Jenna Ortega has revealed that she would sometimes forgo eating or drinking for an entire day during her time as a child actor, motivated by a desire not to be perceived as difficult or "in the way" on set.
Ortega, 23, who first appeared on screen in the 2012 sitcom "Rob" at the age of nine, shared these experiences in a recent interview with Esquire. She reflected on early career missteps, stating, "Maybe that was my mistake, was not actually looking after myself."
"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," Ortega explained, detailing her childhood ambition and gratitude for opportunities.
Her acting aspirations began at seven years old, and she described her "stubbornness" as the driving force behind her pursuit of acting, even when her parents initially dismissed her dream.
Ortega cited fellow child star Dakota Fanning as an early inspiration, observing Fanning's on-screen presence as providing a sense of "wisdom" and a model for what it meant to be an actor.
The "Wednesday" star's comments come amid increased fan scrutiny regarding her slender frame. Following the release of the Esquire interview and an accompanying video, social media platforms were flooded with expressions of concern from viewers who noted her noticeable thinness.
Comments included observations such as "Jen …. Are you okay …," and "sorry if its rude but is she ill? She doesn't look well. :("
Other social media users drew parallels to a perceived pattern of weight loss among some celebrities, with one X user writing, "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."
Ortega, who achieved global recognition for her lead role in Netflix's "Wednesday," had previously established a presence in television shows like "Jane the Virgin" and "You," as well as films such as "The Fallout" and the "Scream" franchise.
Representatives for Ortega did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the Daily Mail. During a red carpet event for "Wednesday" in May, Ortega appeared svelte, but some observers noted her complexion seemed less gaunt than in the recent video.