Jenna Ortega has been such a huge breakout over the past year. It really started (for most of us) with her portrayal of Wednesday Addams, a perfect update on the beloved character via Tim Burton and Netflix. Jenna has been acting for a decade, but it’s only now, with Wednesday’s massive success, that she’s being invited to all of the big events and expected to wear couture. She’s only 20 years old, and she’s navigating this new stardom really well, at least that’s how it seems to me. Jenna recently chatted with British Vogue about the changes in her style, embracing her freckles and her respect for “goth culture.”
She keeps it simple when it comes to beauty rituals: “Maybe it’s because of my chaotic lifestyle, but I find myself really drawn to a more minimalist, neutral aesthetic. Oftentimes, I’m away from home, so I need things that are comforting, relieving, and relaxing; clean.”
She’s the new face of the fragrance Gris Dior. “That was really exciting,” she says of her involvement with the iconic French house. Not just because she loves the fragrance’s super balanced unisex notes or because “the bottle is also cute on its own,” but because working with fashion legends Bardia Zeinali and Mikael Jansson on the campaign was a breath of fresh air: “I felt like I was really encouraged to be myself—I felt throughout the entire process that I could go with my own gut instinct and do whatever felt authentic and natural to me.”
She’s a people-pleaser: “I mean, I’ve been acting for over a decade now, so I know what it’s like to not necessarily be heard or feel like I have a voice.I kind of had a hard time growing up because I was such a people pleaser; I was so desperate to be whatever I felt people wanted me to be. And I felt like the traditional beauty standards really affected me; they didn’t always resonate with me.”
Getting bangs & dyeing her hair black for Wednesday: “Up until then I was really, really attached to my long hair. Changing it encouraged me to be more adventurous; to experiment and be more creative in that way.”
Respect for goth culture: “I’ve always respected goth culture. I’ve always had a darker sense of humor, but I never felt like I was able to express that. Now I feel like I can embrace those qualities in myself.”
She’s also embracing her freckles. “There was a time when I went the heavy makeup route for sure. But I’ve definitely learned that beauty is more about enhancing your natural features rather than trying to cover them up. I’ve realized that less is more.”
Something I really enjoy is that she’s kind of a theme-dresser in a great way. She knows that most people associate her with Wednesday, so instead of trying to distance herself from that, Jenna has just gone full goth-girl on red carpets. Maybe that will even turn out to be her favorite aesthetic, although who knows. Less IS more, especially when you’re younger. Although when you’re younger, that’s when you want to experiment and try out different aesthetics. I’d love it if “minimalist goth” became a thing. Because I think that’s where I am?
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
CENTURY CITY, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – NOVEMBER 13: American actress Jenna Ortega arrives at the Critics Choice Association’s 2nd Annual Celebration Of Latino Cinema And Television held at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel on November 13, 2022 in Century City, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 737428714, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Jenna Ortega, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon 
HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – NOVEMBER 16: American actress Jenna Ortega wearing Versace arrives at the World Premiere Of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’ Season 1 held at the Hollywood American Legion Post 43 at Hollywood Legion Theater on November 16, 2022 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 738230567, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Jenna Ortega, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon 
HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – NOVEMBER 16: American actress Jenna Ortega wearing Versace arrives at the World Premiere Of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’ Season 1 held at the Hollywood American Legion Post 43 at Hollywood Legion Theater on November 16, 2022 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 738230877, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Jenna Ortega, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon
Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2023/2024 – Saint Laurent – Arrivals. Featuring: Jenna Ortega Where: Paris, France, France When: 18 Jan 2023 Credit: Aurore Marechal/ABACA/INSTARimages.com/Cover Images **North America Rights Only** 
29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. Fairmont Century Plaza, Los Angeles, California. Featuring: Jenna Ortega Where: Los Angeles, California, United States When: 26 Feb 2023 Credit: BauerGriffin/INSTARimages 
Paramount`s ‘Scream VI’ World Premiere In New York Featuring: Jenna Ortega Where: New York, New York, United States When: 07 Mar 2023 Credit: Darla Khazei/INSTARimages.com/Cover ImagesncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcWljaH5xe8mepaeZj6S%2FtbHGmpacmZ6Us6q6wKWjspeVoq%2BzrcKelqGdopS2r7rEq5agp6SdrKrCxJiYpa%2BRrsCgvsSsp56bpJqxoLPOrZ%2BYm6Whwba%2BxGg%3D