How Jenna Ortega became Netflix’s new star
Getting noticed in Tinseltown’s galaxy of stars is a cosmic challenge. And since showbiz is always in flux, it’s easy to get lost in the waves. However, Jenna Ortega’s star power is a tidal force, impossible to ignore and a wonder to behold. No matter how overwhelming the star-studded landscape may seem at times, Ortega’s stellar presence shines bright like a North Star on a Christmas tree. While Ortega’s Hollywood induction goes back to her childhood, she is now a celebrated Netflix star in her own right.
Ortega’s first credited on-screen appearance came when she wasn’t even ten. Although like any showbiz newbie, she had humble beginnings, she has since come a long way. From starring in an unnamed role in Iron Man 3 to becoming a franchise regular with Scream, her meteoric rise in Hollywood is truly worth studying.
Ortega is currently busy weaving the web of gore and goth in anticipation of Wednesday season two. But her Netflix legacy extends far beyond the walls of Nevermore Academy. Sure, her eerie excellence as Wednesday Addams has catalysed a cultural reset. But that? It’s just the tip of the iceberg. Ortega’s Netflix portfolio is a treasure trove of diversity and versatility.
So, before you join her on her macabre adventures, take a detour into her other projects that cement her status as a Netflix sensation.
Every Jenna Ortega Netflix show and movie
Richie Rich (Brian Robbins and Jeff Hodsen, 2015)
Loosely based on the Harvey Comics character, Netflix’s Richie Rich is a sitcom series. However, fans, unfortunately, cannot find the show on the OTT platform anymore as it was removed from Netflix on May 22nd this year, exactly a decade after the second season release. The Netflix take on Richie Rich turned up the luxury dial, relocating the billionaire boy to a mansion with his family, and his best buds Murray and Darcy. Jenna Ortega portrayed Darcy in the Netflix series.
Ortega has made a name in Hollywood by seamlessly slipping into complex characters. But Darcy was one of the simpler ones from her resume. However, the Netflix exposure was quite fruitful because fast forward to 2025, she now sits on the streaming throne.
The Babysitter: Killer Queen (McG, 2020)
Jenna Ortega’s knack for conjuring unease on screen wasn’t an overnight sensation; it was the result of calculated risks and deliberate choices. The Babysitter: Killer Queen, which serves as a sequel to The Babysitter is a must-watch Netflix gem that exemplifies her range. It’s a particularly potent concoction that mixes Scream-style frights with offbeat humour that would go on to become Wednesday’s hallmarks. Ortega plays Phoebe in The Babysitter: Killer Queen.
Cole from The Babysitter and Phoebe from The Babysitter: Killer Queen had the same occultist babysitter, Bee. By 2020, Ortega had already become a household name in the horror genre.
Yes Day (Miguel Arteta, 2021)
Jenna Ortega’s horror chops need no introduction. But another genre where she doesn’t even have to try is comedy. A year after The Babysitter: Killer Queen, she joined forces with Netflix for Yes Day. Based on Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld’s children’s book, the family comedy film follows the Torres family, who have three children: Katie, Nando, and Ellie.
Ortega plays Katie in Yes Day. In the film, seeking a break from the usual “no’s”, the parents plan a “yes day” for the three kids, where for 24 hours only they call the shots.
You (Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, 2019-2025)
You is one of the biggest Netflix hits of all time, starring Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg. But Jenna Ortega landed a major role in the second season after Joe’s relocation from New York to the West Coast. He rents an apartment from a woman who has a teenage sister, Ellie Alves. Ortega plays the role of that very sister. Just like her sister, Ellie is outspoken too.
Although Joe goes above and beyond to protect Ellie in the instalment, his involvement turns out to be a nightmare by the conclusion. While Joe’s performance in You has been praised before, Ellie’s delivery was no less in packing a punch.
Wednesday (Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, 2022-Present)
The best is always saved for the last. So, to cap off the Jenna Ortega Netflix experience, there’s no better pit stop than Wednesday. Since the show’s Netflix release, it has become a global phenomenon. The show follows the deadpan Addams family character, Wednesday, who enters Nevermore Academy. Although it’s a school of outcasts, fitting in is still a struggle.
But unlike the previous schools, it’s the murder and mayhem that bring Wednesday back again. Wednesday season two is currently scheduled for a two-part Netflix release in August and September, respectively.