Fashion

Jenna Ortega may be the scream queen of Generation Z, but fear doesn’t stand in her way


When I logged into Zoom to interview Jenna Ortega, I couldn’t help having a few stereotypical expectations about the teenage girl I was about to meet, but for 45 minutes, the actress defied it all. As soon as she popped into the conversation for the second time, one word popped into her head – ready. She smiles at me, her eyes showing the aftermath of a nonstop work schedule. Since she starred in the second season of FriendIt seems this 20-year-old has jumped from one remarkable project to the next, cementing her status as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand young talents. Even finding time for this conversation proved difficult given her unpredictable pre-production schedule.

On the set of our cover shoot, Ortega was dressed in a glamorous, Technicolor designed by the likes of Miu Miu, Versace and Valentino against a smooth, rich backdrop. However, during our interview, the curtains were drawn and the costumes were pushed aside. The actress is ready to show who she is off the camera. At first, Ortega was timid but slowly but surely opened up, sharing some of the fears and pressures that come with being at the peak of his current career. Beneath all the glitz and glamor and success, she’s still figuring things out, and in that way Ortega delivers an essence of relativity. She can admit when she’s scared or threatened, but she’s also willing to do the work it takes to get where she wants to be.

Among her series of angry teen roles, hers is Wednesday Addams in Tim Burton’s new series for Netflix. no surprise to those in Ortega’s circles. “I have always been compared to Addams Wednesday all my life,” she told me simply. Since he was such a gothic visionary, it was not uncommon for Burton to sense this and contact Ortega about his interest in her for the role while she was at A24 studio and thriller Ti West X. After a long day of intense filming and wearing Ortega’s prosthetic leg, the email request didn’t seem to come up. At the time, Ortega was focused on cinema, but growing up with great respect for Burton, she gave herself the right to speak to him. “Just hearing about his passion for the project and what he had in mind visually to make the series amuses me,” she said of her thought process at the time. at that moment.

It only took one audition and meeting Ortega for Burton to decide that she was his top lady. For Ortega, that’s not so obvious. “I hadn’t slept for more than 24 hours,” she recalls. “I actually fell asleep before the call, so I remember I didn’t do well.” Perhaps it was the lack of sleep that helped her evoke the classic April Addams look. While acting in any lead role has a definite pressure, playing a character that makes many people nostalgic gets more attention. “I was so scared,” she said. “Nostalgia is incredibly powerful, and that’s part of the reason why superhero and horror movies are so respected and watched to this day.” She describes Christina Ricci’s work in love The Addams . family Franchising 30 years ago was “perfect” but very excited to be able to take on the character in his own way.

Coming to Netflix on November 23 Wednesday enhancing the supernatural elements that have always been part of the Addams family story and refining them for a new, younger audience. “You have to consider that this is a slightly different world, a slightly different reality,” focused Ortega explained. The show is unlike anything she’s seen before and offers a realm of fantasy that’s new to her acting palate. “The action sequences will surprise the audience and new characters [too] because they are all unique in their own ways. It’s funny because in the story they’re all outcasts, and Wednesday comes and feels like [even more of] evicted.”

To be fair, the industry is saturated with reboots, but Ortega remains determined to do what he can to bring Burton’s innovative vision to fruition. While saying “all good things take time” sounds cliché, it’s true, especially in art. It is not easy to perfect the modern version of April, both in appearance and personality. Ortega admits that navigating the role emotionally is something she struggles with. “It’s hard to lead a story and have a full spectrum of emotions with a character who is basically emotionless,” she told me. Creating the updated look for Wednesday is another hit along the way. The character was originally known for her striking tight braids and conservative black dress, but Burton wanted to add a twist to Ortega’s role. “We are doing hair and wardrobe tests in London at Tim’s place. We have tried everything. We tried short braids, really long braids, thick braids, thin braids, and we even tried a gray streak,” she explains about the long process. Finally, a hairstylist suggested the bangs, and that’s what eventually caught Burton’s interest. Although they went through many iterations, it was the artificial factor that bothered Burton. But Ortega, always committed to the vision, suggested they cut her hair. “If he doesn’t like it, it will grow back before filming,” she told the hairstylists firmly. Luckily for her, the hairstyle was approved by Burton. Thus, her portrait of Wednesday Addams was born.

