Jenna Ortega Reveals the Role She’s Most Proud of So Far
Jenna Ortega once opened up about what she considers the proudest moment of her career so far. Despite her recent work in high-profile projects, including some of 2022’s most talked-about horror shows, Ortega said her 2021 film The Fallout holds a special place for her.
Directed by Megan Park, the film follows Ortega’s character, a high school student trying to cope with trauma after a school shooting.
“It’s a really important one for me. I haven’t seen the film, actually, but it really meant a lot to me. It was the first time I was leading a film, and it’s about a very timely matter – it’s a really sensitive topic, and I wanted to do it justice. You never really know with something like that, because it’s not necessarily your story to tell,” Ortega told the podcast.
She described the experience of making the movie as one of the best she’s had as an actor. “One of the greatest actor-director experiences that I’ve ever had. Megan Park let me do whatever, and a lot of the film was improvised, which was really, really encouraging and interesting for me,” she said.
Ortega also formed a close friendship with co-star Maddie Ziegler. “I remember us both going into it nervous, and I feel like we came out of the film […] much stronger and much closer,” she added. Ortega also shared her admiration for her character: “I miss that character. I think she’s something that I try to carry with me as much as possible. I wish I was a little bit more like her at times.”
The Fallout premiered at South by Southwest on March 17, 2021, and was later released on HBO Max on January 27, 2022, through New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures. The film stars Ortega as Vada Cavell and features Maddie Ziegler, Julie Bowen, John Ortiz, Niles Fitch, Will Ropp, and Shailene Woodley. The score was composed by Finneas O’Connell.
Critics widely praised both Ortega’s performance and Megan Park’s direction. On Rotten Tomatoes, 91% of 70 critics gave positive reviews, with an average score of 7.9/10. The site’s consensus reads: “Empathetic and well-acted, The Fallout uses the aftermath of trauma to grapple with the experience of grief.”
Metacritic gave it a weighted score of 84 out of 100. Kate Erbland of IndieWire said the film handles “real emotional stakes in the gloss of social media, unearthing something powerful in the process,” while Amanda Sink from The Hollywood Outsider called it “a remarkable film that explores the ramifications of tragedy on our kids and how the human conditional response is not a one-size-fits-all.”
Ortega’s work in the film has been cited as her breakout performance. Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter called it “sensitive and piercing” and praised Ortega’s nuanced performance, while Peter Debruge of Variety described it as a “stellar debut” for Park and noted that Ortega “seems to have found her voice.”
CinemaBlend highlighted the chemistry between Ortega and Ziegler, writing that the “two girls at the center of it all also look phenomenal, as a true bond can be sensed in the process of bringing this story to life.”
Ortega’s reflections show just how much the film meant to her both professionally and personally. The Fallout not only allowed her to lead a movie on a challenging topic but also helped her grow as an actor and form lasting friendships.
What do you think about Jenna Ortega’s choice of The Fallout as her proudest moment? Share your thoughts in the comments.
