Jenna Ortega Says Mom Watched ‘Like a Hawk’ to Keep Her Safe as a Child Actor

‘Child acting is strange. I see why my parents felt so hesitant about it because you’re putting a child in an adult workplace,’ Ortega said

Jenna Ortega attends the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 15, 2024. Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

As former child stars increasingly come forward to share their encounters with sexual misconduct in Hollywood, Jenna Ortega has reflected on her own experience entering the world of acting at a young age, underscoring the crucial role her mother played in keeping her safe while on set.

“She watched over me like a hawk,” the actress said in a recent interview with The New York Times, published Aug. 24.