Four Years Ago, a New Horror Movie Confirmed Jenna Ortega Is a Modern Scream Queen

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Jenna Ortega started her acting career with small roles in shows like Days of Our Lives and CSI: NY, and films like Iron Man 3 and Insidious: Chapter 2 in the early 2010s. She gained more recognition in 2014 when she began playing a young Jane in Jane the Virgin, and also became known for her work with Disney on shows like Stuck in the Middle, Elena of Avalor, and Big City Greens. While still a teenager, she took on more mature roles, notably in You, which showcased her ability to handle intense and even scary material.

This is only the beginning of her success, as horror and thrillers remain her strongest suit, even though she’s started exploring other genres. Four years ago, her standout performance in Ti West’s X really established her as today’s leading scream queen, with Samara Weaving as her closest competitor.

Jenna Ortega’s Horror Career & How X Stood Out

Following her appearance in You in 2019, Jenna Ortega began landing more significant roles in popular projects. She notably starred in The Babysitter: Killer Queen as a key supporting character. While the sequel wasn’t as successful as the first film, it proved Ortega’s talent for horror (and marked the first of two collaborations with Weaving).

It took another two years for her to truly become a star in the horror genre. In January, she played Tara Carpenter in Scream, a supporting role that continued to build her reputation. Essentially, she played a similar part to Drew Barrymore in the first Scream movie. She then made a brief appearance in Studio 666 in February. However, it was her role in X that finally proved to audiences she was a natural when it came to scary movies.

I was absolutely blown away by X – it’s easily her best movie yet, and genuinely terrifying! Everyone immediately started calling it a modern horror classic, and honestly, they’re right. The role she plays is fantastic; she portrays this really shy woman who unexpectedly ends up in the adult film, not just working on it. Of course, being a horror movie, she pays a terrible price for that decision, and it’s heartbreaking to watch.

Following her work on X, Jenna Ortega proved she was ready to take on leading roles. She continued to star in horror projects, beginning with American Carnage in July – her first leading film role since The Fallout on HBO Max. Then, four months later, came her breakout role as Wednesday Addams in Wednesday. This cemented her status as the next generation’s Christina Ricci or Winona Ryder, and a favorite of director Tim Burton, a connection that became even clearer with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Ana Ortega is a truly talented and versatile performer who consistently challenges herself. She recently expanded her role behind the camera, serving as executive producer on Death of a Unicorn, and continued in that capacity for Hurry Up Tomorrow and the upcoming The Gallerist. This year, she’s branching out into science fiction with roles in J.J. Abrams’ The Great Beyond and Taika Waititi’s Klara and the Sun, but she’ll be returning to the horror genre soon with the third season of Wednesday.

What do you think – is X Ortega’s scariest movie? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-23 00:22