Get the latest gossip

Jenna Ortega Was Safe From Set Misconduct as a Child Star Because Mom ‘Watched Over Me Like a Hawk,’ Says ‘Child Acting Is Strange’ and ‘There’s Times I Regret It’

Jenna Ortega did not experience harassment or abuse on sets as a child actor because her mom watched over her like a hawk.

Jenna Ortega got her start in Hollywood as a child actor at age 9 and quickly gained a following with roles on hit series like Disney Channel’s “Stuck in the Middle.” She recently told The New York Times that she never endured misconduct as a kid on sets because her mother “watched over me like a hawk.” Ortega did not watch this year’s buzzy documentary series “Quiet on Set,” which included several stories of misconduct and harassment behind the scenes of Nickelodeon shows, but her mother did and “she called me about it.” While Ortega was fortunate enough to be shielded from any harassment on sets, she did acknowledge to The Times that “child acting is strange” in general. It’s completely changed my way of thinking and going about life, and when I speak to other child actors, I can pick them out instantly because we all have that — it’s just very specific, like some secret little language or something that we all share.”

Get the Android app