A fast-rising star in Hollywood known for the role of âEllieâ in the second season of Netflixâs âYouâ, the 19-year-old Jenna Ortega stars in the horror/slasher âXâ alongside Emmaâs Mia Goth, Brittany Snow (the âPitch Perfectâ film franchise), rapper Kid Cudi, Mark Henderson (âVirgin Riverâ, âGreyâs Anatomyâ) and Owen Campbell (âSuper Dark Timesâ), among others. The film was released on March 18.
However, Ortega has been known for her great roles in animated TV shows, thrillers, horror flicks, and more. These led her to appear in the latest installment of an iconic American slasher film franchise, an HBO Max movie about the survivors of a school shooting, an upcoming Addams Family spinoff series directed by Tim Burton as the lead âWednesday Addamsâ, and more exciting projects!
It’s clear that Ortega, who began her career as a child actor in epic films, isnât going away from our screens anytime soon. So letâs take a look at some of her roles in impressive TV series and movies throughout her career!
Jane The Virgin
Jane Villanueva is the daughter of a teen mother. She grew up determined not to repeat her mom’s mistakes. Studying to be a teacher, she is engaged to a handsome detective. He supports Janeâs decision to remain a virgin until marriage. However, a routine visit to the clinic turns her life upside down.
She is inseminated by a specimen meant for a patient in the next room. She learns that the sperm donor is her boss, Rafael and her meticulously planned life gets more like the telenovelas she loves. Jane faces a lot of complicated decisions about the future.
The TV seriesâ cast also includes Justin Baldoni (âFive Feet Apartâ) as âRafael Solanoâ, Yael Grobglas as âPetra Solanoâ, Brett Dier (âFreshâ, âRavenswoodâ) as âMichael Cordero, Jr.â, Jaime Camil (âCocoâ) as âRogelio de le Vegaâ, Diane Guerrero (âOrange is the New Blackâ, âEncantoâ) as Lina Santillan and Andrea Nevado as Xiomara Villanueva. Starting in 2014, this TV series ran for five seasons. Throughout the show, Jenna Ortega appeared as the young version of Jane.
âShe did so more than any other actor who took on the role over time in key flashback sequences,â as per Screen Rant. This is the show that made Gina Rodriguez, who played Jane, into a household name.
Find âJane The Virginâ on: Netflix (US, UK, NZ, India) | Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK, Australia)
Jurassic Park: Camp Cretaceous
Jenna Ortega has also done voice acting roles. She is currently a voice actor in âJurassic Park: Camp Cretaceousâ, which follows teens attending an adventure camp on the opposite side of Isla Nublar. They must all band together to survive when dinosaurs wreak havoc on the island in this series that began in 2020.
It currently has four seasons with a cast that includes Stephanie Beatriz (âBrooklyn Nine-Nineâ, âEncantoâ), Raini Rodriguez (âAustin & Allyâ), Jameela Jamil (âThe Good Placeâ), Kirby Howell-Baptiste (âCruellaâ, âThe Good Placeâ), and Ortega plays Brooklynn, one of the main characters.
Find âJurassic Park: Camp Cretaceousâ on: Netflix (US, UK, India) | Apple TV (New Zealand, Australia)
YOU (Season 2)
Most people may know of Jenna Ortega from her role on the second season of the hit series âYouâ. Ortega played the role of Ellie Alves, the sister of Delilah (Carmela Zumbado, âiCarlyâ, âChicago P.Dâ). The sisters are the neighbors of the dangerous serial killer protagonist, Joe, played by Penn Badgley (âGossip Girlâ ), who forms an interesting bond with Ellie and her sister Delilah.
The Netflix TV Series is about a serial killer who is a dangerously charming and intensely obsessive young man, Joe Goldberg. He goes to extreme measures to insert himself into the lives of those he is transfixed by. The role of âEllieâ in this series may have helped launch Ortega’s star status. The second season of âYouâ also featured Victoria Pedretti (âThe Haunting of the Hill Houseâ, âThe Haunting of Bly Manorâ), and James Scully.
Watch âYouâ on Netflix (US, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and India)
Insidious: Chapter 2
One of the most impressive and well-known horror film franchises cast Jenna Ortega in the role of a girl named Annie in the film âInsidious: Chapter 2â directed by James Wan. Soon after their showdown with evil spirits that possessed their son, the Lamberts, Renai (Rose Byrne, âInstant Familyââ, âBridesmaidâ) and Josh (Patrick Wilson, âThe Conjuringââ, âFargoâ), are ready for their lives to return to normal. But something still is seriously off, especially with Josh (Garrett Ryan, âOculusâ) in âInsidious: Chapter 2â.
Unbeknown to Renai, he is possessed too. And to free Josh’s soul and finally defeat the malevolent forces around them, Lorraine Lambert (Barbara Hershey, âBeachesâ) and her ghost-hunting friends investigate the past to save her family’s future. This filmâs cast also includes Leigh Whannell (âInsidious: Chapter 3â, âThe Invisible Manâ), Lin Shaye (âInsidiousâ film series), Ty Simpkins (âJurassic Worldâ), Danielle Bisutti (âTrue Jackson VPâ), and Jocelin Donahue (âDoctor Sleepâ).
Find âInsidious: Chapter 2â on: Â Apple TV (India) | Netflix (US, UK, Australia and New Zealand) | Apple TV (US) | Vudu (US) | Amazon Prime Video (US) | Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK) | Binge (Australia) | iTunes (New Zealand)
Scream
âTwenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, Calif., a new killer dons the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagersâ to resurrect secrets from the town’s deadly past by going after people with familial connections to those in the franchise’s past.
