Jenna Ortega may now be one of Hollywood's most in-demand actresses, but her first experience in a major blockbuster was far from glamorous. In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Ortega revealed that she had a small role in Iron Man 3 (2013), but Marvel Studios ultimately cut all of her lines and left her largely unrecognized.
"I did it once," Ortega said when the interviewer suggested that she should join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. "It was one of the first jobs I ever did. They took all my lines out. I’m in Iron Man 3 for a quick second. I take up the frame, I have one leg, and I’m the vice president’s daughter."
Sitting beside her was Ant-Man star Paul Rudd, who, as a Marvel veteran, quickly chimed in with some optimism. "Marvel is very good at like, kind of laying those bread crumbs," Rudd noted. "And so it might very well be that you come back. That they are going to create something for you, because they should be so lucky to have Jenna Ortega in their franchise."
However, despite Rudd's enthusiasm, Ortega seemed doubtful about a return to the MCU. "They even took my name away," she added with a laugh. "I count that, then I move on."
While Iron Man 3 may not have given Ortega the breakout moment she hoped for, the film itself was a massive success. Directed by Shane Black and starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Ben Kingsley, and Don Cheadle, the movie grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide. It became one of the highest-grossing films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe at the time and holds a solid 79% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Ortega's career, of course, didn’t stop there. Since her brief Marvel stint, she has risen to stardom with standout performances in Wednesday, X, and You. Despite her role in Iron Man 3 being nearly invisible, Ortega has become a household name — one that Marvel may one day regret letting slip away.
