Hollywood starlet Jenna Ortega, best known for her award-winning performance in Netflix’s supernatural series ‘Wednesday’, has announced her bold career aspirations. Jenna Ortega, 22, who started her career as a child actor and went on to win acclaim with her recent performances as Wednesday Addams, as well as in ‘Beetlejuice’ and ‘Scream’ films, shared in a new interview that she feels ready to take on the director’s chair.
The actor revealed that she wants to direct the script she has been working on for over a decade at this point. “I have a script that I’ve known and I was going to make for almost 10 years,” she said. “It’s weird because it’s something that I thought of when I was younger and when I first started out in this field, and it’s only now that I’m actually starting to take the steps to get it made, which is really interesting.”
Ortega explained that her journey in the industry has provided her with valuable insights. “There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes that I wasn’t aware of. I’m just putting the puzzle pieces together in my head. So I think I needed a few years of that under my belt to understand the order of doing things,” she noted. “Everything that I’ve done in my career, I feel like there’s a reason why I didn’t make this story at an earlier time, but I’m really excited about it.”
Moreover, the Netflix star also mentioned that she aims to star in her directorial debut. “That’s probably the main thing that I want to do. I see that for myself. I just feel that’s the way my brain wants to work and think, and that’s how I even view my acting sometimes,” she added. “I don’t want to be in the things that I create in the future, but starting out, because I’ve created more leverage for myself with a name as an actor, I may as well use that as a stepping stone.”
While Ortega’s directorial plans are yet to be materialized, she will be next seen reprising her role of Wednesday Addams in season 2 of the Netflix hit, scheduled to premiere later this year.
In a discussion with V Magazine, Ortega reiterated her ambitions, stating, “It’s weird because it’s something that I thought of when I was younger and when I first started out in this field, and it’s only now that I’m actually starting to take the steps to get it made, which is really interesting.”
Ortega has already taken significant steps behind the scenes. She debuted as an executive producer in the recent film ‘Death of a Unicorn’, where she also starred. The film's director, Alex Scharfman, emphasized Ortega's pivotal role, revealing, “I don’t know what we would’ve done if we didn’t get Jenna. She got what I was trying to do on a genre and story level, and she was just incredible as a collaborator and performer.”
In addition to ‘Death of a Unicorn’, Ortega is also producing other upcoming projects, including the film ‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’ and the second season of ‘Wednesday’. Despite her growing role in production, Ortega’s passion for directing shines through. “This one in particular, I see myself in it, but I really want to direct. That’s probably the main thing that I want to do,” she stated.
As she embarks on this exciting new chapter, Ortega reflects on how her experiences have shaped her aspirations. “There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes that I wasn’t aware of. I’m just putting the puzzle pieces together in my head,” she explained. “I think I needed a few years of that under my belt to understand the order of doing things.”
Ortega is determined to make her mark as a director while also leveraging her star power as an actor. “I don’t want to be in the things that I create in the future, but starting out, because I’ve created more leverage for myself with a name as an actor, I may as well use that as a stepping stone,” she reiterated.
As she prepares for her directorial debut, Ortega’s journey serves as an inspiring reminder of the importance of patience and persistence in the creative industry. From childhood dreams to real-life aspirations, Jenna Ortega is proving that some stories are worth the wait—especially when you're determined to tell them your way.
