Jenna Ortega at a glance
Jenna Ortega is an American actress best known for playing Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s Wednesday, the breakout 2022 series that became one of Netflix’s most-watched English-language shows ever. Born September 27, 2002, in Rancho Mirage, California, she rose from child roles on Disney Channel and The CW to scream-queen stardom (Scream, X, Scream VI) and mainstream leading-lady status with Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024). As of October 2026, she is promoting her new film Klara and the Sun, Taika Waititi’s adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, which opens in US theatres on October 23, 2026.
| Quick fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jenna Marie Ortega |
| Born | September 27, 2002, Rancho Mirage, California, USA |
| Nationality | American (Mexican and Puerto Rican descent) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Known for | Wednesday, Scream franchise, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, X, Jane the Virgin |
| Parents | Edward Ortega and Natalie Ortega |
| Siblings | Five (she is the fourth of six children) |
| Height | 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) |
Early life and background
Jenna Marie Ortega was born on September 27, 2002, in Rancho Mirage, California, in the Coachella Valley, and grew up in La Quinta. She is the fourth of six children of Edward Ortega — of Mexican descent, a former sheriff who now works at a California district attorney’s office — and Natalie Ortega, an emergency-room nurse of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent. (Wikipedia; Latin Nation)
Ortega has said she wanted to act from the age of six, after watching Dakota Fanning in Man on Fire (2004). At nine, a video her mother posted of her performing a monologue caught a casting director’s attention — her mother then drove her to Los Angeles auditions up to five days a week. She left public school in eighth grade to work on Disney projects. (Wikipedia)
Career: from child actor to global star
Ortega’s debut came in the sitcom Rob (2012), followed by CSI: NY and a film debut as the vice president’s daughter in Iron Man 3 (2013, uncredited). From 2014 to 2019 she played young Jane Villanueva on The CW’s Jane the Virgin, and from 2016 to 2018 she broke through as Harley Diaz on Disney Channel’s Stuck in the Middle, winning the Imagen Award for Best Young Actor – Television in 2018. She also voiced Princess Isabel on Elena of Avalor (2016–2020). (Wikipedia; Fangoria; Television Stats)
In 2019 Ortega joined Netflix’s You season 2 as Ellie Alves — a standout, per The Hollywood Reporter — and her film career accelerated in 2021 with the acclaimed The Fallout, which earned praise from Chicago Sun-Times critic Richard Roeper. (Wikipedia)
2022 was her scream-queen breakout: Tara Carpenter in Scream, Lorraine Day in Ti West’s X, and an MTV Movie Award for Most Frightened Performance. Then came Netflix’s Wednesday (November 2022): the series passed a billion viewing hours within a month — one of Netflix’s biggest English-language launches ever — and her self-choreographed dance to The Cramps’ “Goo Goo Muck” went viral. (Wikipedia; TV Insider)
In 2023 she hosted Saturday Night Live and reprised Tara Carpenter in Scream VI (over $169 million on a $33–35 million budget), exiting the franchise that November after co-star Melissa Barrera’s firing. (Wikipedia)
2024 brought Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Venice Film Festival premiere), Miller’s Girl, and a Forbes 30 Under 30 listing. In 2025, Wednesday season 2 arrived in two parts (August 6 and September 3), filmed in Ireland, with Ortega as executive producer. (Wikipedia)
2026: Klara and the Sun and Wednesday season 3
Ortega entered 2026 with Wednesday season 3 in production — filming wrapped around September 30, 2026, according to Netflix. (Dread Central)
Klara and the Sun is Taika Waititi’s adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 novel, in which she plays Klara, a solar-powered “Artificial Friend” robot chosen by a lonely teenager, Josie (Mia Tharia). Amy Adams plays Josie’s mother; Natasha Lyonne, Steve Buscemi and Aran Murphy co-star. Ortega promoted the film across two European festivals in one week: the BFI London premiere on October 15 and the 21st Rome Film Festival photocall and screening on October 17, 2026 — wearing a vintage 1966 Pierre Cardin mini dress at the photocall and an ivory Roberto Cavalli SS27 gown at the screening. The film opens in US theatres on October 23, 2026. (Just Jared; BroadwayWorld)
Major awards and nominations
- Primetime Emmy nomination — Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (Wednesday, 75th Emmys; the second-youngest nominee ever in the category)
- Golden Globe nomination — Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy (Wednesday, 80th Globes; nominated again at the 83rd in 2026)
- Screen Actors Guild nomination — Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series (29th; again at the 32nd in 2026)
- Saturn Award wins — Best Younger Actor in a TV Series (Wednesday) and for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
- People’s Choice Award — Drama Movie Star of the Year (Scream VI)
- MTV Movie Award — Most Frightened Performance (Scream)
(Wikipedia; FilmAffinity; Fangoria)
Personal life
Ortega keeps her romantic life private and has no publicly confirmed partner as of 2026. She is a brand ambassador for Dior and has partnered with Adidas and Neutrogena. (TechnoSports; Next Biography)
Net worth snapshot
Jenna Ortega’s net worth is estimated at $5–8 million as of 2026 — anchored to Celebrity Net Worth’s widely cited $5 million figure, with outlets like Investormint modelling a $6–8 million range. No Forbes, Bloomberg, or Hurun valuation exists. Her wealth comes from acting salaries, streaming paydays and major brand endorsements. For the full breakdown — reported salaries, career earnings and methodology — read Jenna Ortega’s net worth.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Jenna Ortega?
Jenna Ortega is an American actress born September 27, 2002, in Rancho Mirage, California. She is best known for playing Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s Wednesday (2022), and has starred in the Scream franchise, X, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and, in 2026, Klara and the Sun. (Wikipedia)
How old is Jenna Ortega?
Jenna Ortega was born on September 27, 2002, which makes her 24 years old in 2026. (Wikipedia)
What is Jenna Ortega best known for?
She is best known for Wednesday (Netflix), which became one of the platform’s most-watched English-language series, along with her scream-queen roles in Scream, Scream VI and X, and Astrid Deetz in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. (Wikipedia)
What is Jenna Ortega’s latest movie?
Her latest movie is Klara and the Sun (2026), directed by Taika Waititi and based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, in which she plays Klara, a solar-powered robot. It opens in US theatres on October 23, 2026. (BroadwayWorld)
Has Jenna Ortega won an Emmy?
No — she has been nominated. Her Wednesday performance earned her a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series (2023), making her the second-youngest nominee ever in that category. She has won Saturn Awards, a People’s Choice Award and an MTV Movie Award. (Wikipedia)
Sources
- Jenna Ortega — Wikipedia
- Jenna Ortega profile — Fangoria
- Inside Jenna Ortega’s family life — Latin Nation
- Wednesday premiere and success — TV Insider
- Jenna Ortega at the 21st Rome Film Festival — Just Jared
- Klara and the Sun Rome photocall — BroadwayWorld
- Wednesday season 3 wraps filming — Dread Central