Breaking News: Jenna Ortega speaks out against child labour in Hollywood…see more

Jenna Ortega, now 21, reflects on her experience as a child actor and expresses concerns about the impact of Hollywood on young performers.

“Children aren’t supposed to be working like that,” she told The New York Times. “They are supposed to be climbing trees and drawing and going to school.”

The Wednesday star credits her parents for prioritising her education and well-being, saying, “Some of those kids’ parents don’t even take school seriously, so I feel really, really fortunate to have had parents who made sure that I hung out with friends, made sure that I went to public school and wouldn’t allow me to work on a job unless I had straight A’s and was prioritising my sleep and my schoolwork.”

The You alum’s acting career took off at age 9, thanks to her parents’ backing.

She quickly landed her first sitcom role in 2012, followed by notable appearances as Young Jane in Jane the Virgin and a starring role in Disney’s Stuck in the Middle, paving the way for her upcoming lead in Beetlejuice.