Jenna Ortega on Life After «Wednesday», OCD and Her Desire to Slow Down — for Vogue
Photographed by legendary photographer Sylvester Makó
Jenna Ortega graces the cover of the November issue of American Vogue. The actress was photographed by legendary photographer Sylvester Makó, who recently captured Gigi Hadid, Hunter Schafer and other stars in his distinctive style.
In the photographs, the actress, best known to audiences for her gothic portrayal of Wednesday, reveals a very different side of her personality. Tabitha Simmons was responsible for styling the shoot, selecting looks from Dior, Givenchy, Balenciaga, Miu Miu and Schiaparelli.
At just 24, Jenna Ortega has already become one of the most recognisable young actresses of her generation. Her role as Wednesday Addams in the hit series made her famous worldwide and established her image as a dark, sharp-witted girl. However, Ortega does not want her career to be defined by a single character.
In the interview, the actress spoke candidly about her desire to explore different roles, living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the challenges of early fame and her growing need to slow down.
Following the success of «Wednesday», Ortega has increasingly gravitated towards projects that allow her to move beyond her familiar image. One such project is the film adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel «Klara and the Sun», directed by Taika Waititi. In the film, Ortega plays an artificial companion designed to support a child.
Her new character is fundamentally different from Wednesday: she is open, emotional and genuinely curious about understanding the world around her. For the actress, the role is an opportunity to showcase another side of her talent and prove that she can convincingly portray more than just dark characters.
Ortega is drawn to unconventional stories and roles that demand her full commitment. She is willing to learn new skills for her work: she has taken fencing lessons, learned archery and is preparing to develop her gymnastics skills for an upcoming film.
«I think I understand myself and what I need for my work a little better now», the star said.
Ortega’s interests extend far beyond acting.
«I would love to direct one day, but only when I feel I truly have something to say. I don’t want to rush into it too soon», she explained.
Jenna first dreamed of becoming an actress at the age of six. She was inspired by Dakota Fanning’s performance in the film «Man on Fire». After watching it, she began persuading her parents to let her audition for roles.
At 12, Ortega landed the lead role in the Disney Channel series «Harley in Between».
Over the years, however, her perspective on entering the industry at such a young age has changed. Today, Jenna is not sure she would recommend that other children follow the same path. Work consumed so much of her time and energy that there was barely any room left for a normal childhood.
«I don’t think I would let anyone start that young», she admitted.
When «Wednesday» became a worldwide phenomenon in 2022, Jenna herself had no idea how to navigate her new reality. Strangers recognised her on the street, children stopped her to talk, and her face appeared on T-shirts and souvenirs.
«Essentially, nobody explained to you how to deal with any of it», the actress recalled.
Today, she believes that children who dream of pursuing acting should not limit their development to the film set. Having their own interests, making new friends and gaining a wide range of life experiences helps them better understand people and create believable characters.
The actress also speaks openly about her anxieties and the obsessive-compulsive disorder she has lived with since childhood.
She first noticed, at around seven years old, that she thought differently and perceived the world differently from other people. Back then, Jenna would wake up before her siblings to perform certain actions in a very specific order.
«I had to smooth out my bedsheet in a particular way, open a drawer and brush my hair slowly», she recalls.
Over time, these rituals became a regular part of her daily life. For example, the actress repeats the phrase «Take care of yourself» a set number of times, enters a film set with her left foot first or holds her breath while counting to 71.
Although Ortega speaks openly about her mental health, she prefers to keep her private life out of the public eye. She is reluctant to answer questions about romantic relationships and has no intention of making that part of her life public.
«I don’t think I’ll ever make that part of my life, my personal life, public», the actress explained.
Ortega not only keeps her private life at a distance from public scrutiny but also tries to avoid public judgement of her work. She does not watch her own films, read reviews or follow box-office figures.
«I think that could send me into some kind of psychotic state», Ortega remarked. What matters far more to her is how she feels about a project and understanding why she chose to take on a particular role in the first place.
These days, the actress wants to make more time for herself and stop accepting new projects simply to keep herself constantly busy. She wants to work with people who inspire her and tell stories she would genuinely enjoy watching on screen.
«I’d like to slow down a little», Jenna said.
That does not mean she intends to turn down new opportunities. Her plans include studying abroad and exploring music composition, photography and theatre. For Ortega, slowing down does not mean standing still. It means finally being able to set the pace of her own life.
Photo: Vogue
