Jenna Ortega has a hunch that she auditioned for Denis Villeneuve's “Dune” six years ago. In an interview with Buzzfeed, the actress said she was excited to meet the director when the project was still in development.
“I think I auditioned for Dune when I was about 15,” the 21-year-old actor said when asked, “What role would people be surprised that you auditioned for?” “I remember being a huge fan of that movie and that series and everything like that and I was really excited about this interview because Dennis [Villeneuve] “He's one of my favorite filmmakers.”
Ortega also said she believed she was reading for the role of Chaney, which Zendaya played in the “Dune” films: “I think it was Chaney. I think it was Zendaya's role. But they didn't say that. It was all very secretive.”
Zendaya was reportedly cast in “Dune” in January 2019, meaning Villeneuve was likely meeting with actors, possibly including Ortega, in the months leading up to it. Zendaya, 27, is six years older than Ortega. Timothée Chalamet, who plays “Dune” star and Chaney’s love interest Paul Atreides, is 28.
The audition for “Dune” wasn’t Ortega’s first. The actress has been in the industry since she was a child. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Ortega said “there are times when I regret” becoming an actress at such a young age, but ultimately “it wouldn’t change anything.”
“My mom saw the way other kids might not be protected or cared for,” Ortega said, reflecting on her time working in production at a young age. “She watched me like a hawk, so I think she was more compassionate and wished she could somehow do something to help. She just called me to say she was so grateful that things were okay and that she was there to witness it all.”
Ortega is currently making the press rounds to promote her new film, “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” In Tim Burton’s sequel to the 1988 comedy, Ortega plays Astrid, the daughter of Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder). The upcoming film marks a reunion for Ortega and Burton, who previously worked together on the hit Netflix series “Wednesday.”
Beetlejuice is scheduled to hit theaters on September 6.
