Jenna Ortega Reveals Her Favorite Musical.ly

Do you have maybe two or three other things about you that most people don't know?

Okay. I got it. Okay. So, one, I'm terrified of walking into elevators.

What's up, guys? I'm Molly Argiu and this is Young Hollywood. I am joined by Jenna Ortega.

Hey everyone.

I'm so excited to have you here. First you have to tell me because I'm and I'm sure you hear this all the time but you've accomplished so much already in your life. How did you come to acting and like, how did you know that was your dream and that was what you were going to pursue?

Well, when I was younger, I wanted to do everything. So, you know, once acting came up and I told my mom, oh, I want to be an actress. She said it was just kind of a phase because I've been going through a lot. Yeah. And, uh, I didn't let go of it. When I was six, I said I wanted to be an actress but when I was eight, I was still saying I wanted to be an actress. My mom's like, um, okay, here's a monologue book like knock yourself out. Go for it. And, uh, we were driving to my brother's baseball game and I opened up my book and when we got out the car, I started crying. My mom was like, Jenna, are you okay? Like what's going on? And I went into my dramatic monologue that I had memorized on the car ride over there. So, she's like, all right, all right. We got to get you somewhere. Like let's figure something out. So, she posted a video on Facebook just like this a little joke. Like, oh, my little drama queen. And a casting director saw it.

And then from that first video, from that first monologue.

Yep. And then they got me a meeting with an agency and I started.

Wow. That's the story where you hear it and you're like, it's just meant to be. Social media. It's crazy what it does nowadays.

Yeah.

Oh, that's so exciting. Well, it seems like you're on the right path and you started so early. What so far has been like your favorite role or your favorite experience or your favorite moment?

I think stuck in the middle was one of them though. Yeah. Just because that's what I told my parents when I was younger. Like, oh, I want to be on a Disney Channel show. Yeah. All right. Well, you're going to have to work for it and everything. And I was crying when I got to do it because I was like, oh, my gosh. This is happening. And while my co-stars were doing it, I'm on the sidelines. Like, yes. I can get your life. Like, yeah, I'm so excited.

Wow. I bet that's a really surreal feeling.

It was.

Oh, so exciting for you. And speaking of stuck in the middle for those that may not love being the middle child, do you have any advice? And what do you think is the coolest thing about being a middle child?

Well, for advice, I think a lot of people feel like they're overlooked. And even though it may feel like that sometimes and things may get a little chaotic, just remember all the special moments you have with your siblings because, you know, you see it in TV shows and it's like, oh, they're having a heartwarming moment. Like, all I remember is arguing with my siblings but it's like sometimes you just got to sit down and take a moment and realize like, wow, we do really do care about each other like that. Another cool part about it is you could hang out with the older kids and the younger kids.

There you go. Oh.

Depending on your mood. Yeah. If you want to be like super serious and mature, you can hang out with the older kids. If you want to go.

Conversations.

Way, yeah.

That's nice. That's a good way to look at it. I love that.

Yeah. Super cool.

And you were talking earlier about social media, saying, you know, you got to do it and how crazy it is. Also how important it is.

Yeah.

I know you are a whiz on live. Of course. And musically. What are your favorite things about having these apps and using these apps?

I think my favorite part about having the apps and the main reason why I have them is because I can connect with my fans. You know, stuck in the middle is worldwide now, you know, it's like in all these different countries and, you know, I don't get to meet everyone and say hi to everyone and talk with everyone. So, it's like if I turn on live or musically and I say, hey, comment something about yourself. Then I can learn about my fans. Like, you know, I can live stream with them and talk to them and get to know them because I think a lot of people look at me like, oh, my gosh. She's an actress but, you know, some people think, oh, she may think she's all that or whatever. But I'm still me. I just have a different hobby.

Yeah. Exactly. And like you were saying, then you come home and do the dishes. So, you can be on social media and being like, hey, guys. Doing the dishes. What's new? And then you're all work.

Yeah. See?

That's awesome. That's so cool.

Yeah. I love it.

And actually, I was wondering, do you have a favorite musically that's like your all-time favorite that you've ever done?

That I've ever done whenever I do musicallys, each one takes me like 30 minutes just because I have to make sure everything's right. Like, I'll do five of them and they'll all be like pretty good and I'll be like, no. No. do it. No, no, no. This This is my favorite one. Just wait for it to load. Oh, I love the face right here. See my mama trying to make me eat this broccoli. I'm just a kid. I don't want to eat no broccoli. Get that thing out because it tastes nasty. I don't want this broccoli so I ain't going to eat. I was so happy because my like mouthing and everything was perfect. Like, yes.

Oh, and speaking of cool moments, you are soon hosting the Radio Disney Music Awards.

Mhm.

Are you so pumped?

I am so pumped. Mainly because last year was my first year going and I had been watching it since it came out, you know, with my family. Right. So, it's like the fact that it's my second year going and now I'm hosting. That's like That's amazing to me. Like That's huge. I'm so proud to be able to say that. Like, yeah, I'm one of the five hosts for RDMAs.

Well, you're used to being on stage. I I know you did the performance with the rockettes.

Yes. I actually have the little pin right here.

Oh, look at this. How cute is that?

Mhm.

Oh, that's awesome. Do all these pins mean something different? Or do you collect them? Or Do they come with the jacket?

Because that one didn't come with the jacket. No, I just kind of collect them wherever I go. It's kind of cool. I have some from New York. That's why I got the Rockettes one. I love New York. The taxi cab. So cool. Yeah. Just different places that I've been.

I love it. Well, aside from collecting pins, do you have maybe two or three other things about you that most people don't know?

Okay. I got it. Okay. So, one, I'm terrified of walking into elevators. It is terrible. Like So, I had this experience where the doors like closed on me like they were mini doors. They weren't like the actual big doors but ever since then, I'm so scared because when I was younger, I'd walk through elevators no problem. Like the doors never closed on me. It was just kind of my thing. People are like, oh, my gosh. Like the doors never bounce back when you walk through it. And then you had a bad experience. Just one bad experience in New York, which is my favorite place to be. And now, it's like I run through. And it's like I kind of like hug whoever's going in front of me so that it doesn't close on me. I'm like, yeah, yeah. Sorry. I'm just going to like come in quick or whatever. I hate walking into elevator doors. And then also I was a cheerleader for two years.

Okay. When I was younger. I heard you saying earlier, if you weren't acting you might want to be a cheerleader so. So, you have a few moves down.

Yeah, I do. My favorite part was doing the stunt just because they threw me up into the air. And I was a flyer because I was always the smallest one on the team. So That was cool.