As her acting career grows, fans are curious to learn more about her family. She comes from a supportive family who has encouraged her acting ambitions from a young age. While Ortega likes to keep some details of her personal life private, she has shared that her parents and siblings are proud of her successful career in entertainment so far.
As Ortega takes on more high-profile roles, interest in her family background will likely continue. However, the rising star seems focused on choosing projects she finds compelling rather than seeking fame.
Who Is Jenna Ortega’s Mom, Natalie?
Outside of being Jenna’s mother, Natalie works as a nurse. On Instagram, her bio reads “Wife mama nana nurse,” highlighting her family and career.
Natalie often avoids the spotlight but has gained a large Instagram following thanks to her daughter’s acting success. She frequently posts photos of Jenna and her other children to over 121,000 followers. In one post, Natalie side-by-side picture photos of Jenna and her sister Mia, who also works in healthcare. She wrote, “I’m equally proud of both of them.”
In interviews, Jenna has said her parents aren’t interested in the entertainment industry but fully support her career.
She stated, “They sacrificed a lot so I could do what I do.” Jenna also shared that her grounded upbringing helps her stay humble, even when she works with high-profile people. According to the actress, her parents care more about responsibilities at home than her famous connections.
Who Is Jenna Oretega’s Dad, Edward?
While details about Jenna’s father, Edward Ortega, are scarce, some key facts are known. He is a businessman residing in La Quinta, California. Edward comes from a Mexican heritage and upholds his family’s Latin traditions. He holds an associate degree and ardently supports his daughter’s acting career.
Unlike Jenna’s mother, Natalie, Edward Ortega prefers to maintain his privacy. His Instagram account has remained private since 2022. While Edward shies away from the spotlight occupied by his famous daughter, he still plays a vital role in her success through his steadfast support and commitment to their family’s values. Ultimately, Edward remains a loving father figure and stabilizing force as Jenna navigates the exhilarating highs and challenges of the entertainment industry.
Jenna Ortega’s Family Raised Her in California’s Coachella Valley
Jenna Ortega’s parents, Edward and Natalie, made their home in California’s Coachella Valley. This region near Palm Springs has hosted the iconic Coachella music festival since 1999, three years before Jenna was born. She started attending the festival as a teenager with friends.
“Once in high school, going to Coachella is what all the ‘cool kids’ do,” Jenna told PEOPLE Magazine. “Weekend 2 draws more locals. I’ve seen incredible acts there I may not have otherwise, like Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg. With such diverse music, there’s always something new to love whenever we go. I don’t think I’ll ever get over the excitement.” For Jenna, the annual festival right in her backyard has created special memories and unique performance experiences.
Natalie Ortega Helped Launch Jenna’s Acting Career
According to Cosmopolitan, Jenna’s start in Hollywood stemmed from her mother Natalie’s parental pride. Natalie posted a video of Jenna on Facebook, which caught the eye of a family friend. This individual then connected Natalie with a casting agent, thus launching Jenna’s acting career. Through a simple, loving act of sharing her daughter’s talents online, Natalie inadvertently set in motion Jenna’s path to stardom. This serendipitous story illustrates how supportive family bonds can enable great success.
The Ortegas Instilled a Strong Work Ethic in Jenna
Jenna’s mother, Natalie, works as an emergency room nurse. Her father, Edward, is a businessman.
As Jenna told Jimmy Kimmel Live: “Four or five times a week, my mom was a full-time ER nurse, yet still drove me on the six or seven-hour roundtrip from L.A. for auditions…all while raising five other kids.” She added, “And my mom was one of the best nurses, too.”
Natalie demonstrated immense dedication, balancing her demanding nursing career with supporting Jenna’s budding acting ambitions. Even with a full household, she made tremendous efforts to nurture her daughter’s talents, exemplifying the encouragement that enabled Jenna to thrive.
Jenna’s Parents Support Her Career Without Spoiling Her
Jenna landed her first major acting role at age 12, playing young Gina Rodriguez in the 2014 series Jane the Virgin. As Jenna later shared at a press conference: “I have a very supportive family. They sacrificed a lot so I could pursue my career.”
