History of Jenna Ortega in Timeline

Jenna Marie Ortega is an American actress who started her career as a child actress. She gained recognition for playing young Jane in 'Jane the Virgin' (2014-2019) and won an Imagen Award for her leading role as Harley Diaz in the Disney Channel series 'Stuck in the Middle' (2016-2018). She also played Ellie Alves in the thriller series 'You' (2019) and starred in the Netflix family film 'Yes Day' (2021).

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

1988: Release of Beetlejuice

In 1988, the original Beetlejuice film was released, which would later have a sequel in 2024 starring Jenna Ortega.

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September 27, 2002: Jenna Ortega's Birth

On September 27, 2002, Jenna Marie Ortega was born. She would later become a successful American actress.

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2004: Inspiration to pursue acting

In 2004, Jenna Ortega was inspired to pursue acting after watching Dakota Fanning in the thriller film Man on Fire, sparking her interest in performing.

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2012: Acting Debut in 'Rob'

In 2012, Jenna Ortega made her acting debut in the sitcom "Rob".

2013: Film Debut in 'Iron Man 3'

In 2013, Jenna Ortega made her film debut in an uncredited role in "Iron Man 3" and appeared in the horror film "Insidious: Chapter 2".

2014: Recurring Role on 'Jane the Virgin'

From 2014, Jenna Ortega had a recurring role on "Jane the Virgin" as a younger version of Jane Villanueva.

2015: Starring in 'Richie Rich'

In 2015, Jenna Ortega starred in the Netflix sitcom "Richie Rich".

2016: Leading Role in 'Stuck in the Middle' and Voice Acting in 'Elena and the Secret of Avalor'

From 2016, Jenna Ortega led the Disney Channel sitcom "Stuck in the Middle" as Harley Diaz. She also voiced Princess Isabel in "Elena and the Secret of Avalor".

2016: Organized meet-and-greet for fans to raise money for a young girl with cancer

In 2016, Jenna Ortega organized a meet-and-greet event for fans to raise money for a young girl with cancer, showing her dedication to charitable causes.

2016: Leading Role in 'Stuck in the Middle'

In 2016, Jenna Ortega secured a leading role as Harley Diaz in the Disney Channel series "Stuck in the Middle".

2018: Starring in 'Saving Flora' and Casting in 'You'

In 2018, Jenna Ortega starred in the film "Saving Flora" and was cast as Ellie Alves in the second season of the Netflix thriller series "You".

2018: Named one of Hollywood's Top 30 Stars Under Age 18

In 2018, Jenna Ortega was named one of "Hollywood's Top 30 Stars Under Age 18" by The Hollywood Reporter, recognizing her early success and potential in the industry.

2018: Imagen Award Win

In 2018, Jenna Ortega won an Imagen Award for Best Young Actor – Television.

2018: End of 'Stuck in the Middle'

In 2018, Jenna Ortega's role as Harley Diaz in Disney Channel series "Stuck in the Middle" came to an end.

2018: Protest at Radio Disney Music Awards

In 2018, at the Radio Disney Music Awards, Jenna Ortega wore a jacket displaying the words "I Do Care and U Should Too" in response to Melania Trump's clothing, gaining significant media attention and highlighting her concern for migrant children.

December 26, 2019: Release of 'You' Season Two

On December 26, 2019, the second season of Netflix's "You", in which Jenna Ortega played Ellie Alves, was released.

2019: Appearing at We Day benefit concerts

In 2019, Jenna Ortega appeared at numerous We Day benefit concerts across the U.S. and Canada to raise funds for WE Charity, continuing her philanthropic efforts.

2019: Role in 'You'

In 2019, Jenna Ortega played Ellie Alves in the thriller series "You" for Netflix.

2019: End of Recurring Role on 'Jane the Virgin'

In 2019, Jenna Ortega's recurring role as a younger Jane Villanueva on "Jane the Virgin" came to an end.

September 2020: Release of 'The Babysitter: Killer Queen'

In September 2020, Jenna Ortega appeared as Phoebe in Netflix's horror film "The Babysitter: Killer Queen", which was released to negative reviews.

2020: Named Neutrogena Brand Ambassador

In 2020, Jenna Ortega was named a brand ambassador for the cosmetics manufacturer Neutrogena and was the face of its "My Quinceañera Journey" campaign, marking a significant endorsement deal.

2020: End of Elena of Avalor

In 2020, Jenna Ortega's voice acting role of Princess Isabel in Elena of Avalor came to an end.

March 2021: Release of 'Yes Day'

In March 2021, Jenna Ortega starred in the Netflix comedy movie "Yes Day", portraying a stubborn teenager. The movie was released to mixed reviews.

March 17, 2021: Premiere of 'The Fallout' at South by Southwest

On March 17, 2021, Jenna Ortega's film "The Fallout" premiered at South by Southwest. The film received a positive response from critics, and Ortega's acting was applauded.

May 2021: Casting as Wednesday Addams

In May 2021, Jenna Ortega was cast as Wednesday Addams in the Netflix comedy-horror series "Wednesday".

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2021: Desire to avoid being typecast

In 2021, Jenna Ortega expressed her desire to avoid being typecast and emphasized the importance of taking diverse acting roles to maintain flexibility in her career.

2021: Naming Riz Ahmed as a career role model

In 2021, Jenna Ortega named Riz Ahmed as a career role model, praising his acting, manner of speaking, and activism, indicating her evolving influences in the industry.

