Hollywood actor Jenna Ortega has been thrust into an online debate, following an interview in which fans noted that she looked completely different. The actor, from popular Netflix show Wednesday, participated in the series called How I Got Here for Esquire magazine and talked about how she evolved from a child actor to a famous star of Hollywood. While discussing her professional experience, viewers' attention was immediately drawn to her slimmed-down appearance and whether she is okay. The debate has been raging on all social media sites and many people have expressed concerns regarding a major difference in Jenna's appearance in the last year.
Talking about her child actor days, she said that she would go entire days without asking for food or water as she did not want to concern anyone. “I really had it going for me as a child ‘cause I can’t think of one mistake I made,” Ortega said. “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.”
Jenna also reflected on that period of her life, admitting, "Maybe that was my mistake, I was not actually looking after myself".
After the interview was released, several viewers took to X to comment on Ortega's appearance. One concerned fan on X wrote, “How and why is no one else alarmed by how thin she is? Can we stop pretending that this is normal and healthy and that she’s “always been this thin”? Because she hasn’t, it’s deeply concerning and I’m very scared for her wellbeing. #JennaOrtega.” Another X user said, “What's going on with social media and celebrity bodies is making me go insane like omfg.”
Another commenter expressed, “I agree that the change is noticeable, and I completely understand why people are concerned because it really doesn't seem normal. I just hope she's okay and has people around her looking out for her.”
Other reactions were much shorter but equally concerned. “Isn't there Family or friends that can help her??? Its obvious that she is another victim of Hollywood,” one fan asked. Another one wrote, “She looks unwell, I can't believe there are people thinking this is okay.” Another one said, “It feels like going back to the 90's where some people aspire to be anorexic skinny.”
As the conversation grew, some people began comparing Ortega's appearance to Ariana Grande, who has also faced intense public discussion about her body in recent years.
One social media user noted, “First Ariana and now her? What is up with these celebrities?” Another commenter compared the two more directly, writing, “Now, she's nowhere near as bad as Ariana Grande or others who have also done this, but it does appear she has gotten a bit skinnier. She's also gotten paler as well."
For some fans, the discussion is less about Ortega herself and more about changing beauty standards in the entertainment industry. One person summed up that frustration by writing, “Hollywood is back to demanding the skin-and-bones aesthetic. And fk, we'd come so far.”
So far, Jenna has not publicly addressed the online discussion surrounding her appearance, and there has been no statement from her representatives confirming any health concerns. Her current appearance alone cannot establish whether there has been a medical or lifestyle change.
Jenna has an array of line-up including Wednesday Season 3, while her upcoming film slate includes Klara and the Sun, directed by Taika Waititi, as well as J.J. Abrams' sci-fi project The Great Beyond. She is also part of the cast of The Gallerist alongside Natalie Portman and has been attached to projects including Single Female, a remake of the 1992 thriller Single White Female, and Lily May B, the upcoming film from French filmmaker Leos Carax.
Monica Yadav is a senior entertainment journalist with Hindustan Times Entertainment, based in Mumbai, with nearly 11 years of experience covering Bollywood, Hollywood and Asian entertainment, including Korean, Chinese and Thai cinema, television and music. She is among the few Indian journalists in India with a dedicated focus on Korean entertainment, including K-pop and K-dramas, and has interviewed some of the industry's biggest stars while closely tracking the rise of global pop culture. Her reporting has also taken her beyond India, where she has covered travel, culture and entertainment. Alongside her work at Hindustan Times, her bylines have appeared in several international publications. Known for her in-depth interviews, feature stories and engaging storytelling, Monica enjoys exploring the human side of entertainment. From breaking news and long-form features to music coverage, explainers and on-camera conversations with artists, she is passionate about telling stories that connect with audiences across the world.Read More
