Jenna Ortega Reveals Why She Almost Quit Acting Before You

by

Jenna Ortega once felt stuck in the middle of a normal life and her Hollywood dreams. 

Oh my gosh, it feels like forever ago, but I remember when her Disney show, Stuck in the Middle, finished! She actually told Kid Cudi – Kid Cudi! – that she seriously thought about just going to regular high school after it ended. Can you believe it? Like, a normal teenage life? It’s so amazing to think about where she is now, knowing she almost chose a totally different path! I’ve been following her ever since, and it’s just wild to remember that moment.

After finishing a children’s television show, I was unsure about my next steps,” the 23-year-old explained on Kid Cudi’s Big Bro podcast, which was released on April 8th. “I felt I needed to re-establish myself and impress casting directors who didn’t recognize me, so if I was going to take a break, that seemed like the right moment.”

While still considering her options, Jenna Ortega received an offer to play Ellie Alves in the Netflix series You. This role helped her begin taking on more adult characters in the future.

She said she immediately felt comfortable on set and had a wonderful experience. It quickly became clear she didn’t want to give up the opportunity.

Although Jenna Ortega is committed to acting, she recognizes why some new actors might decide to quit the profession.

It’s common to think that way,” said Ortega, who started working at age 10. “There’s a lot about this job that you just can’t anticipate or prepare for.

Kid Cudi acknowledged that acting work can be unpredictable, but Jenna Ortega has consistently landed roles for years. She’s become the leading horror actress for Gen Z, known for her parts in films like The Babysitter: Killer Queen, X, and the Scream movies.

It’s an unpredictable profession, with periods of intense work followed by occasional downtime. She recently experienced a few months without any projects, which hadn’t happened in years.

After having so much time off, Ortega found it difficult to fill her days and realized she needed to find a new hobby.

I’ve started cooking again,” she said. “I decided to repaint my kitchen cabinets myself because I didn’t like the old paint.”

I’ve talked to a lot of people who feel anxious about taking time off work, and Winona Ryder is no different! She recently shared that while she was initially worried about stepping away, she realized the break was exactly what she needed. It’s so important to prioritize self-care and recognize when you need to recharge, even if it feels scary at first.

“I’m feeling much happier now,” she said. “I’ve discovered what truly makes me happy and what doesn’t, and I’m really good at keeping myself entertained.”

Now that Ortega has shared her thoughts, here are some other surprising things celebrities have admitted…

In June 2024, football player Jason Kelce jokingly tweeted about someone commenting that he “looks like he doesn’t wash his legs or feet.” He responded with, “What kind of weirdo washes their feet…?”

The retired Philadelphia Eagles player later doubled down on his comments.

On his podcast, New Heights with his brother Travis Kelce, he jokingly asked, “What kind of person washes someone else’s feet?” He then added that he would scrub off any visible dirt, though.

More than ten years after actor Kristen Stewart shared a story about witnessing a clown’s death in a car accident at the circus when he was a child, he confessed that the story was fabricated.

Robert remembered telling The New York Times Style Magazine in December 2024 that he reacted with complete surprise, saying, ‘What on earth? Are you possessed?’

As for what he said during the 2011 Today interview promoting his film Water for Elephants?

He explained that one of the clowns had died in an accident. Their small car exploded, and it was a very serious incident. Everyone panicked and ran to safety; it was a truly frightening experience.

Grandma knows best.

In an October 2022 episode of The Kardashians, Kim Kardashian shared a personal story about how her grandmother, Mary Jo “MJ” Campbell, had a surprising impact on a private moment with her then-boyfriend, Pete Davidson.

Kim Kardashian told MJ, Kris Jenner, and Khloe Kardashian that she and Pete Davidson were at the Beverly Hills Hotel last weekend. They were chatting by the fireplace for hours, and she remembered something her grandmother had told her: that having sex in front of a fireplace is a way to truly live life. Inspired by that, they ended up having sex by the fireplace as a tribute to Kris.

Grandma’s reaction? A nod of approval.

Kim jokingly remarked how strange it is to think about one’s grandmother before being intimate. MJ responded by saying she understood, but reminded Kim she too was once younger.

Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have a very close family, including their children, 8-year-old Wyatt and 6-year-old Dimitri, and their love for each other is incredibly strong.

So much so, that the Black Swan actress revealed they keep an open-door policy at home.

She told TopMob News in September 2022 that this also includes accidents in the bathroom. She explained that her family has simply accepted all normal bodily functions as a regular part of life, for better or worse, and the kids have adapted to this as well.

Mila explained she finally gave in after her family repeatedly asked to come inside. She said she eventually thought, ‘Okay, fine, I’ll just leave the door open.’

Pre-kids, she might not have imagined she’d flush that particular boundary away.

She said she never imagined she’d be comfortable enough to use the restroom with the door open.

Jennifer Garner admitted to a slightly embarrassing on-set mishap while filming the 2007 movie The Kingdom. She accidentally bit her own tongue during a fight scene – a bit more than she intended!

