Finding her way into the industry as a young actress, Jenna Ortega reached the summit of her success with her Netflix show Wednesday. Playing the lead role in Miles Millar’s 2022 coming-of-age supernatural comedy horror series, Ortega became a global icon and an inspiration for many.
However, during a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar, the actress opened up about the pressure she felt to be a representative figure for the Hispanic community. Jenna Ortega recalled how she felt somewhat embarrassed and unworthy to be a representative, because of a particular reason.
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Jenna Ortega Wanted To Be an Inspiration For Young Girls
Unwilling to conform to industry beauty standards, Jenna Ortega recalled how she always tried to be a role model for young girls. Reaching the summit of her success with Miles Millar’s 2022 coming-of-age supernatural comedy horror series, Wednesday, Ortega then recalled the pressure of going to auditions and trying to excel at school at the same time.
Appearing for an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Jenna Ortega mentioned how hard she tried to excel at both acting and school as a child actor. Born to parents of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, Ortega discussed how she faced difficulty in the industry as a child actor since there were not many leading Hispanic actors, whose childhood she could portray.
“As a child actor, there are two jobs that you can get: you’re either the younger version of someone or you’re playing somebody’s daughter — and there were just not many leading Hispanic actors who I could be that for.”
Willing to change the situation in the entertainment industry, the 21-year-old mentioned how she soon became the representative of her Hispanic community.
Jenna Ortega Felt Unworthy To Lead Her Latina Heritage
Discussing how the entertainment industry and the comments of people negatively affected her confidence and self-esteem, Jenna Ortega admitted that she wanted to dye her hair blond at one point to look like Cinderella. But eventually, as she gained her confidence and started loving herself, she decided to become a role model for young girls and Latinas.
But speaking of her Hollywood experience and her influence on youngsters, the actress acknowledged the “debate and discourse about what it means to truly be Latina.” Feeling somewhat embarrassed that she doesn’t speak fluent Spanish, Ortega mentioned how she often feels unworthy of being a representative of her community.
“I wasn’t born in a Spanish-speaking country, I haven’t spent a lot of time in Mexico and I’ve never been to Puerto Rico — so there’s a feeling of not being worthy enough to be a proper representative.”
Nonetheless, she still hopes that her presence and work in the entertainment industry can help increase Hispanic representation in television and film.
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