Washington DC [US], May 29: Actress Jenna Ortega has opened up about the emotional toll of sudden fame following the success of her hit Netflix series Wednesday. In a candid interview with Harper’s Bazaar, as quoted by Variety, Ortega described her post-show experience as “intense” and “scary.”
“To be quite frank, after the show and trying to figure everything out, I was an unhappy person. After the pressure, the attention, as somebody who’s quite introverted, that was so intense and so scary,” Ortega revealed.
Although Ortega has been acting since childhood, Wednesday catapulted her into global stardom almost overnight. She admitted that the surge in fame came with an unwelcome side effect—relentless scrutiny and online rumors.
“I feel like being a bully is very popular right now. Having been on the wrong side of the rumour mill was incredibly eye-opening,” she said.
While the success of Wednesday has opened many doors and introduced her to new hobbies like playing the cello, Ortega also reflected on the shift in her personal identity.
“I definitely feel like I have a bit more Gothic taste than I did when I was a teenager. I’ve always been into dark things or been fascinated by them, but I was a Disney kid, and the whole thing is being bubbly and kind and overly sweet.”
Despite the recognition, Ortega admitted there are challenges to being seen as a teenage character while maturing as a young woman:
“I’m doing a show I’m going to be doing for years where I play a schoolgirl. But I’m also a young woman.”
Ortega will return in Season 2 of Wednesday, which is expected to feature Lady Gaga in a prominent role. The new season promises to build on the dark, quirky charm of the first, while Ortega continues to navigate the complex realities of fame.