Summary
Jenna Ortegareveals what horror movie scared her for years. Ortega has recently catapulted from a rising star to one of the most sought-after actors of her generation. The Netflix seriesWednesdayplays a huge part in this rise, as Ortega’s performance in the titular role garnered her massive praise, including an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Ortega’s stardom in the series will continue asWednesdayseason 2premiering in 2025 on Netflix.
Speaking withVanity Fair, Ortega now discusses what horror movie haunted her for years. Speaking about how she got invested in the horror genre, Ortega notes that the filmChild’s Playterrified her. The first movie in theChuckyseries, Ortega claims thatChild’s Play"f*cked [her] up for years to come." When she was a little older, she even forced herself to rewatchChild’s Playto face her fears. Even then, she shuddered atChild’s Play, but noted that she “was interested in something that scared” her. Check out the full quote from Ortega below:
It f*cked me up for years to come. I still was a massive scaredy cat, but I was interested in something that scared me.
How Horror Factors Into Ortega’s Career
Ortega Has Become A Modern Horror Icon
ThoughWednesdaymay be her most standout role,Ortega made a name for herself in horror beforeWednesdaywas released. She played Tara Carpenter in the 2022Screamfilm, a role she reprised in the 2023 follow-upScream VI. She also played a notable part in theTi West horror filmX, which has now been made into one of the more well-regarded horror franchises of the 2020s.
AfterXand theScreammovies, Ortega has transitioned into a more campy form of horror with her work withvisionary director Tim Burton. This includesWednesday, which has some scary themes but stays light enough to be much more spooky than it is genuinely spine-chilling. Burton’sBeetlejuiceis in a similar vein, a franchise that Ortega enters through her upcoming performance as Astrid Deetz inBeetlejuice Beetlejuice. If Ortega continues her working relationship with Burton, she is likely to receive more of those roles.
Given the pathOrtega’s careerhas gone on in recent years, it makes sense that she would have been attracted to horror films as a child. Pre-dating theScreamfranchise,Child’s Playkick-started one of the most iconic horror franchises to date. AsOrtegacontinues the scream queen part of her career, perhaps she could even find herself taking part in one of the variousChuckymovies and shows as the franchise continues today.
Child’s Play
Cast
Child’s Play is a horror-slasher film by director Tom Holland and marked the beginning of the Chucky character from writer Don Mancini, a modern horror icon. When serial killer Charles Lee Ray is slain after a detective catches him, he transfers his soul before he dies into a Good Guy doll, which ends up in the hands of six-year-old Andy Barclay. Naming himself Chucky, the doll begins a killing spree, which leads those around Alex to suspect him as the killer - and his mother is the only one who believes him.
