Everyone loves "Wednesday" – except lead actress Jenna Ortega. Is she leaving the Netflix hit earlier than expected?
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| Image Credit: Netflix |
You'd think that all actors yearn for a major film or series success and the fame that comes with it. That may be true for many – but not for Jenna Ortega. To a certain extent, that's understandable: Ortega was a Disney star as a child, so she's been successful for a long time. Her career plans included strong, serious film roles – a goal that hasn't yet been fully achieved.
With "Wednesday," she landed the lead role in one of the most successful Netflix series of all time. Tim Burton, a true directing legend, is also involved behind the scenes. But the hype surrounding "Wednesday" is putting obstacles in Ortega's way, and she speaks very openly about the drawbacks the series brings.
The success of "Wednesday" overwhelmed Jenna Ortega
"To be honest, after [season 1 of 'Wednesday'] and trying to figure everything out, I was an unhappy person. After the pressure, the attention—as someone who's quite introverted, it was so intense and scary," Ortega admits in a recent interview.
She previously struggled with the decision to audition for the Tim Burton production, knowing full well that she would have to put her film plans on hold for the time being. But she was and remains fascinated by Wednesday Addams as a character and now, as a producer, has a say in the series' development.
Are child actors not taken seriously?
A problem that Natalie Portman has also faced is the lack of professionalism toward former child stars. Portman, with whom Ortega recently appeared on camera, is still certain, even at 43, that because of her height and her beginnings as a child star, she has to prove more clearly than others that she can be taken seriously.
Ortega not only agrees with Portman, but also recognizes another problem in her "Wednesday" wardrobe that stands in the way of her credibility. "You know, you're wearing a schoolgirl costume. There's just something very condescending about it. Plus, people naturally look down on you when you're short." This is a problem that, according to Ortega, particularly affects young women who have to maintain a perfect image.
Ortega Envisions a Different Career
Even though Ortega doesn't explicitly mention plans to leave, you can hear a hint that "Wednesday" has steered her career plans in a direction she's not entirely happy with. "The weird thing about a character like Wednesday is that she's an outsider—but at the same time, she's a pop culture icon. In a weird way, I feel like I've become a pop actress myself [...]. And that's never what I intended for myself."
When Ortega sees the character of Wednesday Addams suddenly appearing on T-shirts, mugs, and other merchandise, it doesn't inspire pride. Instead, she thinks, "Oh man, [Wednesday] would hate that"—and Ortega probably feels the same way.
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