Jenna Ortega Opens Up About Growing Up In Hollywood

Jenna Ortega gained early fame as a child actor, but the question remains whether Hollywood is really the best place for kids.

The “Quiet on Set” docuseries has been creating a buzz since it premiered on MAX. The series delves into the troubling side of kids’ TV, highlighting issues like abuse, exploitation, and the immense pressures young stars face navigating the complex world of Hollywood.

Many actors and actresses have watched the series and have spoken out, including Josh Peck. Ariana GrandeElizabeth Gillies.

Ortega hasn’t seen the documentary yet, but her mother has, and said she is relieved that Ortega didn’t experience a similar traumatic event. Ortega is grateful that her family’s close supervision kept her safe, but she acknowledges that she had some negative experiences of her own.

“Speaking of my whole career as a kid, there were definitely some moments where I realized, ‘Oh, maybe that person didn’t have my best interests in mind,’ or maybe they didn’t want to support me as much as they said they would,'” she said. The New York Times.

“And that’s a hard lesson to learn at such a young age, especially when adults and people who should know better are speaking to you in ways that can be harmful to a child whose brain is still growing and developing,” the actress added.

The Wednesday actress also admitted that despite becoming famous as a child, she doesn’t think the work environment is ideal for someone so young.

“Kids shouldn’t work like that,” Ortega told the outlet. “They should be climbing trees, they should be drawing, they should be going to school. Some of these kids’ parents don’t take school seriously. So I was really, really lucky to have parents who made sure I played with my friends, went to public school, and they wouldn’t let me work unless I got straight A’s, so they made sure I prioritized sleep and schoolwork.”

“Being a child actor is a strange thing,” she added. “I can see why my parents were so hesitant about it – you’re sending a child into an adult workplace. I think if I’d grown up in the Coachella Valley, I would have been a very different person.”

Ortega explains that while she realizes Hollywood isn’t the healthiest place for children, she wouldn’t change her past.

“You have regrets, your parents have regrets, and looking back, I wouldn’t change anything,” she said. The New York Times“I don’t believe that. In fact, I’m so grateful for the lessons it taught me.”

“It’s nice to go on set now and be incredibly knowledgeable,” the 21-year-old added. “I know what the camera jargon means, I know what a grip’s job is, I know what a gaffer’s job is, [director of photography]”I can look at the shot list. I understand everything. I know what’s going on around me, so I feel very safe and comfortable, and I look forward to going to work every day because it’s familiar to me.”

Now 21, she admitted: “They don’t talk like me or treat people like me.”

“It completely changed the way I think and the way I live. When I talk to other child actors, it’s easy to tell them apart because we all have the same thing,” she says. “It’s something very special, like a secret little language or something that we all share.”

“Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV” is now streaming on MAX.