Jenna Ortega made the leap from Disney child star to the undisputed queen of modern horror. Since the massive hit Wednesday, she has become an essential part of pop culture. Although she is only 21, she has already achieved more than many actresses do in an entire career. She has distinct taste: instead of standard Marvel blockbusters, she prefers eccentric horror films and enjoys collaborating with visionaries like Ti West and Tim Burton.
10. You: Season 2 (2019)
Ortega plays Ellie Alves, the street-smart 15-year-old sister of Joe Goldberg’s neighbor in LA. While the murderous Joe deceives almost everyone, Ellie is the clever kid who realizes something is wrong—even if that realization comes just a bit too late. She only appears in a handful of episodes, but makes an impression by portraying Ellie as cynical and intelligent, without falling into the usual clichés of a well-behaved child.
9. Yes Day (2021)
In this lighthearted Netflix family film, Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramírez have to say yes to everything their children ask for an entire day. Ortega plays teenage daughter Katie, who drags her parents to a concert and provides the necessary drama. It is a predictable, neat film; ideal as background entertainment during dinner.
8. Iron Man 3 (2013)
Ortega has a tiny role here as the Vice President’s daughter. She is in a wheelchair, and Tony Stark promises he will fix her legs. She was only ten years old at the time. It wasn’t a major step for her career, but it remains a fun detail that she was already in a Marvel movie before she became truly famous.
7. The Babysitter: Killer Queen (2020)
While protagonist Cole is once again besieged by a satanic cult, Ortega appears as Phoebe, the tough new girl at school. She helps him survive, wields samurai swords, and cracks jokes while chaos erupts. It is wonderfully mindless entertainment, and Ortega effortlessly steals every scene she is in.
6. Stuck in the Middle (2016-2018)
In this Disney Channel sitcom, Ortega stars as Harley Diaz, the middle child in a family of seven. She frequently breaks the fourth wall to solve her problems with clever inventions. The series ran for three seasons and gave her the necessary experience as a lead actress and a loyal fan base within the target audience.
5. The Fallout (2021)
This impressive drama by Megan Park is about a teenager (Ortega) who survives a school shooting. The film does not focus on the violence itself, but on the raw trauma, PTSD, and the difficult relationship with her parents in the aftermath. Her honest and vulnerable acting was awarded the SXSW Audience Award and proved she can do much more than just horror or comedy.
6. X (2022)
Ti West created a stylish homage to 70s slashers with this film. When a film crew travels to Texas to record an adult film on a remote farm, they are hunted one by one by the owners. Ortega plays Lorraine, the sound technician who unwillingly ends up in a bloody nightmare. The film is tense and gritty, featuring Ortega in an intense cellar scene that nods to classics like Psycho.
3. Scream (2022) & Scream VI (2023)
As Tara Carpenter, Ortega survives the infamous opening attack, which is a rarity in this franchise. Together with her sister Sam (Melissa Barrera), she takes on Ghostface, first in Woodsboro and later in New York. Ortega proves herself here as the new final girl who keeps fighting despite all injuries and bone-chilling pursuits in the subway.
2. Wednesday (2022-present)
The role that definitively catapulted her to world stardom. As the emotionless Wednesday Addams at Nevermore Academy, she solves mysteries while trying to find her place among her classmates. Her iconic dance moment became a massive hype on TikTok. The series broke all records on Netflix and confirmed her status as the new face of the Addams Family.
1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024)
In this long-awaited sequel by Tim Burton, Ortega plays the role of Astrid, the rebellious daughter of Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder). When she accidentally opens a portal to the afterlife, total chaos ensues. Ortega has great chemistry with Ryder and holds her own perfectly alongside the maniacal energy of Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice.
