Interview: Jenna Ortega Talks Confidence, Self-Expression and Her New Campaign for Rouge Dior On Stage

What defines Dior? According to Dior Makeup’s Creative and Image Director Peter Philips, it’s a rich tapestry of heritage, long established through generations of beauty, fragrance and fashion collections designed by the Maison’s diverse creatives. Through the house’s DNA, icons are born, and one particular collection that stands out is Rouge Dior. 

READ: Peter Philips on the Latest Dior Backstage Collection, As Seen on Jenna Ortega

The latest addition to the Rouge Dior family is Rouge Dior On Stage, an ultra-long-wearing, high-shine lipstick. Formulated with hydrating and plumping peony extract as well as smoothing pomegranate flower extract, the soft, melting texture of the lipstick envelops your pout in intense comfort and colour-true shades that will see you through any and all occasions.

Leading the campaign for this new launch is none other than It girl and style star Jenna Ortega. “I feel absolutely thrilled to be the face of this new chapter of Rouge Dior,” says Ortega. “This lipstick is all about revealing different aspects of yourself, which is obviously a huge part of my life as an actress. Being able to explore yourself through all the different attitudes and faces that you have to offer is honestly what gives you the most confidence.”

Ahead, the actress shares her thoughts on the new lip launch, teases her best makeup tips, and gets candid about the reality of celebrity life—read the full interview below:

Can you tell us a little more about working on this campaign? Any memorable behind-the-scenes moments you’d like to share?

“Working on this campaign was an incredibly fun experience. I wore an outfit that had a very 1920s feel to it; it reminded me of Cabaret. I loved the blazer in particular, as stylistically it felt a lot like me. There was a very playful atmosphere on the set, too. 

“With campaigns, you can really enjoy partaking in this elegant, refined and poised moment, but it’s also fun to be a little silly and not always be a perfectionist, because it’s more about conveying a feeling.”

What was it like collaborating with Peter Philips on set?

“Peter Philips is a living legend. It was such an honour to be a canvas for him, and I feel very privileged to know him as a person. He is unbelievably sweet and kind, and also has a great sense of humour. I love spending my days with Peter because I know I’ll have a wonderful time. He is a truly talented human being—there are very few people in my life who are with him in that category.”

Which shade from the Rouge Dior On Stage collection is your favourite?

“I love the 390 Redwood Star shade. There’s something about it! It has a brownish tone to it, which makes it a very specific red. Some people might say that all red lipsticks are the same, but they really aren’t, as sometimes the colour or undertone might not suit you. 390 Redwood Star is my perfect red.”

What surprised you the most about the new Rouge Dior lipstick?

“What surprised me most about the new Rouge Dior lipstick is how easy it was to apply. It has a slender bullet, and it feels very smooth and quite moisturising at the same time, and that is really hard to find. It glides on almost like a lip balm, and it’s so light that it feels weightless, as though your lips can breathe. It’s very refreshing, and that’s how I like my makeup. I want it to elevate my face, not weigh it down.”

How does the Rouge Dior On Stage collection reflect your personal style, and how do you incorporate it into your everyday makeup routine?

“Personally, I don’t have a complicated routine, since I’m always working and I’m always on set. So when I do wear makeup, I want it to be easy, and I’ll often apply colour on my lips. Then I’ll cheat, and I’ll use it on my cheeks and eyelids too. I’ll use whatever’s easiest—and, for me, that’s Rouge Dior.”

How has your relationship with makeup and beauty evolved over the years?

“Initially, I was very much a tomboy, so I wasn’t interested in makeup at all. Then, as a pre-teen, I became obsessed with it and with being feminine, because it made me feel grown up, so that was new and exciting to me. Then, as you get older, it’s less about playing dress-up and more about enhancing your natural beauty or presenting yourself in the way you want to be seen. 

“So, apart from photo shoots, I like to let my skin show and breathe, and I like to see my freckles. I also love the addition of a bold colour on the lip, but I’ve never been very good at applying eyeliner, so I tend to prefer a smudgy eye. I definitely wear far less makeup than when I was 14.”

How do you think bold makeup choices—like those in the Rouge Dior On Stage collection—can empower people and boost their confidence?

“I think a bold statement like Rouge Dior On Stage really impacts the way you carry yourself, and I know this firsthand because of my job. It’s about being able to see yourself in a new light and appreciate your beauty in a different way. That’s a really beautiful and exciting gift that makeup can give people. To be able to explore these different facets of yourself and these new identities is really beneficial in discovering who you want to be as an individual.”

What is a childhood memory you have connected to lipstick?

“My childhood memory of lipstick is the lip liner and lipstick that my mom has worn her entire life, and still wears to this day. It’s a deep burgundy red, and it’s her staple. So I’ve always associated femininity and adulthood and womanhood with that colour.”

What are some of your all-time favourite beauty products—the ones you can’t live without?

I truly don’t think I could live without eyeliner. Depending on how you apply it, it can take on different styles. Lipstick, too, because you can use it not only for your lips, but for five other things. I love my makeup to feel very put together. And I like to use my hands and fingertips to dot my lip colour on my cheeks and anywhere else I need it.

Do you have any beauty tips or little secrets you can share?

“Whenever I apply mascara—and I like a fluffy, tousled lash without clumps—I like to wipe my mascara wand on the rim of the tube before I apply it, to remove some of the product. This makes for easier application and a much smoother process.”

Can you walk us through your daily beauty routine—and how Rouge Dior On Stage fits into it?

“I usually apply hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, an oil, moisturiser and sunscreen. I’ll apply concealer if I need it that day, or on certain areas if I have any discolouration. Then I’ll quickly put on some eyeliner and mascara. Lastly, I’ll choose a berry shade or a dark red for my lips, like my mother used to wear, and that’s usually when the Rouge Dior comes out, depending on how I feel that day.”

What is your relationship with social media like? How do you protect your privacy in an age where everything feels so public? 

“I think I’m in quite a good place with social media now, and I’ve set healthy boundaries. I’m fortunate enough to have a job that takes up a lot of my personal life, so I don’t really have time to dwell on the internet. 

“That can always change, but I don’t find it particularly interesting right now. I don’t know how you protect your privacy. Sometimes you think you’re alone and not seen, when in fact you are, so it can feel unsafe a lot of the time. I can’t tell you how to protect your privacy, but what I can say is that it’s incredibly important to have a strong support system and people that you can trust around you, and I do have that.”

You’re known for speaking openly about mental health—what’s your personal approach to staying grounded, especially after growing up in the spotlight?

“I don’t have a personal approach to staying grounded, but again, I would say that my support system is amazing. And while my career has developed, and maybe public perception of me has changed, my personal life hasn’t really changed at all. I’ve got the same friends in the same situation, and because of that, it’s quite easy for me to distance myself from the environment that I work in. It’s also completely surreal. I’m constantly dumbfounded by the things that happen in my profession, whether good or bad. So, you have to take everything with a grain of salt, and the highs can’t be too high, and the lows can’t be too low.”

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For more makeup reads like this, click here.