Jenna Ortega feels 'incredibly misunderstood' due to Hollywood success

Perth Now

4 days ago

Jenna Ortega feels "incredibly misunderstood".
The 22-year-old actress is one of the brightest young stars in Hollywood but is uncomfortable with the public making "assumptions" about her personality.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Jenna said: "I think that's part of my struggle with that side of the job, because you feel incredibly misunderstood.
"It's almost to a point where it feels like your name doesn't belong to you. I almost don't even resonate with it anymore.
"I hate assumptions, and a big part of this job is that people are going to make assumptions about you."
The Wednesday star feels that too much information about performers is revealed to the world nowadays.
She said: "We know too much.
"And the people feel entitled to those bits and pieces of your life where if they were put under the same microscope, they wouldn't feel nearly as comfortable."
Jenna explained that she is particularly frightened of people calling out her name in the street and hears "vile things" at times.
The star said: "Somebody shouting your name in public is insane. Sometimes I feel uncomfortable when it's grown men approaching me.
"Like, you don't stop for somebody because you're going to be late for something and they're calling you a **** w**** in front of your mother. It's horrific."
However, Ortega revealed that she can go out in public "unseen" if she wishes.
The Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star said: "Sometimes you go out, and it's a mess. And other times, I could be walking for hours and no one gives a s***. If you really want to go unseen, you can do it."
Jenna has worked closely with legendary horror filmmaker Tim Burton on the second season of Netflix's Wednesday and is impressed with the "polite" way the Edward Scissorhands director goes about his work.
She said: "He's so polite. He knows everybody's names. He trusts the team.
"When I initially started working with him, I would ask him for notes and critiques. He wouldn't give any. It's not because he wasn't trying to be helpful, but he was allowing me the space to find what was going to work for me.
"It created a greater confidence in myself. I think he really brings out the best in people and allows them to think out of the box, so you want to get weirder and weirder with it. It's such a joy when someone brings that out of you."