Jenna Ortega Believes She Read for ‘Dune’ in ‘Very Secret’ Audition: ‘I Think It Was Zendaya’s’ Role
variety.comJ. Kim Murphy Jenna Ortega has a hunch that she auditioned for Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune” adaptation six years ago. During a Buzzfeed interview, the actor shared that she was excited to meet with 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’s a role people would be surprised you auditioned for?” “I remember being a big fan of that film and that franchise and everything like that and being really excited for that interview because Denis [Villeneuve] is one of my favorite filmmakers.” Ortega also shared that she believes she was reading for the role of Chani, played by Zendaya across both “Dune” entries: “I think it was Chani.
I think it was Zendaya’s. But they weren’t saying that. Everything was very secret.” Zendaya was reportedly cast in “Dune” in January 2019, meaning that Villeneuve was likely meeting actors, possibly including Ortega, during the preceding months.
Zendaya, who is 27 years old, is six years older than Ortega. Timothée Chalamet, who plays “Dune” protagonist and Chani’s love interest Paul Atreides, is 28.
The “Dune” audition would not have been Ortega’s first. The actor has been working in the industry since she was a child. In a recent New York Times interview, Ortega shared that “there’s times I regret” becoming an actor at a young age but that ultimately she “wouldn’t change anything.” “My mother had seen the way that other children maybe weren’t protected or weren’t as looked after,” Ortega said, reflecting on her time working on productions at a young age.
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