Since being cast in two big 2022 horror movies X and Scream, Jenna Ortega has been everywhere, and her role as Wednesday Addams only increased her star power. The actress is also relatable and hilarious, whether hosting Saturday Night Live, appearing on Hot Ones with Sean Evans, or chatting about what it was like to film Wednesday. While some actors stick to film or are known for playing many long-term TV characters, Jenna Ortega stands out because she has had great roles in both mediums.
However, while fans love watching her play her snarky and smart Wednesday title character, there's so much more to her TV history. Jenna Ortega's best TV roles are all very different from each other and prove her talent.
Wednesday Addams (Wednesday, 2022-)
Jenna Ortega's honesty about filming Wednesday has only added to her popularity. Fans love hearing behind-the-scenes facts about the hit Netflix series. Ortega's time as the infamous Wednesday Addams has not only added to her star power but it has also proven her serious acting chops. The actress can make fans laugh and feel strong emotions in equal measure, and she is definitely the reason why the series became instantly popular.
Ortega says many of the funniest quotes on Wednesday, and whether the character is sharing her opinion on coffee, how she doesn't fit in with her peers, or how she's going to solve the mystery of The Hyde, she's endlessly entertaining to watch. While it's fair that some Addams Family fans have opinions about this iteration of the character, Ortega's talent is front and center.
Ellie Alves (You, 2018-)
While part 1 of season 4 of You isn't the best part of the hit Netflix series, season 2 is definitely strong, and Ortega's character Ellie Alves is a big reason for that. Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) befriends teenager Ellie, who lives with her older sister Delilah (Carmela Zumbado) in the apartment complex that Joe moves into. Similar to how he feels about Paco (Luca Padovan) in season 1, Joe wants to protect Ellie and her character allows him to look a little more compassionate than he usually does.
Of course, Joe is still a serial killer, and the best Joe Goldberg memes are all about this tension between his caring moments and the many people he has murdered. Ortega has played many characters who are strong, and Ellie is no exception. While she seems scrappy, she's naive in some ways and trusts Henderson (Chris D'Elia) and is a relatable representation of a teenager trying to be tougher than she really is.
Darcy (Richie Rich, 2015)
Back in 2015, a few years before she was cast as Ellie in You, Jenna Ortega played Darcy in the TV adaptation of Richie Rich, which was adapted from the comic book series. Jake Brennan played the title character who is a super rich kid and Ortega's Darcy is his sidekick.
While Darcy is much more innocent than Jenna Ortega's horror roles, the actress showed off her strong skills as the character likes to take money from her best friend and spend it, which is one of the funniest parts of the series. While this show didn't create much buzz at the time and has gotten lost in the years since it was on the air, it's fun to look back at how Ortega began her career.
Harley Diaz (Stuck In The Middle, 2016-2018)
Not all Jenna Ortega fans know that she got her start on the Disney Channel and starred on Stuck In The Middle as the main character, Harley Diaz. Harley is a kid who lives in Marshport, Massachusetts with her family. She has six siblings and is great at engineering.
While Harley is a far cry from Jenna Ortega's "scary" role as Wednesday Addams, the character is spirited, smart, and passionate. She comes up with her own product ideas, for example the Slushinator, which is funny to watch. Like all of Ortega's early TV roles, Harley allowed her to prove her talent for funny characters who are intelligent and believe in themselves. There are shades of Wednesday in Harley.
Young Jane (Jane The Virgin, 2014-2019)
Many fans might not know that Jenna Ortega also appeared on Jane The Virgin as the 12-year-old version of the main character Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodrigez). The show is much sweeter and more heartwarming than Ortega's more recent roles, which makes it interesting to look back on.
While she has played older characters as she has grown up, like Lorraine in Ti West's impressive horror movie X, Jenna Ortega did get her start playing child and pre-teen characters. Ortega was interviewed by Talk Nerdy With Us in 2016 and talked about starring on the show. She said, In Jane The Virgin Season 3, I am the same innocent, curious Jane!" She added, "I love being on Jane The Virgin. I want to stay on it as long as possible! Every time that I get called for another episode, I consider it a gift."