Jenna Ortega is opening up about a turning point in her career, revealing she nearly walked away from acting before landing the role that changed everything.
Speaking on the “Big Bro” podcast with Kid Cudi, the actress shared that during her teenage years, she seriously considered stepping away from the industry altogether. Ortega had just transitioned out of child roles on “Jane the Virgin” and “Stuck in the Middle” and found herself uncertain about what came next.
“When I was a teenager… I didn’t know what I was going to do,” she said, explaining that she suddenly had to prove herself to casting directors who were unfamiliar with her work. “It just felt like a good time to call it quits… ‘it was a good run’ sort of thing,” she added, noting that she and her team discussed the possibility for months.
At the time, Ortega was also preparing to start high school, making the idea of leaving acting feel like a natural stopping point.
The Role That Changed Everything
Everything shifted when Ortega booked a role on Netflix’s “You” in 2019. She played Ellie Alves in the show’s second season alongside Penn Badgley, and the experience quickly reignited her passion for acting.
“I went on that set, and I loved it and had the best time,” she said. “I thought, ‘Yeah, there’s no way I could let this go.’”
The role marked a major turning point, helping her transition into more mature projects and opening the door to bigger opportunities. Ortega later rose to global recognition starring in “Wednesday,” where she plays the titular character, solidifying her place as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand young stars.
She went on to take on roles in films like “Scream” and “Scream VI,” earning a reputation as a modern scream queen, along with projects including “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” “Hurry Up Tomorrow” and “Death of a Unicorn.”
Early Rejection and a Full-Circle Moment
During the same podcast conversation, Ortega also reflected on an early audition that didn’t go her way. According to The Hollywood Reporter, she auditioned for the 2018 horror film “Hereditary” as a child, though she later realized she wasn’t the right fit for the role.
“It wouldn’t have made any sense… so I understood,” she said.
Even with limited material from the script, Ortega recalled sensing the project would be significant. “I remember looking at it and thinking, ‘I feel like this is an important movie,’” she said. After seeing the finished film in theaters, she added, “Incredible movie.”
Ortega said she has always handled rejection with perspective, explaining, “I never really question it… what’s meant to be mine will come to me.”
Now, after years of nonstop work, the actress recently experienced a rare period of downtime, which she admitted initially felt unfamiliar. “I was so scared… I didn’t really know what to do with my hands,” she said, before adding that she eventually embraced the time to focus on everyday activities like cooking.
Looking back, Ortega’s near exit from acting stands as a pivotal moment in her journey, one that ultimately led her to rediscover her passion and redefine her path. As she put it, “There’s no way I could let this go.”
