Jenna Ortega, now 21, has spoken candidly about her experiences as a child actor and the effects of Hollywood on young performers.
“Children aren’t supposed to be working like that,” she told The New York Times. “They should be climbing trees, drawing, and going to school.”
Ortega praises her parents for emphasizing her education and well-being, saying, “Some of those kids’ parents don’t even take school seriously. I feel really fortunate to have had parents who ensured I hung out with friends, attended public school, and only worked if I had straight A’s and was prioritizing my sleep and schoolwork.”
Starting her acting career at age 9, Ortega landed her first sitcom role in 2012 and went on to notable roles, including Young Jane in *Jane the Virgin* and a starring role in Disney’s *Stuck in the Middle*, leading up to her upcoming role in *Beetlejuice*.
“Child acting is strange,” Ortega reflected. “I see why my parents were hesitant, because it places a child in an adult workplace. If I had stayed in Coachella Valley, I’d be a completely different person.”
She added, “I wouldn’t speak or approach interactions the way I do now. It has changed my way of thinking and interacting with life. When I talk to other child actors, I can recognize us instantly—we share a unique, almost secret, understanding.”