This film reunites the original ‘Scream‘s main trio featuring Courteney Cox (âFriendsâ), Neve Campbell (âHouse of Cardsâ), Skeet Ulrich (âFinchâ), Jenna Ortega as Tara Carpenter, Sam Carpenterâs sister (Melissa Barrera, âIn The Heightsâ), Mikey Madison (âOnce Upon A Time in Hollywoodâ), David Arquette (âNever Been Kissedâ), Dylan Minnette (â12 Reasons Whyâ), Mason Gooding (âLove, Victorâ), among others. This film is one of Ortegaâs latest projects.
Find âScreamâ on: Paramount+ (US) | Vudu (US) | Amazon (US) | Apple TV (US) Â | Google Play (US, India)
Stuck in the Middle
âStuck in the Middleâ sees Ortega in the role of Harley Diaz, a teenager who is a middle child in a family with six other siblings. She is a young genius who uses her creativity and technical know-how to stand out from her six siblings and maneuvers her way through the bustle and deal with her busy parents.
This series began in 2016 and ended in 2018 with a cast including Isaak Presley (âFuller Houseâ), Ronni Hawk (âOn My Blockâ), Ariana Greenblatt (âLove and Monstersâ), Malachi Barton (âDora and the Lost City of Goldâ), Kayla Maisonet (âDog with a Blogâ), and Joshua Bassett (âHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Seriesâ).
Find âStuck in the Middleâ on: Hotstar (India) | Disney+ (US) | Amazon (US) | YouTube TV
Elena of Avalor
In another role in voice acting, Jenna Ortega voiced the character of Princess Isabel, the younger sister of the titular character Princess Elena (Aimee Carrero, âMaidâ). âElena of Avalorâ follows Princess Elena, who is on a journey that began years earlier. It all started when an evil sorceress Shuriki took her parents and kingdom from her. Now, having defeated the sorceress, the royal teenager is due to take her place on the throne. However, she needs help ruling Avalor.
That assistance comes in the form of the Grand Council. It is made up of Grandfather Tito, Grandmother Cici and royal adviser Duke Esteban. Princess Elena goes on adventures — with wizard-in-training Mateo (Joseph Haro). She also has magical Skylar (Carlos Alazraqui, âReno 911â) at her side. They help her understand the traits that make a good leader. The series began in 2016.
Find âElena of Avalorâ on: Disney+ (US) | Hotstar (India) | Amazon (US, UK, Australia, New Zealand) | iTunes | Google Play
The Fallout
âThe Falloutâ is a 2021 film that sees Jenna Ortega as a highschooler Vada who has forged new friendships under sudden and tragic circumstances (a school shooting). Bolstered with these, she begins to reinvent herself. Vada does this while re-evaluating her relationships with her family, friends and her view of the world, and moves away from her comfortable family routine. The young girl starts taking chances with a series of quicksilver decisions. These test Vadaâs boundaries. They push her in new directions.
Vada spends more time with Mia (Maddie Ziegler, âDance Momsâ, âWest Side Storyâ). They grow closer, and she slowly redefines herself through their shared experiences. This leads Vada further away from that day and closer to living her life in the now, in this compelling exploration of the inexplicable resiliency of life. The film also explores the hope that emerges out of loss. âThe Falloutâ also stars Shailene Woodley (âDivergentâ, âThe Fault in Our Starsâ, âBig Little Liesâ), Lumi Pollack, Niles Fitch (âThis Is Usâ), Julie Bowen (âModern Familyâ), Will Ropp, among others.
Watch âThe Falloutâ on: HBO Max (US)
Big City Green
Disney channelâs âBig City Greenâ follows a country boy. He shifts to a metropolitan city with his family from their rural farm, and he has new things to explore every day! He tries to adjust to the new lifestyle in this TV series voiced by Chris Houghton, Marieve Herington, Artemis Pebdani, Zeno Robinson, Bob Joles, among others with Ortega voicing the character of Gabriella. She is Cricketâs (the son of the central family) girlfriend.
Find âBig City Greenâ on: YouTube TV | Amazon (US, Australia, New Zealand) | Disney+ (India) | Disney+ (UK) | iTunes | Google Play
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Iron Man 3
Marvelâs âIron Man 3â sees Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr., âSherlock Holmesâ) plagued with worry and insomnia since saving New York from destruction. He is now more dependent on the suits that give him his Iron Man persona. This is at a level where every aspect of his life is affected. It includes his relationship with Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow, âGleeâ, âThe Politicianâ). A malevolent enemy known as the âMandarinâ (Ben Kingsley, âGandhiâ, âSchindlerâs Listâ)) reduces his personal world to rubble.
Tony must then rely solely on instinct and ingenuity to avenge his losses. He must do this to protect the people he loves. Ortega had a small part in this movie. The actor could appear or land a role in a new part in the franchise and many wouldnât remember this role as she portrayed the daughter of the Vice President, one of many people that Tony Stark needs to save.
The film also starred Guy Pearce (âMementoâ, âMare of Easttownâ), Jon Favreau (âThe Lion Kingâ, âThe Chef Showâ), Don Cheadle (âHotel Rwandaâ, âHouse of Liesâ), Rebecca Hall (âThe Night Houseâ, âPassingâ), Ty Simpkins (âInsidious: Chapter 2â), among others!
Find âIron Man 3â on: Disney+ Hotstar (India) | YouTube | Google Play | Amazon (US, UK) | Vudu (US) | STARZ (US) | Hulu (US) | Amazon Prime Video (US) | Netflix (UK)