Jenna Ortega Opens Up About Sacrificing Her Nutritional Needs as a Child Star

In a candid interview with Esquire, Jenna Ortega, the breakout star of Netflix's "Wednesday," revealed her remarkable determination that once led to sacrificing basic necessities like food and water while working as a child actor. The 23-year-old actress shared that her unwavering enthusiasm for her craft often made her forget about taking care of herself on set. She admitted, "I was so grateful and excited to be there that I put my game face on at all times." This dedication resulted in Jenna going an entire day without eating or drinking, a choice she now acknowledges as a mistake. Looking back, Ortega couldn't think of any significant errors in her career journey, asking, "Is that a terrible thing to say?" She clarified that while she was careful about self-care as a child star, she makes mistakes all the time now. Jenna's passion for acting began at just seven years old when she realized it was what she wanted to do. Her parents initially dismissed her ambitions, but their laughter only fueled her determination. "I never really stopped," she explained, "because I’m very stubborn, and then I never questioned it." Ortega's role model as a child star was none other than the talented Dakota Fanning. She admired Fanning's wisdom and the feeling that she had lived many lives before. Ortega's acting career took off in 2012 with her role in the sitcom "Rob," followed by appearances in "Insidious: Chapter 2" and "Iron Man 3." She also had a recurring part in "Jane the Virgin" from 2014 to 2019, and starred as Harley Diaz on "Stuck in the Middle" from 2016 to 2018. Recent projects include "You," "Scream," and "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice." Before these roles, Ortega considered quitting acting due to feeling intimidated by new casting directors who were unfamiliar with her work. However, after landing the role in "You," she decided that she couldn't let it go. Upcoming projects for Ortega include starring in the film "Klara and the Sun," set to release in October, and Season 3 of her award-winning Netflix series, "Wednesday," premiering next year.