ortega say? ›

Jenna Ortega Quotes

Faith is also belief, and that belief can be in God, or in the goodness of the universe around you, or maybe even in yourself. It's a foundation to stand on when things get hard. Be patient with a broken heart.

How much education does Jenna Ortega have? ›

Biography
Full NameJenna Ortega (Jenna Marie Ortega)
Zodiac SignLibra
SchoolLocal High School, Coachella Valley, United States
College / UniversityLocal Private College, California, United States
Education QualificationGraduate
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