What defines a legendary scream queen? If we take our cues from reigning royalty like Jamie Lee Curtis and Neve Campbell, one thing’s clear: it’s not about being virginal or helpless. That idea was obliterated in 1996 when Scream’s Sidney Prescott survived Ghostface and flipped the final girl trope on its head — not to mention the killer. Literally.
A true scream queen survives. She adapts. She fights back — in multiple films or across an impressive horror résumé. And by that definition, Scream 5‘s Jenna Ortega is already carving her place in the genre’s bloody legacy.
From Insidious to You
Ortega’s horror roots go deep. Her very first appearance in the genre was a small role in Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013). But things got more interesting in season 2 of You, where she played the whip-smart and emotionally layered neighbor Ellie Alves, locked in a toxic relationship with her sister and dangerously close to another serial killer.
“One of the first questions my agent asked when I signed with her was what genre I was interested in.. I told her all of them! But that horror would be a really fun one. I’ve been so fortunate to be welcomed onto projects recently that fulfill that desire. It’s so scarce that you find a career that you love so early on in life, and right now I truly love what I do. “
“It’s just so amazing to me.”
And then came the call from Woodsboro.
Landing the role of Tara Carpenter in Scream 5 not only put Ortega in the same frame as Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, and David Arquette — it positioned her as a potential torchbearer for the next generation of scream queens.
“It’s crazy! It’s weird too, because when I first started, I said I always wanted to do horror, so this is a huge dream come true. I don’t even think there are words in the English language to correctly express how happy, excited and nervous I am for this journey.”
It’s All Love — and Drew Barrymore
Yesterday, Ortega was interviewed by none other than Scream legend Drew Barrymore as part of the press tour for her new book It’s All Love. The interview was heartfelt, honest, and captivating — a generational handoff from one scream queen to another.
What’s Next?
Ortega is set to star in Ti West’s upcoming horror film X, alongside Scott Mescudi (Kid Cudi) and Mia Goth — two more names familiar to genre fans.
From Netflix thrillers to slashers and stylish A24 horror, Jenna Ortega’s journey is only getting bloodier — and better.
Sources: ET Online, Refinery29 and Hispanically Yours.
