"Beetlejuice 2" star Jenna Ortega shares her thoughts on the transformative power of film, echoing sentiments expressed by her co-star Winona Ryder. Ortega discusses the unique experiences and challenges of growing up as a child actress, reflecting on the impact it has had on her personal and professional life.
Growing up on film sets can be an unorthodox experience, as Jenna Ortega discovered at an early age. Ortega's childhood was marked by long hours in casting offices, encounters with intense personalities, and the constant scrutiny that comes with being a child in the spotlight.
Jenna Ortega on Child Acting: "It's a Religious Experience
"Child acting is strange," Ortega told The New York Times. "I see why my parents felt so hesitant about it, because you're putting a child in an adult workplace."
Despite the challenges, Ortega credits her family for nurturing her in a positive environment. Her mother, an emergency room nurse, and her sheriff father shielded her from the harsher aspects of the industry.
Jenna Ortega on Child Acting: "It's a Religious Experience
"My mom would drive me to auditions where I didn't know anything about Hollywood," Ortega recalled. "I think that's when I started to become more introverted."
Ortega has not watched the docuseries "Quiet on Set," which detailed allegations of abuse against adults who worked on Nickelodeon shows with children. However, her mother has seen it and expressed empathy for the victims.
Jenna Ortega on Child Acting: "It's a Religious Experience
"She watched over me like a hawk," Ortega said. "She just called me saying she was so grateful that things were OK and that she was there to witness everything."
Reflecting on her early career, Ortega admits to mixed emotions. "There's times that I regret it; there's times that my parents regret it," she said.
Jenna Ortega on Child Acting: "It's a Religious Experience
Yet, she ultimately expresses gratitude for the lessons she has learned. "I love that when I go on a set now, I'm incredibly knowledgeable," Ortega added. "I can get along with the D.P. I can go through shot lists. I understand it all."
Ortega has drawn inspiration and support from older-generation actresses like her "Beetlejuice" co-star Winona Ryder. "I have a weird habit of connecting with older-generation actresses almost instantly," she explained.
Jenna Ortega on Child Acting: "It's a Religious Experience
"They've been teachers. They've been mentors, and that has definitely helped a lot."
Ortega believes that films can offer a transformative experience, echoing Ryder's sentiments that they can be "a religious experience."
"I think that a really good film can be transformative in your life," Ortega said. "It can make you understand things about yourself, about the world, and about other people that you didn't understand before."
Ortega's experiences as a child actress have given her a deep appreciation for the power of cinema. She sees it as a means of connecting people, fostering empathy, and empowering individuals to understand themselves and the world around them.
"I think that's the most important thing that film can do," Ortega concluded. "It can bring people together and make them feel like they're not alone."
