Jenna Ortega Speaks Out: The Hidden Cost of the Schoolgirl Costume and Public Perception

In an era where celebrity culture often glamorizes fame and youthful aesthetics, actress Jenna Ortega is pulling back the curtain to reveal the less glamorous reality behind the image. The 22-year-old actress, best known for her role as Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s record-breaking series Wednesday, has spoken candidly about the emotional and psychological toll of being locked into a schoolgirl persona — a role that, while skyrocketing her to global stardom, has also come with heavy personal consequences.

In recent interviews, Ortega has been vocal about the discomfort she has felt being pigeonholed by her appearance and character wardrobe — particularly the classic schoolgirl uniform associated with her character. While the look has become iconic in pop culture, for Ortega, it also symbolized a trap that left her feeling infantilized, misunderstood, and emotionally stifled.

“It’s Not Just a Costume — It’s a Cage”

“I don’t think people understand how much pressure comes with playing a character who looks 16 when you’re well into your twenties,” Ortega said during a candid conversation with Harper’s Bazaar. “The schoolgirl costume isn’t just a wardrobe choice — it reinforces this idea of who I’m supposed to be, and that’s really limiting.”

Ortega described how wearing the costume day after day began to impact her off-screen identity. “I’d go out and people would assume I was younger, more naive — less capable. People talked to me like I was still in high school. It’s demeaning.”

Her comments reflect a broader conversation about how Hollywood costumes and character roles often bleed into the identities of actors — especially women — shaping how they’re perceived both by audiences and industry professionals.

Hollywood’s Obsession with Youth

The schoolgirl archetype — from Britney Spears’ iconic “…Baby One More Time” outfit to countless high school TV dramas — has long served as a symbol of youthful femininity in Western media. But for many actresses, it also represents a double-edged sword. Youth is marketable, yet too much of it, especially when portrayed by adult women, invites infantilization.

“Even when I speak about things I care about — politics, my culture, mental health — I feel like it’s filtered through this ‘young girl’ lens,” Ortega said. “Like my words aren’t quite as valid.”

She also revealed that during press tours and industry meetings, she often found herself being spoken over or underestimated, a situation she links directly to her on-screen image. “It’s like I’m living in costume 24/7. And the costume is telling people who I am before I even speak.”

The Psychological Toll of Fame

Ortega’s honesty has sparked widespread conversation, particularly among other young actors who feel similarly trapped by the characters that made them famous. The transition from teen stardom to adult respectability has historically been challenging, with many actors — from Selena Gomez to Lindsay Lohan — struggling to break free from early roles that defined their public image.

For Ortega, the challenge was compounded by the speed at which fame came. The success of Wednesday was meteoric, making her a global fashion icon, a TikTok trendsetter, and a media darling. Yet beneath the surface, she was struggling.

“I didn’t feel like myself for a long time. I was overwhelmed. Everyone wanted Wednesday, not Jenna. I started to feel like I was just disappearing.”

In a rare moment of vulnerability, Ortega admitted that the weight of global recognition affected her mental health. “There was a point after the first season where I just felt… numb. Like, emotionally vacant. It’s scary to not recognize yourself in the mirror — to see a character more than a person.”

Taking Back the Narrative

Rather than retreat, Ortega is using her platform to challenge these perceptions and demand more creative control. For the second season of Wednesday, she was given producer credit — a rare opportunity for someone so young — and she didn’t take it lightly.

“I made it clear that I wanted to be involved in every creative decision,” she explained. “That included how Wednesday dresses, how she speaks, and how much of her is allowed to evolve. Characters should grow, and so should actors.”

Part of this shift has included Ortega embracing a new sense of style and voice. Off-screen, her fashion has leaned increasingly toward androgynous, monochromatic tones — a reflection not just of Wednesday’s gothic influence, but also of Ortega’s desire to shed the “cute schoolgirl” image.

“I’m dressing for myself now, not for the role people expect me to play,” she said. “I think a lot of women reach this point, where we just want to be seen as complex — not just beautiful, or sweet, or young.”

A Role Model for a New Generation

Despite backlash from some media outlets and social media commentators who labeled her ungrateful for her complaints, Ortega remains firm in her convictions. She sees this transparency not as rebellion, but as responsibility.

“I have so many young fans who look up to me. I don’t want them to think they have to stay in the boxes people put them in — whether that’s because of age, gender, race, or style. You’re allowed to outgrow your costume.”

By speaking out, Jenna Ortega is challenging not just Hollywood norms but societal ones. Her story is a reminder that behind every carefully curated character lies a real person — one who deserves to be seen, heard, and respected beyond the uniform they wear.