Jenna Ortega has revealed that she came close to walking away from acting altogether before a pivotal role in You changed the course of her career. Now one of Hollywood’s most recognizable young stars, Ortega shared that there was a time when she felt uncertain about her future and seriously considered stepping away from the industry.
Speaking during an appearance on Kid Cudi’s “Big Bro” podcast, Ortega opened up about the challenges she faced as a teenager transitioning out of child acting. After finishing work on earlier projects, she found herself at a crossroads, unsure of what would come next.
“I didn’t know what else I was gonna do,” Ortega said. “I’ve never really considered anything else, more so recently, just out of sake of curiosity and wanting another life experience. But when I was a teenager, I’d gotten off a children’s show, and I didn’t know what I was going to do. I had to prove myself and meet all these new casting directors who didn’t know who I was.”
The uncertainty weighed heavily on her, and she even discussed the possibility of quitting with her team. “It just felt like a good time to call it quits if I was going to. I was starting high school, and, ‘it was a good run’ sort of thing. We had talked about it for a few months with my team. And then, I think I booked that show ‘You,’ and then I went on that set, and I loved it and had the best time. I thought, ‘Yeah, there’s no way I could let this go.’”
Ortega began her career with roles in shows like Richie Rich and Stuck in the Middle, gradually building her presence in the entertainment industry. Her role as Ellie Alves in the second season of You, where she starred alongside Penn Badgley, proved to be a turning point.
Since then, Ortega has gone on to headline major projects, including films like X, Scream VI, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, and Death of a Unicorn. She also leads the hit Netflix series Wednesday, which has earned widespread acclaim.
What once felt like the end of the road ultimately became the beginning of a remarkable rise, with You reigniting Ortega’s passion for acting and setting her on a path to stardom.
