Jenna Ortega would prefer Wednesday not be as big a hit

Jenna Ortega is keeping it real regarding her new show Wednesday. After talking about the issues she had with the writing, she revealed to The Times U.K. that she actually turned down not one but multiple offers for the role that has made her something of a household name.

“I got the email, passed on it,” Ortega shared. “I had done so much TV in my life. All I’ve ever wanted to do is film…You have to prove yourself. It’s only in the last three or four years that I’ve been able to start going up for film. I was scared that by signing on to another television show it could prevent me from doing other jobs I really wanted and cared about.”

Ortega eventually decided to give in and take the role because of director Tim Burton. “The only reason I went back is because Tim is such a legend, and we just happened to get along very well,” Ortega said. “But even then I said, ‘Ah, no — I think I’m OK,’ a couple [more] times.”

Jenna Ortega rejected Wednesday multiple times before finally saying yes

Why so much resistance? Aside from her desire to do films, Jenna Ortega didn’t anticipate that Wednesday would do as well as it did, and certainly not that it would become one of Netflix’s most-watched shows! As she put it, she thought it “will be a nice little gem that someone finds, but [most people don’t].”

During the Times interview, Ortega was asked if she would have preferred the show not to be the massive hit it became. Her response? “Yeah.” Being in the Hollywood limelight from a young age is no easy thing, and Ortega doesn’t necessarily enjoy all the attention.

“I used to do a Disney show when I was younger,” Ortega said. “I was a little bit of a public figure, used to get recognized, or whatever. When I look back, I think I was so out of place. I didn’t understand where I was, and you start to see Hollywood for the first time and it’s a bit intimidating, a bit off-putting. I felt like I was a people’s princess. I didn’t really feel like myself. Then it started to slow down and I lived a pretty normal life….Until ‘Wednesday,’ until now, I think.”

Well, Jenna Ortega, your career may not have gone exactly as you intended, but we’re glad it worked out this way, and very excited for the next installment of the show!

But until then, you can check out Ortega in the sixth Scream movie, which is in theaters now!

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h/t Variety