29 October 2024
Jenna Ortega has reflected on the video posted to Facebook that helped launch her career.
Jenna Ortega reflects on the Facebook video that started her career
The 22-year-old actress caught the attention of casting agents when she was just seven years old after her mother shared footage of her delivering a "dramatic monologue" for her friends, and she's noted now her career began online "like many Gen Zers".
The 'Wednesday' star shared the clip in the final episode of the documentary series 'My Generation', and said: "My mom shot this video and put it on Facebook for her friends, and they loved it.
"Somehow, it eventually made its way to a casting agent, and the rest is history.
"Like many Gen Zers, you can say my career was also launched online."
In the clip, which was filmed by her mom, the young aspiring actress said: "Hi, my name is Jenna Ortega, and I'm seven years old. Right now, I'm going to show you my dramatic monologue."
Jenna landed her first role at the age of 10 - which was a guest appearance in the CBS show 'Rob' - before becoming a Disney child actress and later landing roles on 'Jane the Virgin' and 'Stuck in the Middle'.
The 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' actress has enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent years, and Jenna recently admitted she is still adjusting to her new-found status as one of Hollywood's biggest names.
She told MTV: "It's definitely an adjustment."
Jenna actually relished being able to lean on Winona Ryder - her 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' co-star - for some advice about navigating fame at such a young age.
She explained: "I'm very grateful to be where I am and she had kind of a similar thing to say.
"It was just so nice to speak to someone who actually understood me because ... you know, you can turn to your family who loves and supports you, but they don't know. You know?
"It was really insightful and opening - and that was definitely one of the things we connected on."
English (US) ·