Jenna Ortega latest role in Miller’s Girl is prompting mixed reviews from fans – with many commenting on her and her co-star Martin Freeman’s 31-year age gap.
The film, which was released in the US last month, sees Ortega, 21, portray an 18-year-old university student named Cairo Sweet opposite 53-year-old Martin Freeman’s Jonathan Miller, a married English professor.
In the flick, produced by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, viewers watch as the pair began an inappropriate relationship after Cairo is tasked with a creative writing assignment.
The two become increasingly close as they push the boundaries of a teacher-student relationship and one scene in particular has social media talking.
In the scene, Jonathan is reading Cairo’s submitted work, in which she describes an intimate interaction between them, while Freeman and Ortega act out their characters’ fantasy.
The intimate scene has shocked many, mainly given the three decade age difference between the actors.
A fan of the Wednesday star wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Jenna Ortega and Martin Freeman… I’m uncomfortable”.
“MARTIN FREEMAN WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO JENNA ORTEGA” another commented.
A third penned: “This Jenna Ortega/Martin Freeman film is so gross! So, so, so, so gross!”
While another defended Ortega’s artistry and shared: “I get some people don’t want to see certain scenes in Miller’s Girl ( I also don’t), but treating Jenna Ortega like she’s a child forced to take on certain projects or film certain scenes is so insulting to her and her work.”
“I loved it personally,” a viewer said of the movie. “It made me feel uncomfortable but also on the edge of my seat. Jenna Ortega really brought the acting chops with this one.”
Despite some finding the intimate scenes “gross”, the film’s intimacy coordinator, Kristina Arjona, revealed that Ortega was involved in their decision-making.
She told the Daily Mail: “There were many, many people throughout this process, engaging with (Jenna) to make sure that it was consistent with what she was comfortable with, and she was very determined and very sure of what she wanted to do.
“I'm hyper-aware of both my talent and making sure that we're consistently checking in and that at no point are any of their boundaries being surpassed.
“And again, making sure - especially with someone who's significantly younger - that they are giving continuous consent.”
