Remember when everyone was dressed in black, with braided hair, gravely serious faces, and funky moves, even when Halloween was over? If you don’t remember, it was in November of 2022 when Jenna Ortega rose to fame with the viral show Wednesday.
Born on September 27, 2002, Jenna Marie Ortega started her acting career at an early age and has taken on many projects to showcase her impressive acting abilities.
Get your popcorn ready! We’ve handpicked the best movies and TV shows featuring Jenna Ortega. Check out these top picks in the cinematography file.
1. Wednesday (2022)
Wednesday puts Jenna Ortega in the spotlight as the titular role of Wednesday Addams from the well-loved Addams Family. With Catherine Zeta-Jones as mother Morticia and Luiz Guzman as father Gomez, many welcome Tim Burton’s version of this story with open arms.
Ortega’s Wednesday offers a new perspective on this classic character. She delivers a quirky performance that landed her an Emmy nomination.
2. The Fallout (2021)
The Fallout showcases the story of victims’ lives after surviving a deadly school shootout. It features Vada (Jane Ortega) and Mia (Maddie Ziegler) who created a strong friendship after their shared horrific experience.
Ortega shows a spectacular performance as a victim who struggles to resume life as if nothing happened. She authentically delivers heartbreak, showing her range as an actress.
3. Scream VI (2023)
The latest Scream installment, Scream VI, follows a group of youngsters as they flee to New York to escape a horrific massacre. Tara (Jenna Ortega), Sam (Melissa Barrera), Chad (Mason Gooding), and Mindy (Jasmin Savoy-Brown) arrive in New York only to be welcomed by a familiar string of murders.
Ortega’s performance as Tara Carpenter fits perfectly in this post-90s slasher film. She displays impressive acting skills at the center of the plot, giving direction to the film.
4. X (2022)
A24’s X follows a group of filmmakers and actors who plan to create a scandalous film in the Texas Hills. Maxine (Mia Goth), a self-proclaimed sexy star, and Lorraine (Jenna Ortega), the boom mic operator, lead the group. The horror starts when property owners Howard (Stephen Pearl) and Pearl (Goth) complain about the group’s content.
Lorraine’s subtle actions add to the movie’s narrative. Her shy demeanor makes you want to support and root for her survival in this frightening movie.
5. Elena Of Avalor (2016-2020)
The animated TV show Elena Of Avalor features a heroic female main character out to save her kingdom from the villain sorceress. The female lead, Princess Elena (Aimee Carrero), needs all the help she can to save her kingdom, and this includes her younger sister, Princess Isabel (Jenna Ortega).
Brilliant inventor Princess Isabel delivers lines beyond her age, fitting for a princess who’s also a science expert.
6. Scream (2022)
The events of Scream (2022) occur 25 years after the original Scream franchise. Main cast Sidney (Neve Campbell), Gale (Courtney Cox), and Dewey (David Arquette) reunite in the film. They introduce the new cast, including Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara Carpenters (Jenna Ortega), who continue the slasher film legacy.
In the movie, Jenna Ortega’s character, Tara, is someone you want to root for as the plot plays out. However, some fans of the actress may not be satisfied with her screen time, as she spends most of the film in the hospital.
7. Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (2020-2022)
Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, an animated TV show from the Jurassic Park franchise, ran from 2020 to 2022. The Annie and Emmy-nominated show narrates the story of a group of teens trapped on an island after dinosaurs escape.
Jenna Ortega voices Brooklyn, one of the teens on the island. In this show, you’ll notice how her voice-acting skills have improved since her gig as Princess Isabel in Elena of Avalor.
8. The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)
The Babysitter: Killer Queen is the sequel to the 2017 film The Babysitter. It follows Cole Johnson (Judah Lewis), a survivor of the killer cult introduced in the first film. He escapes with Phoebe Atwell (Jenna Ortega) from the psychiatric facility his parents sent him to.
Jenna Ortega’s stints in horror films started with The Babysitter: Killer Queen. Her strong performance and intense acting add depth to the movie. With more screen time than her previous projects, she successfully showed her potential as a horror movie actress.
9. Big City Greens (2018-Present)
Disney Channel’s Big City Greens follows a family who move to a small city home after they lose their farm. The story centers on the challenges individuals face while adapting to change.
After she proved her skills in Elena of Avalor, Jenna Ortega goes into voice-acting again in her role as Gabriela. Gabriela is the girlfriend of the family’s son, Cricket. Her addition to the show adds a vibrant element to the story.
10. American Carnage (2022)
American Carnage delivers a plot that will remind you of the movie Get Out. Diego Hallivis’ comic thriller introduces a society where police arrest the children of illegal immigrants as criminals. They are shipped off to a nursing home as volunteers, but there’s a more sinister plan hidden beneath the surface.
Jenna Ortega plays Camila, one of the arrested teens sent to care for the elderly. Her spitfire personality stands out in the movie.
11. Studio 666 (2022)
B.J. McDonnell’s Studio 666 focuses on the rock band Foo Fighters as they record their 10th album in an Encino mansion. The home houses supernatural forces that comically hinder the creation of the band’s new album.
Studio 666 is one of the horror films that named Jenna Ortega the current “scream queen.” Her performance as drummer Skye Willow adds a unique touch to the movie some viewers find weird. Others, though, find her part refreshing.
12. Yes Day (2021)
Yes Day tells the story of a family: Parents Allison (Jennifer Garner) and Carlos (Edgar Ramirez) start a “Yes Day” to have a better relationship with their kids, especially their teenage daughter Katie (Jenna Ortega). The family-friendly film provides a unique take on maintaining a happy and united family.
Ortega’s character, Katie, embodies the boldness and passion of a teenager with a haughty personality that feels authentic.
13. You (2018-Present)
The TV show You focuses on Joe, the serial killer protagonist. The thriller show became popular after it moved from Lifetime to Netflix.
Jenna Ortega plays Ellie Alves, who appears in the show’s second season. Her performance as Ellie is not as recognized as her other roles, despite its excellence. However, the number of projects that followed Ortega’s role in the show proves how well she performed.
14. Jane The Virgin (2014-2019)
Jane The Virgin runs 100 episodes from 2014 to 2019. The American telenovela focuses on Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez), a daughter raised by a teen mother who vowed to stay pure until marriage.
Jenna Ortega plays young Jane in the hit TV show. While her role seems small, she appears now and then throughout the show.