Jenna Ortega, the star of Netflix’s hit series “Wednesday,” recently spoke candidly in a Vogue magazine cover story, revealing her approach to public reception and personal boundaries in her acting career. The talented young actress disclosed that she consciously avoids watching her own films or reading reviews, fearing that doing so might plunge her into a “psychosis of some sort.” She also prefers not to track box office numbers, declaring, “I don’t want it to become a numbers thing.”
Minimizing Social Media Influence
For most of her career, Ortega relied on social media to gauge the buzz surrounding her projects, but she has recently stepped back from this habit. As she explained, she is now on social media “less and less” because she finds much of the content to be “garbage AI” and believes that excessive self-focus can be detrimental. This shift in perspective has inspired her to seek a healthier relationship with her work and public perception.
A Break from Technology
Ortega shared an interesting anecdote about breaking her phone and taking a few days to not replace it. During this time, she felt liberated from the constant presence of social media and technology. She adapted by using traditional methods, such as memorizing maps on her computer instead of relying on GPS. Ortega reflected, “If I needed to get somewhere, I would look at a map on the computer, memorize the streets… that was so freeing.”
Upcoming Film and Future Plans
The actress is preparing for the release of her next film, “Klara and the Sun,” which has received unfavorable reviews, including a scathing critique from Variety labeling it as “calamitous.” With a current Rotten Tomatoes score of 27% and a projected box office debut of around $2 million against a $20 million budget, Ortega seems unfazed by the critical reception, reaffirming her decision to stay clear of reviews and box office figures.
Reflecting on Her Television Journey
In a separate interview on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Ortega reflected on her television career. With “Wednesday” entering its third season, she reminisced about her early start on TV, debuting at just 9 years old on “Jane the Virgin” and later achieving Disney fame with “Stuck in the Middle.” Looking ahead, she mentioned her intent to take a break from television after “Wednesday” concludes, saying, “What I’m meant to do will come and find me. I think after ‘Wednesday,’ I’ll probably be off the TV for a while.”
Read Ortega’s full Vogue cover story here. “Klara and the Sun” opens in theaters on October 23.
