Jenna Ortega explained why she was ‘eager’ to do film featuring x-rated scenes with 37-year-old when she was only 19

Jenna Ortega has discussed how she was 'really eager' to create the 2022 horror movie which features a sex scene between her and Kid Cudi.

Having already appeared in successful titles including Wednesday and Scream, and more recently making headlines for a saucy new scene with Martin Freeman, it's easy to forget Jenna Ortega is only 21 years old.

Ortega earned her first acting credit in 2012 and appeared in a number of TV series before landing a role in 2013's Insidious: Chapter 2, but after a few years in the industry, the actor wanted to do work on something a bit different.

In 2022, she starred alongside Brittany Snow, Mia Goth and Kid Cudi in the horror movie X.

While Ortega is no stranger to horror movies, this one took things to a more explicit level as it tells the story of a group of young filmmakers who plan to make an adult film in rural Texas, only to find themselves fighting for their lives when they're caught creating their saucy scenes.

Ortega, who was only 19 at the time, plays a more reserved character named Lorraine in the movie, and initially her character worked behind the scenes of the porn production.

Little Lamb/Mad Solar Productions

However, as the movie goes on, her character becomes more intrigued by the concept and decides to join in with its creation, leading to a sex scene between Ortega and Cudi, who was 37 years old at the time.

In an interview with Indie Wire, Ortega explained why she decided to take on X after reading the script written by Ti West.

“I had never read anything like it before, and that was super-enticing to me,” Ortega explained. “I love that my character comes off one way initially, and then flips the script mid-film."

The actor said she 'had a lot of faith' in everyone involved in the project, as well as in the script itself.

This all contributed to her enthusiasm for the role, as she explained: "I was really eager to do something that I had never done before and put myself in an environment that was so different from anything I’ve ever filmed.”

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While the script hooked Ortega from the start, she revealed that much like her character in the movie, she hadn't initially expected to film any explicit scenes.

However, as production got underway, a decision was made to get her character involved.

“That wasn’t a conscious decision. The scene actually wasn’t initially in the script,” Ortega explained.

“When I signed on, that wasn’t a part [of the film]. It was something that came later on. … [It was] flipping the stereotype over and just taking somebody who you wouldn’t really see in that position suddenly in that position."

Though the scene between herself and Cudi was a late addition, Ortega made clear that it didn't put her off filming.

"I think it adds to the spontaneity of the decision and also just the spontaneity of the film," she said.

• People can't believe Jenna Ortega's age when she filmed x-rated scenes with 37-year-old Kid Cudi
• Aubrey Plaza revealed why filming X-rated film with real sex scene was a 'nightmare'
• Winona Ryder reveals the horrifying 6-word statement a director said to her after he was ‘being inappropriate’
• Jenna Ortega finally comments on 'f***ed up' x-rated scene with Martin Freeman that left viewers disturbed