Netflix is preparing to roll out Wednesday, a modern take on the only daughter of the macabre Addams family. While Wednesday is usually portrayed as a young girl, the Netflix adaptation will see Wednesday as a teenager and portrayed by up-and-coming actress Jenna Ortega. Directed by Tim Burton, the series takes place at the Nevermore Academy, where Wednesday is honing her psychic powers and helping the local residents uncover a mystery that might be linked to a decades-old family secret. Ortega recently spoke about Wednesday and her approach to the show’s spooky setting in a new series of interviews.
Ortega Describes Character’s Eccentric Nature
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Ortega says that she was excited to portray a character who is both so iconic and so eccentric. At first, Ortega felt that portraying Wednesday would be a major challenge, feeling that it was her duty to do a good job with such a recognizable character. Ortega’s challenge proved even greater with the knowledge that the character has never been portrayed as a teenager before. Stepping into the role, Ortega questioned how Wednesday might have changed since she was a young child. The actress adds that young kids can get away with more than teenagers. As such, Ortega felt the need to balance Wednesday’s more extreme quirks with the character’s age.
Ortega also expressed gratitude for being able to work with Burton. While Burton is known for his dark, moody films, Wednesday will be his first foray into television. Ortega praised Burton’s directing style and vision, saying that Burton is both the nicest filmmaker she has ever worked with and the one with the most attention to detail.
Ortega Shares Coping Mechanisms for Working in Horror
While Wednesday is not full horror, the series reportedly blends horror with comedy. This pairing seems right up Ortega’s alley, as she has made a name for herself lately in horror films. The actress appeared in last month’s Scream revival and The Fallout on HBO Max. While loving the genre, Ortega says that being part of a horror film can weigh heavy on the cast. As such, the actress says that she developed several coping mechanisms to keep herself in check. One of her favorite coping mechanisms is collecting rare books. The actress tells of her favoritism of older books, noting how they both smell and feel different from modern works. Ortega also enjoys taking her car out for late night spins. The actress says that driving around late at night allows her to experience a sense of freedom that she does not usually have in her everyday life.
Wednesday is scheduled for release later this year.
