That Wednesday gothic girl who created a worldwide obsession? Yes, we’re talking about Jenna Ortega. This 23-year-old actress has had an incredibly interesting and inspiring journey to get where she is today. But did you know that behind this face is a little girl who was once even afraid to drink water on an acting set? Today, let’s tell you Jenna Ortega’s story that you may have hardly read anywhere.
Why did Jenna Ortega keep herself hungry and thirsty during childhood?
In a recent interview with Esquire magazine, Jenna Ortega talked about those days of her childhood when she was just 9 years old and working on big Hollywood sets. She revealed that she would go the entire day without eating or drinking anything. Now you might be wondering, why was that? Well, Jenna was afraid that if she asked for water or took a food break, she might end up getting in someone’s way. She said, “I wanted to stay out of anyone’s way”.
Just think about it, a child enduring so much for her dream. Jenna also said that perhaps her biggest mistake was that she never learned how to take care of herself.
Tears flowed on the set of ‘Iron Man 3’
Jenna’s childhood wasn’t limited to just hunger and thirst. She shared an incident from the set of Iron Man 3 that will melt your heart when you hear it. In that film, she played the role of a girl who was missing one leg. She sat with her one leg folded all day, and when the shoot ended, she limped to the car with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. She also refused to leave the wheelchair because if someone needed her, she wanted to be ready.
Decided on her dream at the age of 7
Jenna Ortega began her career in 2012 with the series ‘Rob’ when she was just 9 years old. But did you know that at the age of 7, she had already told her parents that she wanted to become an actress? Her parents even laughed at her over this, but Jenna did not give up. She says that this very determination became her greatest strength.
After that, she worked in shows like ‘Jane the Virgin’, ‘You’, and ‘CSI: NY’, and in 2016, she made her mark on the Disney Channel with ‘Stuck in the Middle’.
‘Wednesday’ Changed Her Life
Netflix’s 2022 series ‘Wednesday’ turned Jenna Ortega into an overnight superstar. Her character in Tim Burton’s show took the world by storm. After that, Jenna never looked back. She worked in films like ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’, ‘Death of a Unicorn’, and ‘The Gallerist’, and is now preparing for major films like ‘Klara and the Sun’ and ‘Nasty’.
Jenna is also struggling with OCD
Apart from acting, Jenna Ortega is also struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). She revealed that she has very severe OCD. “The same thought over and over, counting everything several times, doing the same task repeatedly”—this is a part of her everyday life. Sometimes, overnight, she goes up and down her stairs 6 times because she feels that doing so is the only way no one can break into her home.
It is both sad and surprising to hear this. Despite being such a big star, she is struggling with these mental health issues and is speaking openly about them—that is her greatest quality.
Conclusion
Jenna Ortega has endured a lot to get where she is today—hunger, thirst, physical pain, mental illness. But she never gave up. Even today, she is moving forward with the same determination she showed at the age of 7.
So the next time you watch an episode of ‘Wednesday’ or watch one of Jenna’s films, remember—behind this face is a little girl who put everything on the line for her dream. And yes, don’t forget to drink water—Jenna would say the same now.
Disclaimer: This article is based on various news sources and interviews. All information is based on sources available up to August 12, 2026.
