Jenna Ortega Reveals She Wasn’t a Fan of Beetlejuice as a Kid: ‘Excitement is the Same as Fear’

As I reflect on the journey of Jenna Ortega, I find myself deeply inspired by her transformation from a frightened child to a fearless actress tackling the horror genre with grace and finesse. Her story is a testament to the power of personal growth, resilience, and the conquest of fears.


Jenna Ortega, the gifted actress eager to take on the role in the upcoming Beetlejuice sequel, recently disclosed some intriguing facts. On the Today show on August 19th, Ortega admitted that she wasn’t initially a fan of horror movies despite her current fame for portraying characters in darker productions.

Currently, Ortega is 21 years old, however, when she was young, numerous things would cause her to feel fearful, with one example being the original Beetlejuice movie. Despite this film becoming an icon, it still terrified Ortega. In an interview with Hoda Kotb, she admitted, “I was scared of everything.” She had a complex reaction towards Gremlins; she found them fascinating but also disliked them due to their scary nature.

As she grew older, she learned a unique way to cope with fear. She realized that sometimes what we feel as fear is actually excitement. Now when she’s scared, she convinces herself that it’s just excitement instead. This shift in perspective has helped her manage her fears, turning potentially negative experiences into something positive.

Unexpectedly, Ortega found herself venturing into the realm of horror with her portrayal of Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s popular series Wednesday. This character required her to be subdued and mysterious, a stark contrast from her previous roles as a child. Reflecting on her career evolution, she jokingly mentioned that it was amusing to her family how she had become recognized for her deadpan demeanor now.

Initially, Ortega held reservations about the Beetlejuice franchise, but when she received an acting offer for the movie, her perspective changed. The upcoming sequel to the 1988 classic is set for release on September 6th, 2024. Receiving the script from Tim Burton sparked a mix of apprehension and excitement within Ortega. She stopped her car along the roadside so she could read it right away. “I told my team within two hours, ‘I can’t reveal what this is about, but I’ve got another project with Tim [Burton],'” she shared.

As a lifestyle expert, I can confidently say that I leaped at the opportunity to be involved with this film after delving into its script, which underscored my own personal advancement beyond the apprehensions of my youthful years. I am brimming with eagerness to collaborate once more with Michael Keaton, reprising his iconic role as Beetlejuice, and alongside other esteemed returning cast members such as Winona Ryder. The addition of new talents like Monica Bellucci and Willem Dafoe only serves to amplify my anticipation. Sharing the screen with this extraordinary ensemble, including the opportunity to witness Keaton’s legendary portrayal in person, is a dream come true for me. I can hardly contain my excitement at joining such an illustrious cast!

The upcoming film “Beetlejuice,” set to debut at the Venice Film Festival later this month, is generating plenty of excitement. Longtime fans of the original movie are eager to see how the fresh sequel resurrects beloved characters and introduces new ones.

As a lifestyle aficionado, I must express my enthusiasm not only for the upcoming movie but also for the heartfelt compliments Catherine O’Hara has bestowed upon our young star, Ortega. She affectionately referred to Ortega as a ‘cool young woman’, and she confidently stated that both iterations of Beetlejuice have been an absolute delight to be part of – truly fun movies indeed!

It’s fascinating to learn about Jenna Ortega’s transformation from a fearful child into a courageous actress taking on leading roles in horror films – it’s truly an inspiring tale of personal development and overcoming fears. As her latest movie, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, gears up for release, it’s worth mentioning that her journey can inspire us about the power of confronting our fears and finding unexpected benefits along the way.

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2024-08-20 07:07