Before Wednesday: Jenna Ortega Movies and Series to Watch
Nov 28, 2022 • Kyzia Maramara
Nov 28, 2022 • Kyzia Maramara
Jenna Ortega wins the title of the Internet’s latest girlfriend. This 20-year-old phenomenal actress has been in the industry since she was six years old, amassing a lot of titles under her belt. Most recently, Netflix’s Addams Family spin-off, Wednesday where she plays the titular character. Add the fact that she’s adorable IRL (there’s a viral video of her stuttering over the goddess that is Gwendoline Christie) and it’s safe to say Ortega has everyone’s heart in the palm of her hand. Here are movies and series where you can feed your newfound obsession over Jenna Ortega.
she ate it sorry #wednesdaynetflix pic.twitter.com/WFAWT1iyV4
— ♤ (@dansensolsens) November 23, 2022
Many were worried that Netflix’s Wednesday couldn’t compete with the other versions of the Addams Family but that worry was put to rest when the 8-episode series aired last November 23. It quickly became apparent that Ortega as Wednesday Addams is already one of the most iconic characters in 2022. Her portrayal of the girl obsessed with death who, in this version, is also endowed with psychic abilities, was effortless. If looks could kill, Wednesday would be a short series but that’s how you know even Ortega’s stare is phenomenal acting.
Watch it on Netflix.
This independent slasher film stars Ortega as Lorraine Day who is part of a group of actors and filmmakers looking to shoot an adult film in Texas. They drive up to an elderly couple’s farmhouse to film but when they are caught in the act, the actors soon find themselves fighting for their lives. X is produced by A24, an independent entertainment company that gave us shows like Midsommar (2019) and Hereditary (2018).
The fifth installment of the Scream franchise sees Ortega in yet another slasher film. (Seriously. This girl’s filmography is either dark movies or murder and horror!) In Scream 5, a new killer dons the Ghostface mask and begins brutal murders in the quiet town of Woodsboro, California. Ortega plays Tara Carpenter, one of Ghostface’s first victims, a feisty girl who tries to unmask the murderer throughout the movie. And if you loved her here, you’ll be glad to know she returns for the upcoming Scream 6 in 2023.
Ortega shares a screen with Maddy Ziegler in The Fallout, a movie about a high schooler experiencing emotional fallout in the wake of a school tragedy. As Ortega’s character, Vada, spends more time with Mia (Ziegler), she slowly learns to redefine her view of life and relationships. The Fallout takes a sensitive topic many American students are familiar with and deals with it with empathy and sensitivity. It mirrors the real world, shedding a light on important topics like mental health.
If you want to watch Ortega in a light-hearted movie (finally!) check out Yes Day on Netflix. A mom (Jennifer Garner) and a dad (Edgar Ramirez) who usually say no decide to say yes to their kids’ wildest requests for 24 hours. A whirlwind day of fun and adventure ensues, where both children and parents learn how to understand each other. We’re just happy to see her play a happy teenager role for once.
Watch it on Netflix.
Surprise: Here’s Ortega starring in yet another horror movie. The Babysitter: Killer Queen follows Cole (Judah Lewis) who survived a satanic blood cult led by his babysitter. Two years later, he’s in high school and the demons from his past have come back to haunt him again. But this time, he has the help of a new student Phoebe (Ortega) who also has burdens of her own. We’re telling you now, you’ll never see that plot twist coming.
Watch it on Netflix.
ICYDK, Ortega plays Ellie Alves, the spunky, independent 15-year-old sister of investigative reporter Delilah Alves (Carmela Zumbado) in YOU Season 2. Ellie lives in Joe Goldberg’s (Penn Badgley) LA apartment building and manages to strike up a friendship with him. By the end of Season 2, Ellie is bereft of family and Joe gives her money and encourages her to start a new life somewhere else. In Season 3, we even see him sending her money periodically.
Watch it on Netflix.
Ortega appeared in 30 episodes of Jane the Virgin as the young Jane Villanueva. If you need a sign to rewatch the series, this is it. At this point in Ortega’s career, she has starred in other TV series such as Stuck in the Middle (2016-2018), Richie Rich (2015), and Rake (2014).
These are just some titles Ortega has worked on and if you want to see the full list in case you’re on a binge watch, you can check out her IMDb page to discover more about her!
What’s your favorite Jenna Ortega project? Share it with us in the comments!
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Kyzia spends most of her time capturing the world around her through photos, paragraphs, and playlists. She is constantly on the hunt for the perfect chocolate chip cookie, and a great paperback thriller to pair with it.
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