Jenna Ortega drinks coffee exactly the way you’d imagine: black, no frills. Wrapped in a gray hotel robe, her hair tousled, she states firmly, “Just black coffee! I’ll have it as an espresso or an Americano; if the weather’s nice, maybe with ice. But always before brushing my teeth in the morning.”
Caffeine is essential. It’s an early morning in Westminster, London—eight hours ahead of her West Coast home—before a busy promotional tour for Netflix’s second season and Tim Burton’s Wednesday. On her five-city tour, Ortega’s makeup is in the hands of Melanie Inglessis, her hair by Cesar Deleon Ramirez, and one beauty secret ties it all together: Dior’s Rouge Dior On Stage lipstick, promising 24-hour wear.
As we settle into the hotel room for a breakfast of hummus, vegetable salad, and fruit, Ortega admits she’s “really not a morning person.” Outside, a sudden shout signals the passing of the British King’s Guard and their horses—a reminder that the day has only just begun.
Promotion for Wednesday is no easy task. At 22, Ortega handed over control of the interview’s ambiance to me, guiding the soundtrack. Pressure mounted—I needed to balance taste and coolness—but she laid down a strict rule: no pop music. Inspiration struck when I noticed my handbag, a relic from the now-defunct brand The Vampire’s Wife, founded by English goth icon Susie Cave. Music played: Nick Cave’s Into My Arms. Ortega smiled: “Susie is the real-life Morticia. I saw his concert earlier this year.”
Ortega’s first love for Tim Burton’s worlds came via Mars Attacks!—six years before she was born. In the hotel bathroom, preparing her makeup, she reminisced, “Sarah Jessica Parker on a chihuahua changed my life. It was the first film I truly remembered and thought, what kind of world is this?”
Her look for the day previewed one of Paris Fashion Week’s most anticipated Dior runway shows: a striped knit sweater paired with a white midi skirt, black bow-accented heels, and tiny lily-of-the-valley shells adorning the skirt—a nod to Monsieur Dior’s love of mysticism. Lips? Classic red, Dior Rouge Dior On Stage #550. “Red lips aren’t casual for me,” she admits. “Nude feels safe, consistent. Red is armor—a statement.”
Ortega twirled in her room, the skirt’s floral accents jingling lightly, honoring Dior’s tradition. “I don’t carry lucky charms,” she laughs, “but I have obsessive routines—seven years of counting, dressing in order, making sure socks match. Silly, yes, but comforting.”
A perfect weekend evening for her might begin with a long walk through a park or cemetery, a theater performance, and a nightcap with friends. Or, she confesses, a quiet night reading Peter Shaffer’s Equus, exploring the religious obsessions of a young boy with horses. “Reading scripts in downtime is relaxing,” she says.
When asked which roles influenced her aesthetic, Ortega explains: “While filming, I might adore a lip color—but after, it’s just the character’s look, not mine.” As our time concludes, she reflects: “I’m in a phase of exploration. I don’t want to be limited by anything. If I have the chance to act, why not?”
