Jenna Ortega has revealed that as a child actor she would go all day without eating or drinking, even a sip of water, while on set. In a new interview with Esquire, the 23-year-old Wednesday star described her childhood behavior as a mistake, sparking concern among fans and reigniting discussions about the pressures of appearance in Hollywood.
Ortega's childhood on set
Ortega, who has been working since the age of nine, appeared in shows such as Rob, CSI: NY, and Jane the Virgin, as well as smaller film roles. She broke through to the mainstream in 2022, aged 18, in the fifth Scream installment, before landing the lead role in Netflix's Addams Family series.
Speaking about rookie mistakes, Ortega told Esquire: 'I really had it going for me as a child 'cause I can't think of one mistake I made. Is that a terrible thing to say? I feel like I make mistakes now all the time, but as a child, I was so grateful and so excited to be there that my game face was on.'
She then confessed: 'I wasn't asking for a sip of water. I would go all day without eating, drinking, whatever, because I wanted so badly to not be in the way of anybody.' Quickly, Ortega added: 'Maybe that was my mistake. Not actually looking after myself.'
Fan concern and reactions
The remarks, which come amid heightened concern about thinness in Hollywood, prompted a flood of worried comments on social media and video platforms. One YouTube user, Wenclairesfave, wrote: 'I hope she's okay, she's so kind and well spoken and talented and deserves SO much love. I'm proud of her.' Another, Eclipsemoon16, added: 'She looks so different I hope she's taking care ❤.'
TheOne_Cookie commented: 'Jenna is working so unbelievably hard right now with all the shooting for Wednesday Season 3 and all her projects. I truly hope from the bottom of my heart that she's doing well and finds time to rest despite all the stress.'
Ortega's past struggles and industry context
The Scream actress has previously spoken about suffering from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and how it makes having an evening routine 'quite difficult'. 'When I'm tired, I have pretty intense OCD,' she shared last year. 'Repetitive thoughts and counting everything multiple times and having to do the same action over and over. So sometimes my nights consist of just being really exhausted and going up and down the stairs six times because that's what I think I need to do to make sure no one breaks into my home.'
Ortega's interview comes after Ariana Grande faced 'endless, ongoing public scrutiny' over her body, announcing she was taking a step back from public-facing work. For the past few years, the Wicked star has been the subject of increased discourse about her health, a topic she once addressed in 2023. She told fans: 'There are many different ways to look healthy and beautiful. I know personally, for me, the body that you've been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body. I was on a lot of antidepressants and drinking on them and eating poorly, and at the lowest point of my life when I looked the way you consider my healthy. That, in fact, wasn't my healthy.'
The singer implored fans to be 'gentler and less comfortable' commenting on people's bodies. Ortega's candid confession adds to the ongoing conversation about the well-being of young performers and the industry's impact on their health.
