Jenna Ortega (born September 27, 2002) is an American actress who moved from child and teen roles into major mainstream visibility through a mix of sharp comedic timing and modern horror credibility. Many viewers first recognized her from television, including Jane the Virgin and Disney Channel’s Stuck in the Middle, before her career pivoted into darker, more auteur-driven work.
In the early 2020s, Ortega became strongly associated with a new generation of genre storytelling, appearing in high-profile horror releases like Scream and X. Her global breakout arrived with her portrayal of Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s Wednesday, a performance that helped define the show’s tone and sparked wide cultural attention, from fashion to dance trends. Since then, her film choices have continued to balance studio scale with left-of-center projects, including festival premieres and ambitious adaptations.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Jenna Marie Ortega |
| Profession: | Actress |
| Born: | September 27, 2002 |
| Age: | 23 (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace: | Coachella Valley (Rancho Mirage), California, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | Wednesday Addams in Wednesday, plus modern horror hits in the 2020s |
| Notable Films: | The Fallout; Scream; X; Scream VI; Death of a Unicorn |
| Awards: | Selected wins include MTV Movie & TV Awards and Critics’ Choice Super Awards; multiple major nominations (Golden Globes, Emmys, SAG) |
| Zodiac Sign: | Libra |
| Relationship: | Keeps personal life private |
| Years Active: | 2012 to present |
Early Life & Education
Jenna Marie Ortega was born on September 27, 2002, in California’s Coachella Valley and grew up in the region before her career accelerated into steady on-camera work. She has spoken about starting young and learning the pace of sets early, which later helped her move comfortably between television schedules and feature-film shoots.
As her acting commitments expanded, her education followed a practical path shaped by production calendars and travel. Like many performers who begin working in childhood, she balanced school requirements with auditions and filming, gradually building credits that positioned her for bigger ensemble roles, and eventually, lead parts.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Ortega’s early career established her as a reliable young performer in television, including a prominent run on Jane the Virgin and her lead role in Disney Channel’s Stuck in the Middle. Those years built her visibility and range, while also giving her the experience to pivot into more tonally complex material as she aged into adult roles.
In the 2020s, she made a decisive shift toward edgier projects, earning attention for performances in The Fallout and then stepping into mainstream genre hits such as Scream and X. Her international breakout followed with Netflix’s Wednesday, where her interpretation of Wednesday Addams became the project’s creative center of gravity, and brought major awards attention. Since then, she has continued to alternate between franchise-scale releases and ambitious originals, including festival premieres and prestige-leaning adaptations.
Selected film and TV highlights
- Jane the Virgin (2014 to 2019)
- Stuck in the Middle (2016 to 2018)
- You (2019)
- The Fallout (2021)
- Scream (2022)
- X (2022)
- Wednesday (2022 to present)
- Scream VI (2023)
- Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
- Death of a Unicorn (2025)
Major recognition
- Golden Globe Award nomination for Wednesday (Best Actress in a Television Series, Musical or Comedy)
- Primetime Emmy Award nomination (Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series) for Wednesday
- Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Wednesday
- MTV Movie & TV Awards wins, including Wednesday recognition
- Critics’ Choice Super Awards win (Best Actress in a Horror Series) for Wednesday
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Most Frightened Performance | Scream | Won |
| 2023 | MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Performance in a Show | Wednesday | Won |
| 2023 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a TV Series (Musical or Comedy) | Wednesday | Nominated |
| 2023 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series | Wednesday | Nominated |
| 2023 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Female Actor in a Comedy Series | Wednesday | Nominated |
| 2023 | Critics’ Choice Super Awards | Best Actress in a Horror Series | Wednesday | Won |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 to 2019 | Jane the Virgin | TV | Recurring role that broadened early visibility. |
| 2016 to 2018 | Stuck in the Middle | TV | Disney Channel lead role, a key teen-era milestone. |
| 2019 | You | TV | Notable turn in a popular streaming thriller series. |
| 2021 | The Fallout | Film | Critically discussed drama that showcased range. |
| 2022 | Scream | Film | Major franchise entry and a key step in her horror run. |
| 2022 | X | Film | Genre standout that strengthened her “modern horror” reputation. |
