This Latina Disney Star Is All Grown Up And Plays A Major Role In ‘You’—Can You Guess Where Else You Might’ve Spotted Her?
The second season of you came out just a few weeks ago, and people can’t get enough of the creepy psychological drama. The new season features a mostly new cast, as the homicidal leading man Joe moves to Los Angeles for a fresh start to unleash his cycle of obsession and murder on a new group of people. One of the new main characters is Ellie, played by former Disney star Jenna Ortega —and although the teenager is only 17 years of age, she’s landed some major roles.
In the new series, Joe (played by Penn Badgley) tries to turn his life around by moving to Los Angeles.
There, he becomes close to the Quinn family and the Alves family —and things take a dark turn for Joe’s neighbors Delilah and Ellie Alvez —who is played by Jenna.
Ortega is Ellie, a teenager who grew up fast in the big city.
Ellie likes to act and appear older than her years. Secretly living with minimal supervision or nurturing in her life, she must take care of herself and isn’t afraid to get into murky waters to make a little cash. This includes working cons on the adults around her, including Joe Goldberg.
Joe and Ellie’s older sister Delilah become friends and Joe starts to feel very protective over Ellie.
When things take a turn for the worst, Joe looks after Ellie, who’s left orphaned with Child Protection Services close behind her. Seeing his younger self in Ellie, Joe helps her escape and promises to protect her.
This Latina rising star has been working since a young age.
Although Jenna Ortega is only 17, she’s been acting since she was 9, with plenty of guest spots on TV and, eventually, some major roles. Maybe you recognize her as the young Jane from Jane the Virgin, or you might recognize her voice from one of Disney’s most popular current animated shows. Keep reading to see all of Ortega’s major roles to date.
Jane the Virgin
Jenna Ortega’s breakout role was her five-season recurring role as the young version of Jane Villanueva on CW’s beloved comedy Jane the Virgin. She played Jane in flashbacks throughout all five seasons of the show.
Richie Rich
You isn’t Jenna Ortega’s first major role on a Netflix show. Back in 2015, she was one of the main characters on the reboot of Richie Rich, playing Richie’s luxury-loving best friend Darcy. The show wasn’t successful and ended after just one season.
Stuck in the Middle
Jenna Ortega landed her first full-fledged leading role on the Disney Channel sitcom Stuck in the Middle, where she played Harley Diaz, the middle child of seven siblings. The show ran from 2016 to 2018, earning Ortega three Imagen Award nominations, one of which she won.
Elena of Avalor
Beginning in 2016 and continuing to the present day, Jenna Ortega has voiced the character of Princess Isabel on the Disney animated series Elena of Avalor. She plays the clever younger sister of the teenage princess Elena, Disney’s first Latina princesses.
Saving Flora
The little-seen drama Saving Flora features Jenna Ortega as the teenage daughter of a circus owner who rescues an aging elephant from being euthanized. The two run away into the forest, where they encounter dangers on their way to an elephant preserve.
‘You’ is just the latest major role for Ortega, and there are more on the horizon
She’s signed on for another go-round with Netflix, this time in the upcoming horror comedy The Babysitter 2. After that, she’s set to appear in the family comedy Yes Day, co-starring with Jennifer Garner and Édgar Ramírez.
