Ortega's Iron Man 3 Pain: A Wheelchair Woes Tale

Jenna Ortega fondly recalled her first film role at age 9 in 2013's Iron Man 3. She had long desired to act and was thrilled when her mother finally allowed her to audition. The opportunity to be in a Marvel movie, especially one her brothers knew, was a significant event for her.

Ortega played the granddaughter of the vice president, a character whose presence signaled allegiance to the antagonists. Although her character was meant to have missing limbs, Ortega spent the entire day of filming seated in a wheelchair. This decision, driven by her excitement to embody the character, resulted in her leg falling asleep and experiencing a peculiar "television static" sensation.

Upon leaving the set, Ortega nearly fell due to the numbness in her leg. This discomfort, however, did not diminish her overall positive experience. She valued the opportunity to immerse herself in the role and create the memory. Her co-star Taika Waititi humorously suggested the role caused lasting physical damage, to which Ortega played along, stating her leg "has never been the same."