Jenna Ortega Shares the Moment She Knew ‘Wednesday’ Would Change Her Life

Not every actor experiences a career-defining moment that arrives in a single, unmistakable instant, but Jenna Ortega certainly did. Before ‘Wednesday‘ catapulted her into the spotlight as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable young stars, she had already established herself with numerous credits, yet nothing could have prepared her for the whirlwind that followed.

Ortega had built a solid foundation in her career before taking on the role of Wednesday Addams. She starred in her own Disney Channel series ‘Stuck in the Middle,’ appeared in Netflix’s ‘You,’ and had a role in that year’s ‘Scream’ installment. However, none of that experience could have prepared her for the level of fame that was about to envelop her.

‘Wednesday’ premiered on Netflix just before Thanksgiving in 2022, becoming the streamer’s biggest English-language series debut ever, nearly four years later. According to Ortega, the transformation in her life occurred almost instantly, and she can recall the exact moment it hit her.

Reflecting on the experience, she shared, “It really was overnight. I think it was on Thanksgiving and I was on a walk with my nephew when a woman went to great lengths to get me to take a photo with her daughter. They were screaming from their car while I was in sweats and no makeup.”

This startling realization sharply contrasts with the uncertainty Ortega felt during the production. In a separate discussion, she confessed that she initially feared the role might jeopardize her career. “I thought my career was going to be over after that,” Ortega admitted. “I panicked. I had no idea. I was so confused.” She added that filming in Romania made the project feel deceptively low-key at the time, noting that she and her castmates often joked about how strange it was that such a significant production felt so unrecognized, even with Tim Burton at the helm.

Once the show premiered, its cultural impact was undeniable, and Ortega has continued to reflect on what that sudden fame meant to her personally. She expressed that the excitement of early success wasn’t solely about her experience on set but about what it represented for those who supported her journey. “The thrill wasn’t for me. It was the fact I had begged my mom to let me do this thing,” she explained. “To see my family get excited about something that I was able to accomplish, because I was stubborn and persistent enough to have made them proud, that was what was exciting to me.”

Since that pivotal moment, Ortega’s career has continued to flourish. She has returned for a second season of ‘Wednesday,’ which she also executive produced, while furthering her creative collaboration with Burton through projects like ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.’ Additionally, she has taken on high-profile opportunities such as hosting ‘Saturday Night Live,’ solidifying her status as one of the industry’s most sought-after young talents.

With Season 3 of ‘Wednesday’ currently in production and not expected to debut until later in 2027, Ortega has hinted that the character’s journey is heading into more emotionally complex territory. As the show’s core cast is now portrayed as high school seniors, she suggested that the new season will explore more confrontational themes regarding family, growing up, and what adulthood truly means, both for Wednesday and, in some ways, for Ortega herself.

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