2021: Praise for Performance in 'The Fallout'

In 2021, Jenna Ortega received praise for her performance as a traumatized high school student in the drama film "The Fallout".

2021: Starring in 'Yes Day'

In 2021, Jenna Ortega starred in the family film "Yes Day" for Netflix.

January 27, 2022: Release of 'The Fallout' on HBO Max

On January 27, 2022, Jenna Ortega's film "The Fallout" was released on HBO Max.

2022: Appearances in 'Studio 666', 'X', and 'American Carnage'

In 2022, Jenna Ortega appeared in the horror film "Studio 666", the slasher film "X", and the comedy-horror film "American Carnage".

2022: Filming of 'Wednesday' Season One

In 2022, Jenna Ortega called the production of Wednesday's first season her "most overwhelming job", due to constant confusion and stress over the direction of the series and character.

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2022: Wide Recognition for 'Wednesday'

In 2022, Jenna Ortega gained wide recognition for portraying Wednesday Addams in the Netflix horror-comedy series "Wednesday", for which she received nominations at the Golden Globe, Primetime Emmy, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.

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2022: Release of 'Scream' and MTV Movie Award

In 2022, Jenna Ortega played Tara Carpenter in the slasher film "Scream", the fifth film in the franchise. The film was a critical and commercial success, and she won the MTV Movie Award for Most Frightened Performance.

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2022: Described as Poised, Mature, and Wise beyond her years

In 2022, Jenna Ortega was described by Who What Wear as poised, mature, and wise beyond her years while also providing an essence of relatability, highlighting her public image and personality.

2022: End of Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous

In 2022, Jenna Ortega's voice acting role as Brooklynn in the Netflix animated show Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous came to an end.

2022: Referred to as Next Big Thing

In 2022, The Hollywood Reporter referred to Jenna Ortega as the "Next Big Thing", reinforcing her rising status and potential in the entertainment industry.

March 2023: Hosting Saturday Night Live and Release of Scream VI

In March 2023, Jenna Ortega hosted an episode of NBC's sketch comedy series "Saturday Night Live" and "Scream VI" was released.

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November 2023: Reported Exit from Scream Franchise

In November 2023, it was reported that Jenna Ortega exited the Scream franchise due to scheduling conflicts with the filming of Wednesday's second season.

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2023: Appearing on Variety's Young Hollywood Impact Report

In 2023, Jenna Ortega appeared on Variety's "Young Hollywood Impact Report" and The Hollywood Reporter's Power 100, recognizing her breakthrough performance and influence in entertainment.

2023: Becoming Adidas and Dior Ambassador

In 2023, Jenna Ortega became an ambassador for Adidas and Dior, representing Adidas Sportswear and Dior's #DareInGrisDior campaign, expanding her presence in the fashion and sportswear industries.

2023: Mindful of Over-Indexing on gore scale

In 2023, Jenna Ortega mentioned that she is mindful of not over-indexing on the gore scale, and is conflicted about her interests. This reveals her concerns about the kind of roles she plays and her public persona.

2023: Starring in 'Scream VI'

In 2023, Jenna Ortega starred in the slasher film "Scream VI".

2023: Described as Quiet and Contemplative

In 2023, Jenna Ortega was described as quiet and contemplative by Harper's Bazaar, while Vanity Fair noted her "black-hole persona" but also acknowledged that she is warmer and more cheerful than expected, providing insights into her personality.

2023: Featured on The Hollywood Reporter's Power 100 List

In 2023, Jenna Ortega was featured on the Power 100 list from The Hollywood Reporter.

2023: Urging ceasefire in Gaza Strip

In 2023, Jenna Ortega, as part of Artists4Ceasefire, signed a letter urging the United States Congress and President Joe Biden to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip during the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, later condemning the Tel al-Sultan attack.

February 2024: Starring in Doritos Super Bowl Ad

In February 2024, Jenna Ortega starred in an advertisement for Doritos that aired at the Super Bowl LVIII alongside Danny Ramirez, Olivia Negron, and Patricia Mauceri, gaining attention for her appearance in the high-profile commercial.

2024: Starring in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice sequel

In 2024, Jenna Ortega starred in Tim Burton's fantasy film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a sequel to the 1988 film. She played Astrid Deetz, the daughter of Lydia Deetz. The film premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival and received generally positive reviews, with particular attention to Ortega's performance.

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2024: Starring Role in 'Miller's Girl' and Premier of 'Winter Spring Summer or Fall'

In 2024, Jenna Ortega starred in the drama "Miller's Girl" and appeared in and executive produced the romantic drama "Winter Spring Summer or Fall", which premiered at the 2024 Tribeca Festival.

2024: Featured on Forbes 30 Under 30 List

In 2024, Jenna Ortega was featured on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

2024: Referred to as The Gen Z Obsession

In 2024, The Hollywood Reporter called Jenna Ortega "The Gen Z Obsession", acknowledging her popularity and influence among the younger generation.

2025: Reprising role as Wednesday and becoming executive producer

In 2025, Jenna Ortega is slated to reprise her role as Wednesday in the second season of the TV-show Wednesday. She also became an executive producer for the show, contributing to costumes, characters, and scripts. Additionally, she joined the cast of Klara and the Sun and is set to appear in and executive produce the film Hurry Up Tomorrow.

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2025: Starring in Death of a Unicorn

In 2025, Jenna Ortega starred alongside Paul Rudd in the dark comedy Death of a Unicorn, where they played a father and daughter who accidentally kill a unicorn, leading to severe consequences.