Actor Jenna Ortega has recently revealed that she was on the verge of quitting acting just before she landed her breakthrough role in the hit Netflix series “You”.
After moving on from children's television, Ortega admitted that she began to doubt her future in the industry as a teenager.
"I didn't know what else I was gonna do," Ortega said in an interview, reflecting on a period of uncertainty after leaving early projects.
She felt forced to reintroduce herself to casting directors and prove her versatility, a challenge so daunting she nearly walked away from acting entirely.
"It just felt like a good time to call it quits if I was going to," she added, noting that discussions about stepping away had gone on for months with her team.
Ortega began her career with roles in shows such as “Richie Rich” and “Stuck in the Middle”.
Also read: Aubrey Plaza expecting first baby
However, the uncertainty of transitioning into more mature roles led her to briefly consider ending her acting journey.
The turning point came in 2019 when she was cast as Ellie Alves in season 2 of “You”. Her character, the neighbour of Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley, marked a significant shift in her career.
Recalling her experience on set, Ortega said she immediately connected with the work. "I loved it and had the best time," she said, adding, "I thought, 'Yeah, there's no way I could let this go.'"
Since then, Ortega's career has seen a steady rise. She has headlined films such as “X”, “Scream VI”, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” and “Death of a Unicorn”.
She also leads Netflix's Emmy-winning series “Wednesday”.
Follow us