She also remarked that her parents have “no interest whatsoever” in the entertainment industry itself. Jenna elaborated: “I could come home from work with cool, famous people I admire, and my parents wouldn’t care. They’d just say, ‘Hey, you didn’t do the dishes before you left, so you’re on dish duty all week!'”
Even as Jenna rubbed shoulders with celebrities, her family kept her grounded with their unwavering support and focus on real-life responsibilities. This foundation enabled her budding career while allowing Jenna to keep her perspective.
Jenna’s Parents Watched Her Host SNL in 2023
When Jenna Ortega hosted Saturday Night Live in March 2023, she gave a touching shout-out to her parents during her opening monologue. “As a child, I was too young to watch SNL, but I took a studio tour here with my mom and dad,” Jenna reminisced. “They said to me, ‘Wouldn’t it be incredible if you hosted the show someday?’ That seemed impossible then. Yet here I am tonight, living that dream – and my parents are right here in the audience.”
Jenna’s story illustrates how parents can envision bright futures for their children, even when they seem unlikely. With her family’s unwavering belief in her talents, Jenna has now achieved the extraordinary milestone of hosting the iconic SNL stage. By welcoming her parents to share this pinnacle experience, Jenna honors their vital role in nurturing her journey to success.
The Ortegas Value Their Mexican Heritage and Traditions
Jenna’s father, Edward, is Mexican American, while her mother, Natalie, has Puerto Rican and Mexican roots. In a PopSugar interview, young Jenna described their rich cultural traditions – hitting piñatas at birthdays and making tamales for Christmas. “My dad makes the best tacos and carne asada. And my mom cooks incredible homemade beans,” shared 13-year-old Jenna. “My siblings and I can’t get enough! It’s probably my favorite food.”
The Ortega kids were raised bilingual. As Jenna explained, “Since my dad only speaks English, learning Spanish was initially tough. But my mom is bilingual, thanks to her grandmother teaching her. The idea was for Mom to speak Spanish to us while Dad stuck to English so we’d absorb both languages.” Through Natalie and Edward’s blended background, Jenna gained fluency in her rich cultural heritage.
Jenna Travels the World with Her Parents
In February 2023, Jenna Ortega traveled to Paris with her mother, Natalie. The duo visited top attractions like the Louvre Museum. At the same time, Jenna sported a custom Paris Saint-Germain jersey to a soccer match. The following month, Natalie posted an Instagram photo with her son Markus in New York City.
The Ortega family shares a passion for travel. For Jenna’s 2019 birthday, Natalie posted a loving Instagram selfie of them aboard an airplane. Her caption read: “Happy Birthday Reeree! I love you so much and am so proud of you.” Even while jet-setting to exciting destinations, the Ortegas make family their top priority. Whether museum-hopping in Paris or snapping pics in the Big Apple, Natalie and Jenna’s adventures illustrate their close-knit bond.
The Ortegas Bond Over Family Soccer Games
When Jenna was talking to The Cut about her Adidas ambassadorship, she said, “It’s really, really exciting for me and my family as well. We were a really big soccer family, and we would have our little competitions on the weekend. And we always wore Adidas to practices.”
Natalie Publicly Shows Pride in Jenna’s Success
Edward’s Instagram account is private, but Natalie’s is public, and she has more than 122,000 followers. In February 2023, she posted a side-by-side photo of Jenna wearing a gown on a red carpet and Mia wearing scrubs.
“Two of my girls wearing very different outfits and doing very different things in life,” she captioned the photo. “Both came from me, and I raised both. I’m equally proud of both of them and love them very much❤️❤️ #proudmom.”
How Many Siblings Does Jenna Ortega Have?
While Jenna Ortega may be the most famous family member, she is not the only one. Over the years, Jenna’s parents have welcomed five other kids. These include Isaac (b. 1998), Mariah (b. 1999), Mia (b. 2000), and twins Markus and Aaliyah (b. 2004).
Jenna, born in 2002, is the middle child. In a 2016 interview, she revealed that being the middle child is not so bad. “There are misconceptions; it’s actually pretty cool,” she said. “Your older and younger siblings confide in you. If someone misses an event, it’s usually the middle child – which makes the parents feel guilty.”
“Middle children get away with more stuff,” she added.
