Jenna Ortega has faced various bouts of public scrutiny throughout her career, and she wants people to know that the public perception of her isn’t accurate.
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, the Wednesday actor told the outlet that she feels "misunderstood" and that she dislikes "assumptions."
"I think that's part of my struggle with that side of the job, because you feel incredibly misunderstood," she explained. "It's almost to a point where it feels like your name doesn't belong to you. I almost don't even resonate with it anymore."
She added: "I hate assumptions, and a big part of this job is that people are going to make assumptions about you."
Wednesday director Tim Burton, who joined Ortega for the interview, confessed that he "miss[es] the days of mystery … when you didn't know everything about actors."
"We know too much," Ortega responded. "And the people feel entitled to those bits and pieces of your life where if they were put under the same microscope, they wouldn't feel nearly as comfortable."
Still, Ortega shared that sometimes she can get away without being noticed in public.
"Sometimes you go out, and it's a mess," she said. "And other times, I could be walking for hours and no one gives a shit. If you really want to go unseen, you can do it." But also said she’s "always scared" when fans do end up recognizing her.
"Somebody shouting your name in public is insane," she said. "Sometimes I feel uncomfortable when it's grown men approaching me," adding that people sometimes say "vile things."
"Like, you don't stop for somebody because you're going to be late for something and they're calling you a 'cunt whore' in front of your mother," she said. "It's horrific."
Wednesday was recently renewed for Season 3, even before the arrival of the second season. Season 2 is slated to debut on Netflix in two parts on August 6 and September 3.
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