How Jenna Ortega Went From Disney Channel Actor To A-List Celebrity

May 2024 · 5 minute read

With projects like X, Scream, and Wednesday, Jenna Ortega is the 2020s' most established scream queen, and it's easy to forget she was a Disney star.

Summary

Jenna Ortega is an A-list modern-day scream queen, and her ascent in the entertainment industry has been so swift that it's easy to forget her Disney roots. From her early days as a child actor to her current status as an Emmy-nominated star, Ortega's journey has been nothing short of spectacular. Today, Ortega is widely recognized for her leading movie roles in major productions such as the horror film Scream and the Netflix series Wednesday, where her performances have garnered critical acclaim and a massive fan following.

Ortega's ability to bring depth and nuance to horror roles has made her a favorite among fans of the genre. She has resonated with audiences so well that she revitalized the Scream franchise, and Wednesday is a record-breaking Netflix series. However, the dark, edgy image stands in stark contrast to her earlier career, as she didn't always inhabit the mysterious and macabre worlds she's known for today. Jenna Ortega's Disney show was the beginning of her journey, and she expertly maneuvered away from that family-friendly sitcom setting.

Jenna Ortega Played Harley Diaz In Disney's Stuck In The Middle

Before she became a household name, Ortega's breakout role was as Harley Diaz in the Stuck in the Middle cast, a Disney Channel series. The family-centric sitcom, which aired from 2016 to 2018, showcased Ortega's talent at a young age. Jenna Ortega's Disney character was Harley, the middle child in a large family, and she displayed a remarkable ability to hold her own in a crowded ensemble cast. Her performance in Stuck in the Middle not only resonated with the show's young audience but also foreshadowed her potential for greater success. It was a necessary stepping stone that hinted at her talent to take on more complex and mature roles.

Ortega Says Working On Her Disney Channel Show Was Difficult

Despite the success and visibility the show brought her, Jenna Ortega's Disney experience was not without its challenges. Speaking on the Armchair Expert podcast, Ortega revealed the difficulties she faced during the Stuck in the Middle production. She recounted how the tension between Stuck in the Middle cast members' parents led to conflicts among the young actors themselves, necessitating cast therapy sessions to resolve the issues. Below is the full comment from Ortega:

"Kids would randomly start fighting because their parents were fighting. So even though the kids had no problem with each other, because the parents did, they would side with one another. We had therapy sessions, like collectively, cast therapy sessions. They had to bring someone in because there were too many difficulties on set, and how were we going to get the family members to shoot with one another?"

Ortega also described the grueling schedule, with shooting two episodes a week and additional weekends spent completing school hours. These experiences, while challenging, likely played a role in shaping her work ethic and approach to her subsequent projects. In 2022, Ortega revealed her exhaustive daily schedule while working on Wednesday season 1, and it was even more intense than her time on Stuck in the Middle, as she worked up to 14 hours per day.

How Ortega Distanced Herself From Disney

After Stuck in the Middle, Jenna Ortega deliberately chose roles that marked a departure from her Disney Channel image. However, the actor revealed that she lives in constant fear of being unable to shake off her Disney past (via The Things), even though she has clearly successfully achieved that at this point in her career. Below is Ortega's full comment:

Ultimately, I don’t want to be pigeonholed, and I want to do all that I can. I am somebody who is constantly searching for some sort of balance. But ultimately yeah, because of the Disney name — they’re incredible, but it’s really hard to get away from that stereotype, especially because real acting isn’t really associated with Disney. Sometimes people don’t even want to see you or won’t even accept your tape because of where you come from.

By embracing more mature and darker projects, such as her roles as Lorraine in the horror movie X, Ellie in the thriller series You, Tara in the Scream franchise, and the titular character in the dark and edgy Addams Family adaptation Wednesday, Ortega effectively distanced herself from the Disney persona. These roles not only displayed her range as an actress but also allowed her to be associated with iconic, non-Disney characters, which broadened her appeal to a wider audience. This strategic choice of roles demonstrates Jenna Ortega's commitment to evolving as an actress and her desire to explore diverse and challenging characters.

Sources: Armchair Expert, The Things

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