At this point, it’s well known that being a child star comes with serious risks and dangers. As famous young actors grow into adults and release memoirs, we hear repeatedly about how they were invited to adult parties, exposed to (and provided with) illicit substances, and preyed on by the very adults with the power to make or break their careers.
Many of these dangers also destroy the lives of adult actors, but for children who don’t yet have fully developed brains and less capacity to protect themselves, it can be fierce. Now, beloved actress Jenna Ortega is telling the story of how she stayed safe on set—and it’s the tale of protective parenting.
The Dangers Of Child Stardom
Two years ago, Jeanette McCurdy, who rose to stardom as the best friend on Nickelodeon‘s iCarly, released a memoir in which she tells of the pressure from her mom to be an actress and of some darker experiences in her life. In particular, she describes interactions with someone she refers to only as “The Creator.” However, those familiar with allegations around the network have generally assumed this is a reference to producer Dan Schneider.
Whoever he is, The Creator is described as forcing her into skimpier clothing than she was comfortable with, employing degrading insults, and hinting at the exchange of intimate favors (from a minor!) for a spinoff series.
McCurdy isn’t alone. In the wake of her memoir came the docuseries Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV, in which other child stars shared their experiences of abuse and inappropriate behavior.
Then there’s the drug abuse that child stars are frequently exposed to and their own tendency to join in, eventually sending dozens of them into rehab facilities.
How Jenna Ortega Says Her Experience Was Different
At age six, Jenna Ortega knew she wanted to act. By the time she was nine, she was taking roles in commercials, and soon, she was taking on roles in productions from Marvel to Disney. She’s currently best known for her roles in Jane the Virgin and Wednesday, the latest iteration of The Addams Family with a focus on the dark-minded daughter.
Many child stars grow up to describe ‘stage moms’ who are pushy or overbearing or who encourage their children to keep their producers happy. Ortega says her mom was very involved — but she describes a very different type of involvement.
In fact, that comparison became stark for Ortega’s mom when she watched the aforementioned Quiet On The Set documentary. The actress, now 21, described it to the New York Times:
“I think for her, it was more pain, because she had seen the way that other children maybe weren’t protected or weren’t as looked after. She watched over me like a hawk, so I think for her, it was more empathizing and wishing she somehow could have done something to help.”
Ortega’s Mom Had Reason To Be A Worrier
Natalie Ortega was an emergency room nurse, and not only did she worry about her children potentially suffering the horrors she saw daily, she told them enough that they were concerned too. Jenna Ortega described being afraid to go to school “because I thought that I was going to walk out and get hit by a car instantly.”
She says that to this day, she remains somewhat paranoid and keeps a high level of awareness about her surroundings. This trait can keep one safe in public and perhaps on set as well.
Her Parents Resisted Her Acting Career
Ortega says that her parents greatly contrast “stage parents.” While some stars describe being pushed into show business, she says she had to talk her parents into it.
“When I initially was trying to convince my parents to let me act, I remember crying one night at the dinner table and saying: ‘Oh, man, I can do it. I know I can do it. If you let me do it, I swear to you, I will end up on the Disney Channel.'”
Ortega is very clear that her parents were supportive of her career, but they weren’t pushing her into acting. She initially had to be convinced that it was a good idea, but now she understands why.
“Children aren’t supposed to be working like that. They are supposed to be climbing trees and drawing and going to school. Some of those kids’ parents don’t even take school seriously, so I feel really, really fortunate to have had parents who made sure that I hung out with friends, made sure that I went to public school and wouldn’t allow me to work on a job unless I had straight A’s and was prioritizing my sleep and my schoolwork.”
Ortega’s Career Has Been Successful Into Adulthood
Now, Ortega has appeared in dozens of productions, including as a voice actor, and is transitioning into adult roles following her portrayal of the high school version of Wednesday Addams.
One of her most exciting current roles is Astrid Deetz in the Beetlejuice sequel we’ve been waiting for for over a quarter-century. That movie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, hits theaters next month. She’s also appearing in the next season of Wednesday, which is expected to drop in October.
