Jenna Ortega has revealed how starting her acting career at age 7 affected her well being. She said she often ignored basic needs, including food and water, because she did not want to cause problems on film sets.
The 23 year old Wednesday actress discussed the hidden cost of childhood stardom in a recent interview with Esquire. Ortega said she was grateful and excited to work as a child. However, she also felt she had to stay quiet and avoid becoming a burden to others on set.
“I wasn’t asking for a sip of water,” Ortega said. She explained that she could spend an entire day without eating or drinking because she did not want to get in anyone’s way. Looking back, Ortega said putting work ahead of her own needs may have been a mistake. “Maybe that was my mistake, was not actually looking after myself,” she said.
Her comments highlight a lesser known challenge of growing up in the entertainment industry. Young performers can receive major opportunities at an early age. However, the pressure to appear professional may sometimes cause them to ignore their own needs.
Ortega remained focused on acting instead of giving up. She eventually built a successful career in television and film. The actress also credited her stubborn personality for helping her stay committed to acting. She said she never seriously considered leaving the profession after deciding to pursue it.
“I never really stopped, because I’m very stubborn,” Ortega said. She added that she never questioned her decision to continue acting. Ortega is now widely known for playing Wednesday Addams in the Netflix series Wednesday. She also starred in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, further expanding her career in Hollywood.
Her latest comments offer a personal look at the sacrifices that came with starting work at such a young age. Ortega’s experience also shows how young performers can face pressures that may not always be visible to audiences. For Ortega, determination helped shape her acting career. At the same time, she now recognizes that her early success came with personal sacrifices.
