Jenna Ortega is a star on the rise. It turns out, she is so good at her job that it scared her director. After gaining immense success in starring as the titular character in Tim Burton’s Wednesday, Ortega embodies the stereotype of a former Disney kid venturing into acting in movies like the ones in the Scream franchise. She has since established herself as a remarkable actress, especially in the dark-comedy and gothic genre.
Her latest endeavor is Miller’s Girl, a dark comedy, thriller-drama; directed by Jade Halley Bartlett. The film has achieved some good old controversy over some intimate scenes. However, Ortega’s acting skills have been profusely applauded.
Jenna Ortega Is Terrifyingly Good in Miller’s Girl
Jade Bartlett’s Miller’s Girl explores the complicated relationship a high school student, Cairo Sweet, has managed to establish with her creative writing teacher Jonathan Miller. It features Martin Freeman and Jenna Ortega in lead roles.
Freeman is an actor of great caliber. Still, it is Ortega who is the talk of the town in this movie. In a recent interview with What to Watch, Bartlett revealed being “terrified” of Ortega’s insane acting skills. Bartlett talked of how intricate and nuanced Ortega’s character is, and how phenomenally she played it. The director said:
“She definitely went to a place with Cairo that… it’s even tricky to explain. You watch her heartbreak in real-time and then you watch her calcify, you watch the scales grow over her and it’s a very subtle thing that I think is quite terrifying.”
Explaining Ortega’s character, Bartlett said:
“Her [Cairo’s] entire education about romance is from 18th and 19th-century literature and old movies, which are inherently problematic, right? But she thinks she is such a grownup.”
Miller’s Girl is Ortega’s first performance of its kind and was certainly enthralling to her fans.
Miller’s Girl Is Surrounded By Controversy
Ortega has been lauded for her remarkable acting but the film has been at the centre of a controversy. It involves a s*x-scene between the characters of Ortega, 21, and Freeman, who is 52. There has been a strong reaction on the internet, with netizens expressing shock and concern on the matter.
However, it was soon revealed that the scene was supervised by an intimacy coordinator. The intimacy coordinator for Miller’s Girl, Kristina Arjona gave assurance of comfort of both stars in an interview she gave to The Daily Mail.
“There [were] many, many people throughout this process engaging with [Jenna] to make sure that it was consistent with what she was comfortable with, and she was very determined and very sure of what she wanted to do.”
Despite this, many still claim to be “grossed out” at the scene. This opens the door to a wider discussion of consent, comfort, and the dedication acting requires.
Miller’s Girl was released in selected theatres on January 26.
