Jenna Ortega revealed that the prospect of exploring something new and different after Wednesday piqued her interest in Klara and the Sun. Ortega began her career as a child actor and has appeared in several television shows, including Jane the Virgin and You. However, she rose to global fame with her role in Tim Burton’s Netflix hit series Wednesday.

And the success of Wednesday also opened up several new opportunities for the actress. But as Ortega explained her decision to take on a project based on Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, it is quite clear that she was looking to explore a new direction in her career. 

In a recent interview on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Jenna Ortega was asked about her decision to star in the dystopian sci-fi film, Klara and the Sun. The actress expressed gratitude for the opportunities and offers she received following the success of Wednesday.

However, she revealed that many of those projects revolved around teenage characters, which she has portrayed in several films and television shows. This led her to choose Klara and the Sun, which offered her an opportunity to explore a different kind of character and challenge herself as an actress.

“Lot of what's had come my way was just a lot of nasty teenager,” she said.

“They told me about Klara and the Sun. I didn't know what that was. Said it was based off a book. They said it was based off an Ishiguro book. I went, "Oh, okay.” the actress further added. 

Ortega also mentioned in the interview that she was quickly reminded of the films The Remains of the Day and Never Let Me Go, both of which were adapted from novels by British author Kazuo Ishiguro. She praised his writing, explaining how he often builds simple stories that carry deep and thought-provoking meaning. The actress further revealed that her interest in the film grew after speaking with director Taika Waititi, whom she recalled as being very enthusiastic about the project.

Ortega added that while she felt Waititi’s storytelling approach differed from that of the original book, she believed these contrasts could make the film even more interesting. She described the project as an intriguing opportunity to explore a different dynamic, moving beyond the teenage roles she has played so far. 

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Now, the actress may also be preparing for an even bigger shift in her career. She has hinted at taking a break from television.

In an interview on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, Jenna Ortega spoke about her future career plans. She explained that she intends to take a break from television series and focus on exploring different film roles. This shift could come after the conclusion of Netflix’s popular series Wednesday.

"I think after Wednesday, I’ll probably be off the TV for a while," Ortega confessed during the Oct. 22 episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast. "You know I had many years doing [TV]. I was bouncing from show to show as a kid and I want to leave time for new things."

Although production on the third season of Wednesday has wrapped, there has been no update on the show’s fourth season. So, it remains unclear when the actress might take a break. However, as Ortega hinted, she plans to take on some new and challenging roles before stepping back into the television world again.

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What do you think about Jenna Ortega's decision to pick Klara and the Sun? Let us know in the comments.