Wednesday star Jenna Ortega has revealed the unsettling aspects of her global fame, admitting she is “always scared” during fan encounters and often feels “uncomfortable” when approached by grown men.
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter while promoting the second season of the hit Netflix series, the 22-year-old actor spoke about the challenges of life in the spotlight. When asked if fan interactions had ever frightened her, Ortega was direct. “I’m always scared. Somebody shouting your name in public is insane,” she stated.
Ortega also disclosed that she has been subjected to “horrific” verbal abuse, recalling an incident where she was called a “c*** whore” in front of her mother. While she noted it is possible to go unseen in public, she acknowledged that some outings are “a mess.”
The actor described feeling “incredibly misunderstood” by her public persona, leading to a sense of detachment. “It’s almost to a point where it feels like your name doesn’t belong to you,” she explained. “I almost don’t even resonate with it anymore. I hate assumptions, and a big part of this job is that people are going to make assumptions about you.”
This is not the first time Ortega has addressed the pressures that followed Wednesday‘s 2022 premiere. Earlier this year, she told Harper’s Bazaar that the sudden, intense attention made her “an unhappy person” as she struggled to navigate her new reality.
The first season of the Tim Burton-produced show became a cultural phenomenon, surpassing Stranger Things to become Netflix’s most-watched title in a single week and later breaking its own record with over 400 million hours streamed in seven days.
Season two of Wednesday will be released in two parts, with the first installment debuting on August 6 and the second on September 3. Ortega will reprise her role as the iconic Addams family daughter alongside returning cast members Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, and Emma Myers. New additions to the cast include Steve Buscemi, Lady Gaga, and Joanna Lumley, who will play Wednesday’s grandmother.
