Watch: Why Jenna Ortega Is Stepping Away From TV After Wednesday
Jenna Ortega has mastered the art of playing creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky.
So, it’s understandable that the Wednesday star might want to distance herself slightly from the iconic Addams Family member she’s famously portrayed for three seasons on Netflix’s wildly popular television series.
“I think after Wednesday, I’ll probably be off the TV for a while,” Ortega confessed during the Oct. 22 episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast. “You know I had many years doing [TV]. I was bouncing from show to show as a kid and I want to leave time for new things.”
Indeed, the Scream and Jane the Virgin alum might be leaning towards less commercial projects once Wednesday eventually comes to an end.
“I actually haven’t had a lot of franchise conversations,” Ortega added of her future plans. “What I’m meant to do will come and find me.”
And even though it’s been several years since Wednesday made Ortega a household name following the scripted series’ 2022 debut, the 24-year-old is still grappling with the attention and scrutiny that comes with her mega-stardom.
“When people started freaking out over it or I started getting recognized, there was a sudden burst or explosion,” she recalled, “it really felt like some sick mind game that the world.”
“Still,” she added, “to this day, I’m a little confused.”
But while viewers continue to wait for updates on Wednesday season four, fans catch see a new side of Ortega in her new movie Klara and the Sun, in which she portrays an artificial intelligence companion opposite Amy Adams. As it turned out, Adams and husband Darren Le Gallo’s 16-year-old daughter Aviana Le Gallo just happened to be a huge fan of Ortega’s.
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“Jenna was so great with her,” Adams exclusively told with E! News during a joint interview with Ortega earlier this month. “We hung out at [director Taika Waititi’s] and Avi had a great time talking to Jenna ‘cause Jenna’s completely genuine and open and curious and lovely.”
Ortega was equally enchanted with Aviana. As she told E!, “That’s a real impressive girl.”
And there was nothing artificial about the girls’ budding friendship.
“Avi is one of the coolest people I’ve met,” Ortega added. “She’s so sure of herself and cool.”
Speaking of cool, keep reading to see all the times Ortega channeled Wednesday with her iconic red carpet fashions.
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