Jenna Ortega Reveals She 'Would Go All Day' Without Food or Water as a Child Star – and Why She Regrets It
Jenna Ortega has built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most grounded young stars – but her latest confession reveals just how high the price of that professionalism used to be.
In a candid interview with Esquire, the Wednesday star opened up about her early days as a child actor, admitting she would go entire days without food or water on set – not because she wasn’t offered any, but because she was terrified of being “in the way.”
It’s a startling admission that sheds light on the silent pressures child stars face, and one that Ortega now looks back on with a mixture of pride and regret.
‘I Was So Grateful I Didn’t Want to Be a Burden’
Ortega, now 23, got her start on the Disney Channel series Stuck in the Middle at just 13 years old. But even before that, she was a working child actor, appearing in shows like Richie Rich, Jane the Virgin, and You.
Looking back, she told Esquire: “I really had it going for me as a child ‘cause I can’t think of one mistake I made. Is that a terrible thing to say? I feel like I make mistakes now all the time, but as a child, I was so grateful and so excited to be there that my game face was on.”
That game face, however, came with a heavy cost.
“I wasn’t asking for a sip of water,” she recalled. “I would go all day without eating, drinking, whatever, because I wanted so badly to not be in the way of anybody.”
She paused, then added: “Maybe that was my mistake, was not actually looking after myself.”
A Survival Strategy Born from Fear
For many child actors, the set is both a dream and a battlefield. Ortega’s confession paints a picture of a young girl who internalised the fear of being perceived as difficult or demanding – a fear so powerful that she suppressed basic human needs.
It’s not hard to understand why. Child actors are often treated as both precious and expendable. They’re praised for being “mature for their age” and simultaneously expected to remain invisible unless the camera is rolling. Ortega’s instinct to stay out of the way wasn’t born from arrogance; it was born from a desperate need to belong and to keep working.
But looking back, she’s clear-eyed about the toll it took. That relentless drive, the refusal to ask for help – it may have made her a model employee, but it also left her neglecting the very basics of self-care.
The Root of It All: A 7-Year-Old’s Grudge
So where did that unshakeable work ethic come from? Ortega traced it all the way back to when she was just seven years old.
“I was 7 years old when I said I wanted to do this,” she said. “My parents laughed at me when I told them that I wanted to do it, and then that was kind of the root of everything. The motivation.”
That laughter – probably harmless, probably affectionate – became fuel. Ortega admits she’s “very stubborn,” and that stubbornness carried her through years of auditions, rejections, and gruelling shoots. “I never really stopped, because I’m very stubborn. And then I never questioned it.”
On Child Star Stigmas: ‘A Lot of Them Are True’
When the interviewer asked about the stigmas surrounding child stars, Ortega didn’t sugarcoat it. Her response was refreshingly blunt: “Is it wrong to say that a lot of them are true? And do with that what you will.”
It’s a rare moment of honesty from someone who’s been in the industry since childhood. Instead of defending the system or pretending everything was fine, Ortega acknowledged the uncomfortable reality: many child stars do struggle, and many of the stereotypes exist for a reason.
She didn’t dive into specific examples, but her earlier confession about going without food and water speaks volumes. It’s not about bad parents or malicious producers – it’s about a culture that unintentionally pressures young performers to sacrifice their wellbeing for the sake of professionalism.
What This Means for Young Actors Today
Ortega’s story isn’t just a trip down memory lane – it’s a cautionary tale for parents, agents, and young performers navigating the entertainment industry.
How many kids are still on set, afraid to ask for a glass of water? How many are internalising the message that their needs are secondary to the production? Ortega’s honesty shines a light on a problem that’s often invisible.
She’s not blaming anyone – not her parents, not the crew, not the directors. She’s simply saying: I was so focused on being perfect that I forgot to take care of myself. And that’s a lesson worth sharing.
A New Chapter
Today, Jenna Ortega is one of the biggest stars on the planet. Wednesday made her a global icon, and she’s navigated the transition from child actor to leading lady with remarkable grace. But she’s also spoken openly about setting boundaries, taking breaks, and prioritising her mental health.
In many ways, her Esquire interview feels like a closing of a circle. She’s no longer that 13-year-old girl on the Disney lot, starving herself to stay invisible. She’s a woman who knows her worth – and isn’t afraid to talk about how she learned it the hard way.
So next time you see a young actor on screen, remember: behind that polished performance might be a kid who’s afraid to ask for a sip of water. And maybe that’s something we all need to pay more attention to.
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