Wednesday isn’t a character you might describe as likable (at first or at some point), but Ortega still finds relatability in her, as she does with so many dark roles. and his anger. “I was actually talking about this the other day. My job is to pretend, so I’m not saying this always applies, but… if a script is for you or if it’s a project you’re going to work on, it will reach you at the right time. . When I’m filming Friend, I related to Ellie a lot during that time. It is the same with Wednesday. I never really considered it because much of what I do is horror, and they all have erratic and nasty personalities, but what I like is that they also have a sassy teenage nature. “

While Ortega has found a beautiful story in each of her characters, she implies that there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of how teenagers are portrayed on screen and that she is proud to be one of the best. The system is working towards that change with a powerful force. “I really see my younger generation taking more control of themselves in the industry — whether it’s learning to write earlier, directing earlier, or producing earlier. I think that’s really powerful and important because, right now, teenage voices are still being spoken largely by older white men,“She told me with a hopeful expression on her face. She started to see a change, and that was something special to her. “The more that happens, the more we’ll admit that girls are more than just a lame stereotype,” she added. Even though I’m in my 20s, Ortega’s quote soothes the teenage girl in me, who is often mocked with her fickle expectations and prejudices. This is the feeling that hit me throughout most of our conversation. It’s like she’s an adult, and I’m a teenage girl listening to the words of wisdom she has to comfort me.

At the time of our chat, Ortega was nearing her 20th birthday and arguing with her complicated feelings about entering another chapter in her life. “It’s weird because I’m having that inner crisis because I’m turning 20 and I’m not going to be a teenager anymore,” she said. “It freaked me out because a part of me felt like I wasted my youth or maybe better of them — completely vulnerable and honest.” Those close to Ortega also consider her an ornate perfectionist. As a young star, there is an unspeakable feeling that there is no room for error. But as she matures, Ortega doesn’t let her past stop her from moving forward. “Sometimes, I take myself too seriously or can’t relax, and that’s part of the reason why I’m such a quiet person. I need to be better at that, but I think that’s the beauty of growing up because you’re going to make a lot of mistakes and do a lot of things wrong. I’m definitely a pessimist, but I’m trying to be more optimistic about the fact that there’s still a lot to learn and I want to learn it all,” she added with a normal level of confidence. There is an admirable honesty of Ortega. People tend to idolize the teen experience — to the point where they are faced with this created dilemma where life ends as they know it when they reach 20. Instead of stopping with remorse Unfortunately, she prides herself on always acting the way she feels right for herself and is ready to begin the next chapter of her life with a multitude of possibilities.

Ortega’s 20s will be full of possibilities both onscreen and offscreen. The actress’ resume is full of horror, but she doesn’t care about being a typist. “The horror is that it becomes a second home for me at this point. I have participated in all of those series [that] I go and I know what to expect from me. It’s like a typical 9-to-5,” she said. At first, the comparison was confusing to me, but it quickly popped into my brain. Like a person might feel like they’re on autopilot as they pick a meeting date and email, Ortega feels like she’s working on a different scenario.

As she was ready for more, Ortega’s path into the industry prepared her for exactly this moment. A lot of young actresses start out playing younger versions or daughters of other people, but not many are suitable for Puerto Rican and Mexican-American actresses. “I also have no connection to the industry, so it is a coincidence that I end up here honestly,” she said skeptically. “I was taught that the industry is so harsh that you can work, work, work and then never work again. I had less than twice as many job opportunities as other girls my age, so I took what I could. I did that for a while, but eventually I got to a point where I could be more selective or precise about what I wanted to do, which was really exciting for me. Ortega flashed a sly smile as she let me know the gratitude she feels at this point in her life.

During most of our interviews, Ortega impressed me as poised, mature, and wise beyond her years. She still has all that, but in this moment, Ortega is just a happy girl to be here. “Again, I’m a really lucky girl right now. I’m reading scripts that I really enjoy, and they spark a passion in me. I want to expand my muscles as an actor, and I want to grow. I also want to focus on making my characters as distinct as possible, if I can. I don’t want any of them to be like the other, and that’s something that’s always weighed heavily on my mind,” she said.

Even though she’s exhausted after a long day at work, there’s still a glint in Ortega’s eyes as she talks about her hopes for the future of her career — just like the mere thought of it, all both serve as an espresso to keep her going. Faced with all sorts of difficulties, Jenna Ortega is turning the page to the next chapter, and I’m looking forward to reading it.

Photographer: Janell Shirtcliff

Designer: Lauren Eggertsen

Hair designer: David Stanwell

Create an artist: Melanie Inglessis

Manicurist: Thuy Nguyen

Creative director: Alexa Wiley

Entertainment Director: Jess Baker

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