Jennifer described a scene with Sala Baker where the director, Pete Berg, instructed her to realistically attempt to survive, even suggesting she try to ‘kill’ her. She explained they hadn’t rehearsed much choreography, and Berg told her to do whatever it took to get through the scene.

She continued, explaining that they both jumped into action, and she ended up climbing onto his back. She even bit his ear – they have a photo to prove it, showing a piece missing! They weren’t messing around.

 

Ghouls just want to have fun.

During an October 2022 episode of The View, the hosts were discussing a woman who claimed her home was haunted by sexual ghosts. This led Sara Haines to pose a surprising question to the panel: “Is it possible to get pregnant from a ghost?”

Luckily, Joy Behar, her co-host, chimed in with a humorous response: “I’ve had encounters with ghosts and never gotten pregnant.”

“I’m going to leave that statement as is,” Whoopi Goldberg responded. “I’m not sure everyone heard what Joy said, but I’m choosing not to comment further on it.”

Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb are very close friends, but Hoda recently learned something surprising about her “Today” co-host. While preparing for an episode of “Today with Hoda and Jenna,” Hoda found out that Jenna never wears underwear.

Hoda Kotb recalled a funny moment from a November 2022 episode of Today with Hoda and Jenna. She explained that they both needed to quickly change outfits and had to head back to the dressing room. While there, Hoda realized Jenna Bush Hager doesn’t wear underwear.

Jenna’s rationale? Well, no underwear might just be more convenient to her.

She explained that the outfit created a more flattering shape, and she also pointed out that it meant packing fewer clothes. She felt there were many benefits to choosing it.

Looks like someone hasn’t been keeping up.

Britney Spears related to a line from Keke Palmer’s viral video – “he could be walking down the street, I wouldn’t know a thing” – and confessed she wasn’t familiar with Pete Davidson or Scott Disick.

Okay, so I just had to share this hilarious throwback! I found an old video of Pete Davidson – when he was dating Kim Kardashian – and Kourtney Kardashian’s ex, Scott Disick, having a fun “boyz night” and honestly, it had me in stitches! I reposted it because it seriously made my day and I wanted to share the laughs.

Britney apologized for sharing a video, explaining she didn’t know the people in it, but it had made her laugh a lot.

Before Chris Evans became famous as Captain America and was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2022, Jana Kramer dated him and thought he was a charming and attractive guy.

The singer shared on her podcast, Whine Down with Jana Kramer, that this happened over ten years ago. She doesn’t remember exactly how many dates they went on, but she does remember their final meeting.

Jana, who was around 26 at the time, said Chris asked her to come over when he had some friends visiting from Boston.

Jana recalled that the last thing she remembered was her partner going to the bathroom shortly after she’d eaten asparagus, which gives urine a noticeable smell. They didn’t spend the night together. He stayed up late with friends, and the next morning, Jana left his house feeling embarrassed – what she called the ‘asparagus walk of shame.’

She added, “I never heard from him again.”

Not all of these confessions are amusing.

In December, television writer Elisabeth Finch confessed that she had fabricated a story about having a rare bone cancer. She originally shared this false diagnosis with ELLE magazine eight years prior, and it even became the basis for a plotline on Grey’s Anatomy.

Elisabeth recently shared with The Ankler newsletter that a lie she told at age 34 was the biggest regret of her life. She explained that the lie grew over time and became a heavy burden. She also clarified that she has never been diagnosed with cancer.

Finch, who was temporarily removed from his role on the ABC medical show before ultimately quitting, admitted, “I messed up badly. It was completely unacceptable, and I take full responsibility.”

Beauty is pain, but Kim Kardashian might be able to stomach it.

The reality star told The New York Times she’d consider almost any procedure to look younger.

Honestly, I swear, she said she’d consider eating… well, let’s just say something really awful, if it meant looking younger! She literally said it! In June, she actually said she ‘just might’ do it. I nearly lost it! It’s just… she’s so dedicated to staying youthful, she’d go to any lengths. Any. Lengths. I’m telling you, she’s incredible!

Kim Kardashian told Allure in July 2022 that she was mostly kidding when she made the comment, but admitted it wasn’t a completely awful idea.

Kim admitted, after some thought, that she’d likely do almost anything for youth, saying she’d probably even eat something disgusting like feces if someone promised it would make her look younger, even if it meant doing so daily.

She wasn’t sure how much she could eat. “Perhaps just a small bite,” she said. “I don’t think I could manage a full bowl.”

Jelly Roll could’ve used some saving from himself.

During an April 2025 interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the singer of “Save Me” shared a particularly embarrassing story, and he didn’t hesitate to tell all the details.

“I pooped myself one time,” he admitted. “I did, I’m sorry.”

To be honest, Jelly Roll (whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord) didn’t intend to cause such serious harm.

He firmly believed it was just a harmless prank. “I sincerely apologize,” he said. “I saw the audience turn from supportive to completely against me.”

Read More

2026-04-09 16:48