Before Jenna Ortega became a household name due to Wednesday’s massive success, her career as a child actor defined the tender years of her childhood. At the young age of 12, she was cast in the comedy show, Jane the Virgin, which catapulted her career. From her first foray into the entertainment industry, she demonstrated a maturity and talent that was well beyond her age. Today, her ability to embody a wide range of characters with precision and authenticity is nothing short of remarkable. 

Yet, she was not spared the grueling challenges of being a child actor.

Jenna Ortega shares her journey as a child actor

In an interview with Harper Bazaar, Jenna Ortega reflected on the battles she fought as a teenager. Since her “career” was placed in the hands of others, she even crossed paths with “individuals” who sometimes did not have her “best interests” in mind. This meant that she could not dictate her own decisions. Today, as a fan-favorite actress who has an Emmy nomination to her name at such a young age, she feels ready to “orchestrate” her career.

It is commonly known that children who dare to enter Hollywood’s testing realm face a myriad of struggles. Well, Ortega was no exception to that rule. Even to be able to learn from the process of acting, the Scream actress had to beg for permission “to make a mistake”. So, now she wants to get rid of those fears. In her desire to grow as an actress, she expressed her wishes to make “precise moves” that can help her do so.

Unfortunately, the lack of ability to control her own narrative was not the only challenge she faced.

The pressure to look a certain way held Ortega back

When the 21-year-old first embarked on her journey in the entertainment industry, it heightened the pressure she faced as an individual of “Hispanic” origins. She felt forced to pick between only “two types of roles” of either playing a character’s younger self or portraying somebody’s “daughter”. With an appearance that did not conform to such expectations, she felt restrained by something beyond her control.

So, these limited opportunities to find leading Hispanic actors that she could emulate took a toll on her. Furthermore, feeling pressured to look like a conventional actress even led her to try and alter her experience once. Despite this, her journey from difficult beginnings to burgeoning stardom serves as a testament to her dedication and resilience. Especially in Tinseltown, that can often be unforgiving to young talents.

What do you think of Jenna Ortega’s journey to stardom? Share your thoughts in the comments.