Jenna Ortega Says She Doesn’t Read Her Reviews and Wants to Escape Hollywood’s Wednesday Addams Box

Jenna Ortega has become one of Hollywood’s most recognisable young actresses. But she isn’t particularly interested in knowing what everybody thinks about her.

In a new interview accompanying her November 2026 Vogue cover, the 24-year-old actress explained that she avoids reading reviews of her work.

She doesn’t watch her own films. And she has been spending less time on Instagram. Her reasoning is surprisingly straightforward. She doesn’t want her career to become a competition involving box-office figures, online reactions and constant comparisons. And she certainly doesn’t want to spend the rest of her professional life playing variations of Wednesday Addams.

The interview arrives as Jenna prepares for the release of Klara and the Sun, a science-fiction film directed by Taika Waititi. She also discussed her ambitions as a producer, her experiences as a child actress and her desire to pursue more unusual creative projects.

According to Vogue’s new cover interview, Ortega said she avoids watching her performances and deliberately distances herself from public reviews and commercial performance figures. She discussed her work as an executive producer on Wednesday and her growing interest in developing projects behind the camera. She also reflected on the difficulties of becoming famous as a child and explained why she now wants to choose roles that challenge the expectations associated with her previous work.

I have to say, I think Jenna has the right idea. Because Hollywood has a terrible habit of turning one successful performance into an actor’s entire identity.

Wednesday Made Jenna Famous, but She Can Do More

Let’s start with the obvious. Jenna was excellent in Wednesday. She brought a distinctive interpretation to a character who was already familiar to several generations of audiences. Her performance was dry, darkly funny and perfectly suited to the programme’s gothic atmosphere.

But success can become a problem when an actor is repeatedly offered the same kind of role. Jenna has already appeared in several horror films.

She has worked with Tim Burton, and she has become closely associated with dark, unconventional characters. Those performances demonstrate her abilities. But they shouldn’t define the limits of her career.

And I appreciate that Jenna understands this. She wants to explore other kinds of stories. Different characters and creative opportunities that don’t necessarily resemble the projects that made her famous. That seems entirely reasonable.

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She Doesn’t Need to Read Every Review

I also found Jenna’s comments about reviews interesting. She explained that she doesn’t watch her own films and avoids examining their commercial performance.

Her team apparently sends her box-office updates. She doesn’t open them. I can understand why. Imagine spending months preparing for a role, learning dialogue, working with a director and trying to create something meaningful.

Then the film comes out. Suddenly everybody has an opinion. Some people love it. Others hate it. And thousands of strangers begin discussing your performance as though they know everything about the decisions you made.

Of course, criticism is part of working in entertainment. And professional reviews can provide useful analysis. But an actor doesn’t necessarily benefit from reading every opinion.

Especially when online criticism frequently becomes personal. Jenna seems determined to protect her relationship with acting. She wants to concentrate on the work itself rather than obsessing over how everybody receives it. I think that’s sensible.

Her Comments About Child Stardom Were Particularly Interesting

Jenna also discussed the difficulties of beginning her career so young. She started auditioning as a child. By twelve, she had secured a leading role in the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle.

And her teenage years were shaped by professional responsibilities that most children never experience. Now, looking back, she isn’t entirely convinced she would encourage another child to follow the same path. That is a significant admission. Especially from somebody whose early career eventually produced enormous success.

Jenna acknowledged that she sometimes spent entire days working without properly eating or drinking. She also questioned the expectations placed on young performers. And I think that deserves attention.

Hollywood frequently celebrates child stars who demonstrate extraordinary discipline. They’re praised for being professional. Mature. And willing to work long hours.

But children shouldn’t have to behave like miniature adults simply because they’re talented. They need time to develop. Attend school. Build friendships. And experience ordinary childhood activities. Professional success doesn’t eliminate those needs.

Jenna Ortega Is Building a Career Beyond Wednesday

One of the most encouraging things about Jenna Ortega’s career is that she seems increasingly interested in controlling the work, not just starring in it.

She already serves as an executive producer on Wednesday, giving her more influence over the character and the direction of the series. Now she is expanding that experience with Nasty, an upcoming film about a young gymnast.

That matters because Jenna does not appear interested in simply becoming a bigger celebrity. She wants to develop projects, collaborate with filmmakers she respects and eventually explore directing herself.

For a 24-year-old who became globally famous very quickly, that feels like a smart long-term move. Her new Vogue editorial reflects the other side of her career. Photographer Szilveszter Makó placed Jenna in dramatic, surreal settings filled with theatrical fashion and unusual compositions.

The photographs are beautiful, although fashion magazines have become very fond of this particular surreal aesthetic. What once felt unexpected can start to feel familiar when everyone uses it.

Jenna still works exceptionally well in that world. She knows how to use her face, posture and stillness to make elaborate styling feel intentional rather than overwhelming.

But the more interesting story is what she is doing away from the camera. Jenna has already achieved the kind of success most actors spend decades chasing. She now seems to understand that she does not have to accept every opportunity simply because Hollywood offers it.

She can produce. She can be selective. She can protect parts of her private life and pursue projects that genuinely interest her. Wednesday made Jenna Ortega a global star. The next stage should be about showing us how much more she can do.