Jenna Ortega's 1 Big Regret From Her Early Years Mirrors the Sad Reality For Many Child Actors in Hollywood (2024)

SUMMARY

• Rising to fame as a child actor, as Jenna Ortega found growing prominence, the actress discussed her Hollywood inception.
• Revealing her biggest regret of failing to maintain balance and normalcy, Ortega's remarks resonated with several child stars.
• Although grateful for her opportunities, Jenna Ortega claims to feel detached from her personal life due to her early professional start.

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Following her breakthrough as a child actress in the 2016–2018 Disney Channel sitcom Stuck in the Middle, Jenna Ortega gradually ventured into mainstream Hollywood and is now set to appear in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Finding incredible fame in the entertainment industry, Ortega recently reflected on her Hollywood inception.

Speaking with Vanity Fair, Jenna Ortega opened up about her journey to stardom, revealing her biggest regret from her early years in Hollywood. The young actress, famously known for her roles in Wednesday and the Scream franchise, exposed the challenges of growing up in the public eye, which seemingly resonated with several other Hollywood child actors.

Jenna Ortega Calls Her Acting Career a “10-Year-Old’s Choice”

Thrust into the spotlight from an early age, although Jenna Ortega ventured from Disney’s Stuck in the Middle to landing roles in horror films like the Scream franchise, the actress seems to have certain regrets about her career. Despite landing coveted roles in Tim Burton’s Wednesday and upcoming Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ortega got candid about her Hollywood success.

During an interview with Vanity Fair, Jenna Ortega was asked about her vivid memories of auditions from her early years and if her Hollywood journey lived up to her imagination. To which, the actress openly called her career choice a 10-year-old’s decision. Admitting that she is currently living the life her 10-year-old self had chosen for her, Ortega seemingly expressed her regrets of losing innocence and becoming professional from an early age.

The interviewer asked, “Does it still live up to what you imagined?”

To this, Ortega replied:

To still enjoy the job just as much 12 years later—even seeing all of the ugly and wonderful and extreme—I think is pretty cool. I made this decision when I was 10, so I’m living off of a 10-year-old’s choices.

Claiming to be grateful for the opportunities she landed, the actress eventually shared her thoughts on the challenges of growing up in the public eye. Surprisingly, Jenna Ortega’s remarks echoed the sentiments of many child actors who have navigated the ups and downs of Hollywood.

Jenna Ortega’s Regret Echoes the Sentiments of Many Child Actors

After Jenna Ortega noted living the life and profession chosen by a 10-year-old self, implying that with maturity and better reasoning, she might have done things differently, the interviewer asked if she would have changed certain things in her life. Ortega admitted that she would have preferred a better understanding of herself from a young age, which might have helped her choose wisely.

I’m very much a people pleaser. I like to say that I’m not anymore – but I am. I wish that I felt that I was a bit more in control of my experiences. When I was younger, I was just so happy to be a part of the conversation that I wasn’t really playing it in a strategic way. Not that it has to be.

I wish that maybe I had felt more autonomy in who I was from a younger age. I think I’ve definitely fallen into patterns of taking myself too seriously or not being able to create much balance in my life.

While her talent and dedication have earned her success, Jenna Ortega acknowledges the sacrifices she’s made along the way. Claiming to have grown up before her age, Ortega implied losing her innocence from an early age, which seems to mirror the sad reality for many child actors in Hollywood. Admitting how growing up in the spotlight comes at a cost, Ortega shared her biggest regret.

When I was younger, I wasn’t thinking about sleepovers and friends and proms. It was always, “What am I going to do next? How am I going to get this job? What meeting should I take?” It was work and school and sleep and repeat.

So it’s been funny as I’ve gotten older to realize, “Huh, yeah, you do need your hands in other bowls and you do need to take a step and a breather.” I’m glad that I realize that now, but it’s strange to have not really had that experience or been eager for that experience when I was younger.

Jenna Ortega’s remarks seemingly reflected upon the unique challenges faced by most child actors in Hollywood. While navigating the pressures of fame, most actors often end up sacrificing their childhood years and sense of normalcy.