| 2022 to present | Wednesday | TV | Global breakout as Wednesday Addams, major awards attention. |
| 2023 | Scream VI | Film | Continued franchise presence and expanded mainstream reach. |
| 2024 | Beetlejuice Beetlejuice | Film | High-profile studio sequel and major premiere circuit visibility. |
| 2026 | The Gallerist | Film | Dark comedy thriller; premiered at Sundance with broader release later. |
| 2026 | Klara and the Sun | Film | Taika Waititi adaptation scheduled for U.S. release in 2026. |
Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2026) | Public estimates vary widely. Ortega has not published a verified net worth figure, and credible documentation is limited. |
| Income Sources | Acting (TV and film), brand partnerships, and performance-related residuals tied to major streaming and studio releases. |
| Properties & Assets | Personal financial details are largely private. Coverage tends to focus on roles and projects, not disclosed assets. |
| Lifestyle | Public-facing presence is career-forward, with a clear interest in creative choices, genre storytelling, and long-term craft growth. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| Official account: @jennaortega (verified). Follower counts change over time. | |
| X (Twitter) | No consistently verifiable official account is highlighted here. Treat handles cautiously because impersonation and fan accounts are common. |
| TikTok | No clearly verifiable personal TikTok is listed here. Most content is clips, interviews, and reposts. |
| Public pages exist, but verification can change. Confirm before treating any page as official. | |
| IMDb | Verified filmography at IMDb. |
| Official Website | No single official personal website is consistently promoted in major coverage. Use verified studio and project pages when needed. |
| Fan Updates | Coming soon, subscribe to follow Jenna Ortega updates. |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: In addition to any official accounts listed above, many fan-run pages and clip accounts exist. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with Jenna Ortega. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- Ortega’s rise blends mainstream television visibility with modern horror credibility, a combination that helped define her early-2020s breakthrough period.
- Her performance as Wednesday Addams drew attention not only for the character’s deadpan tone, but also for how strongly it shaped the show’s overall identity.
- She has repeatedly emphasized long-term craft growth and selective project choices over constant visibility.
- Her filmography includes both franchise-scale releases and smaller, conversation-starting dramas, keeping her public image unusually range-forward for a young star.
- Festival premieres and prestige-leaning collaborations have become a recurring part of her career pattern.
Quotes
“I would do horror until I die. It’s the best.”
Source: People (interview feature)
“There needs to be a little more faith in what we bring to the table.”
Source: Vanity Fair (profile interview)
“I still was a massive scaredy cat.”
Source: Vanity Fair (profile interview)
“I remember feeling my soul leave my body for a second.”
Source: Vanity Fair (profile interview)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Jenna Ortega’s age?
A: She is 23 years old (born September 27, 2002).
Q: What is Jenna Ortega best known for?
A: She is best known for playing Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s Wednesday, plus widely seen roles in modern horror films like Scream and X.
Q: Where is Jenna Ortega from?
A: She was born in California’s Coachella Valley (Rancho Mirage) and grew up in the region.
Q: What were Jenna Ortega’s big TV roles before Wednesday?
A: Notable earlier TV work includes Jane the Virgin and Disney Channel’s Stuck in the Middle.
Q: Has Jenna Ortega received major award recognition?
A: Yes. Her work on Wednesday earned major nominations, and she has also won multiple genre and fan-voted awards.
Q: Does Jenna Ortega have official social media?
A: Her verified Instagram is commonly cited as the primary official channel. Other platforms can have impersonators, so confirm verification before relying on them.
Upcoming Projects
- The Gallerist (2026) – Feature film that premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, with wider release activity expected later.
- Klara and the Sun (2026) – Taika Waititi-directed adaptation scheduled for U.S. release in 2026.
Interviews & Features
- Harpers Bazaar, “Jenna Ortega Is Not Asking Permission” (May 28, 2025), a profile conversation about fame, creative control, and how she thinks about choosing projects as attention scales.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- 81st Venice International Film Festival (2024): Ortega appeared in Venice during the festival circuit, including major premiere-week visibility.
- South by Southwest (SXSW) (March 8, 2025): Death of a Unicorn held its world premiere at SXSW in Austin.
- Sundance Film Festival (January 2026): Ortega attended Utah for the Sundance premiere of The Gallerist, followed by press and Q&A activity.
