Jenna Ortega channels her horror roots in SNL’s Exorcist sketch

Jenna Ortega SNL Exorcist

Jenna Ortega, the 20-year-old star of “Wednesday,” hosted Saturday’s (11 March) episode of Saturday Night Live and was featured in a sketch parodying the horror film “The Exorcist.”

Ortega plays a possessed daughter who a priest visits, but the exorcism is soon joined by a neighbor, Mrs. Shaw, played by Ego Nwodim. Despite Ortega’s character’s attempts to scare her, Mrs. Shaw remains unfazed and even encourages her to “use your words.”

When Ortega starts levitating, Mrs. Shaw asks where she is going. Ortega’s character then insults her but struggles to come up with anything beyond calling her “ugly.” Nwodim’s response is to tell her to “sit as* down” as her bed returns to its average level. Viewers praised Ortega for her performance, noting that she never broke character and could play every role perfectly.

During her appearance on SNL, Ortega displayed her range as an actor, demonstrating impressive comedic timing in the “Exorcist” sketch. She held her own alongside established comedians like Ego Nwodim and received praise from viewers for her professionalism on set. With her diverse portfolio and talent, it will be exciting to see what projects Ortega takes on next as she continues to make her mark in the entertainment industry.

Jenna Ortega is currently starring in “Scream VI,” and has previously appeared in horror flicks “Scream” and “X.” In a recent interview, Ortega shared that while working on “Wednesday,” she had to stand her ground and request changes to the script, which she felt were necessary to bring the show’s darker tone to life. Despite this, Ortega has received acclaim for her performance on the show and proved her comedic abilities on “Saturday Night Live.”