Jenna Ortega is a California-born American actress best known for playing Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s Wednesday. As of September 18, 2026, she is 23 and remains the show’s lead and an executive producer.
Jenna Ortega Quick Facts
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jenna Marie Ortega |
| Born | September 27, 2002 |
| Birthplace | California, USA |
| Age | 23 as of September 18, 2026 |
| Profession | Actress and producer |
| Breakthrough TV role | Stuck in the Middle |
| Best-known role | Wednesday Addams in Wednesday |
| Notable films | Scream, X, Scream VI, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Death of a Unicorn |
| Golden Globe nominations | 2 |
| Primetime Emmy nominations | 1 |
| Wednesday status | Season 2 streaming; Season 3 renewed |
Sources for the biographical details and awards include Biography.com, the Golden Globes and the Television Academy.
Who Is Jenna Ortega?
Jenna Marie Ortega is an American actress who moved from child television roles into darker, more mature projects. She first appeared in television as a child and went on to build credits in shows including Jane the Virgin and Disney Channel’s Stuck in the Middle. Her later work in You, The Babysitter: Killer Queen, Scream and X helped establish her in horror and thriller roles.
Her biggest career shift came with Wednesday, Netflix’s series centered on Wednesday Addams and her time at Nevermore Academy. Ortega’s performance made her the central figure of the show, which became her defining screen role.
How Old Is Jenna Ortega?
Jenna Ortega was born on September 27, 2002, in California. She is 23 years old as of September 18, 2026, and will turn 24 on September 27, 2026.
Biography.com identifies her birthplace as La Quinta, while the Television Academy lists the broader location as Coachella Valley. The Golden Globes likewise places her birth in the Palm Desert area. These descriptions refer to the same Southern California region rather than indicating different careers or identities.
Jenna Ortega’s Early Career
Ortega entered the entertainment industry as a child, with early credits including Rob and CSI: NY. She also appeared in Iron Man 3 and Insidious: Chapter 2.
A significant early television role came in Jane the Virgin, where she portrayed a younger version of the title character. She then became a lead on Stuck in the Middle, playing Harley Diaz. Those projects gave Ortega experience in both comedy and family television before she began taking on more intense material.
Her role as Ellie Alves in the second season of Netflix’s You was another important step toward the type of darker material that later became closely associated with her career.
Jenna Ortega and Horror Movies
Horror became one of the clearest threads in Ortega’s film career.
She appeared in The Babysitter: Killer Queen, followed by Ti West’s X and the 2022 Scream revival. She returned as Tara Carpenter in Scream VI in 2023. The Golden Globes’ official profile specifically highlights her work in X and the Scream franchise as part of her rise in horror.
She later expanded beyond straight horror. In 2024, Ortega appeared opposite Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Netflix’s 2026 profile notes that the collaboration also connected her work on Wednesday with Burton’s film career.
In 2025, she starred with Paul Rudd in A24’s Death of a Unicorn, playing Ridley alongside Rudd’s Elliot.
Why Is Jenna Ortega Famous for Wednesday?
Ortega plays Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s Wednesday, created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The series premiered in 2022 and follows Wednesday at Nevermore Academy as she investigates supernatural mysteries while dealing with school and family relationships.
The role became a major career milestone because Ortega was not simply part of the ensemble. She plays the title character and, beginning with Season 2, took on an expanded producing role. Netflix’s Tudum says Ortega became involved in creative conversations about elements of the production, including costumes, makeup effects and visual details.
Her work on the series also brought major awards recognition. She received a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for the first season and Golden Globe nominations for her performance as Wednesday.
Jenna Ortega’s Awards Recognition
Ortega’s awards record shows how quickly Wednesday moved her from rising young actress to major television lead.
The Television Academy lists her as a 2023 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for playing Wednesday Addams and Goody Addams.
The Golden Globes database lists two nominations for Ortega, one in 2023 and another in 2026, both for her performance in Wednesday.
These are nominations rather than wins, so they should not be described as awards victories.
Is Jenna Ortega Returning for Wednesday Season 3?
Yes. Netflix has officially renewed Wednesday for Season 3, with Ortega returning as Wednesday Addams. As of September 2026, Season 2 is already streaming, and Netflix’s current Wednesday coverage describes Season 3 as the next chapter.
Netflix has also revealed that the upcoming season will include a Paris setting, although the exact release date had not been established in the cited April 2026 announcement.
That makes Season 3 part of Ortega’s continuing work on the series, rather than a rumored return based only on fan speculation.
Jenna Ortega’s Movies and TV Shows
Some of her most recognizable credits include:
TV: Rob, CSI: NY, Jane the Virgin, Stuck in the Middle, You, Wednesday
Movies: Iron Man 3, Insidious: Chapter 2, The Babysitter: Killer Queen, Scream, X, Scream VI, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Death of a Unicorn
The list highlights an unusual career progression: Ortega moved from Disney and family television into prestige-adjacent drama, franchise horror and eventually a major Netflix title led by her own character.
What Is Jenna Ortega’s Background?
Ortega is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, according to the Golden Globes and Biography.com. Biography.com also reports that she grew up in California’s Coachella Valley and is one of six siblings.
She has generally kept the focus of her public career on acting and creative work rather than turning her family life into the center of her celebrity profile. For that reason, claims about private relationships or personal details should be checked against reliable reporting rather than social-media speculation.
The Bottom Line on Jenna Ortega
Jenna Ortega’s career has developed from child acting roles into a combination of mainstream television, franchise films and horror projects. Wednesday is clearly the defining role of her career so far, but her filmography also includes Scream, X, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Death of a Unicorn.
As of September 2026, Ortega is 23, has received major awards nominations for Wednesday, and is set to continue in the role when the series returns for Season 3.
FAQs
How old is Jenna Ortega?
Jenna Ortega was born on September 27, 2002, making her 23 years old as of September 18, 2026.
What is Jenna Ortega best known for?
She is best known for playing Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s Wednesday.
Is Jenna Ortega in the Scream movies?
Yes. Ortega played Tara Carpenter in Scream (2022) and returned for Scream VI (2023).
Is Jenna Ortega returning for Wednesday Season 3?
Yes. Netflix has officially renewed Wednesday for a third season, with Ortega returning as Wednesday Addams.
What movies has Jenna Ortega been in?
Her notable films include Iron Man 3, Insidious: Chapter 2, The Babysitter: Killer Queen, Scream, X, Scream VI, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and Death of a Unicorn.
Source list
- Biography.com: Jenna Ortega: Biography, Actor, ‘Wednesday’ Star, Access Date: September 18, 2026.
- Golden Globes: Jenna Ortega, Access Date: September 18, 2026.
- Television Academy: Jenna Ortega | Emmy Awards and Nominations, Access Date: September 18, 2026.
- Netflix Tudum: Jenna Ortega Knows Exactly Who Wednesday Addams Is, Access Date: September 18, 2026.
- Netflix Tudum: Wednesday Season 3 Renewed and Heading to Paris, Access Date: September 18, 2026.
- A24: Death of a Unicorn, Access Date: September 18, 2026.
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I am an independent writer and digital researcher tracking everyday trends, tech shifts, and modern culture across the US. I focus on cutting through internet noise to bring you crisp, honest stories and practical takeaways you can actually use.
