Jenna Ortega has added another milestone to her fast-rising career.
The 23-year-old actor has officially been named to the jury of the 22nd Marrakech International Film Festival, marking what is widely considered her first time serving as a judge at a major festival.
The appointment reflects Ortega’s growing international influence. Born in California to Mexican and Puerto Rican parents, she has often spoken about how her heritage shapes both her identity and her ambitions in the industry.
The Wednesday famed star began acting at 9, persuading her mother to record her monologues and post them online — clips that ultimately helped her secure early representation and auditions in Los Angeles.
Her early work included roles in Rob, CSI: NY, Rake, Richie Rich, and a recurring part as young Jane in Jane the Virgin. Her breakthrough came with Disney Channel’s Stuck in the Middle, where she led the series as Harley Diaz.
The You alum then shifted into more mature and diverse roles, earning praise for the indie drama The Fallout and becoming a modern horror standout with Scream, Scream VI, and Ti West’s X.
Her global profile changed dramatically in 2022 with Netflix’s Wednesday. The show turned her into a cultural phenomenon, boosted by her viral dance sequence and a wave of critical recognition.
She went on to earn nominations from the Emmys, Golden Globes, and SAG Awards, becoming the youngest Latina nominated for Best Lead Actress in a comedy at the Emmys.
Ortega has continued expanding her filmography with Death of a Unicorn, Finestkind, Miller’s Girl, and Hurry Up Tomorrow, and reunited with Tim Burton for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
The second season of Wednesday, released this summer, became one of the year’s most talked-about series.