Jenna Ortega Says She Didn’t Have a ‘Voice’ as a Young Actress, Vows to Make Work ‘a Safe Environment’ – Star Magazine

Ever since she can remember, Jenna Ortega wanted to act. Her mom, she recalled to Vogue Mexico and Latin America, “was adamant about not letting me, and I was even more adamant, saying, ‘If you don’t let me, I’ll be mad at you forever.’” It worked. Before she was 15, the Wednesday actress, now 22, had landed small roles in movies and series, including Jane the Virgin.

While young Jenna achieved her dream, she told the mag that the fame that’s come from it — Wednesday surpassed a billion hours watched three weeks after its release — has been confusing. “I think the celebrity world is very strange,” she told the outlet. “The glorification of someone you’ll never know on a deeper level is fascinating to me.”

She also realized that the entertainment business can be a dangerous place for a child or young woman. “I’ve always known what it’s like to not have a voice,” she shared. “And that terrifies me. I don’t want to be in that situation again.”

Asked what she meant by not having a voice, Jenna told the outlet, “For most of my career, I didn’t know how to express myself. I didn’t know I could, because I was very young.” Hinting at experiences that were “a little more difficult,” she added, “I shut myself away and became very insecure about my place.”

With Netflix already renewing her show for a third season, the actress has expanded her role, becoming a producer on the series. Her top priority: “I make sure it’s a safe environment for everyone.”