Jenna Ortega, star of Netflix’s upcoming seriesWednesday, says that Wednesday Addams is perhaps the “scariest” role she has taken on to date.
Ortega, who has starred in a number of recent horror films like Ti West’sX,Scream, andInsidious: Chapter 2, has already made a name for herself as one of the latest scream queens at only age 20. She is also no stranger toNetflix, having boasted a role inYouand the high school shooting dramaThe Fallout. Her latest Netflix role is playingthe raven-haired and pigtailed Wednesday Addams.
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According toMovie Maker,Ortega recently spoke to an audience at the Savannah College of Art and Design Film Festival, where she received the festival’s Breakthrough Award and participated in a Q&A after a screening ofX. There, Ortega told the audience that Wednesday Addams was the most challenging roll in horror she has taken on yet. “It’s probably the scariest job I’ve ever taken on because I know the pressure and respect and love that comes with the Addams Family,” Ortega said. “As an admirer myself, I had to do it.”
Netflix’sWednesdayhas also been praised for their choice of Ortega, who is ofMexican and Puerto Rican descent, providing another great role in entertainment for the Latinx Community. “I can’t really think of any other Latin characters who have reached the same impact or platform that Wednesday has,” Ortega said. Ortega has previously stated thatWednesdaywill feature Latinx representationby highlighting the titular character’s heritage, which has arguably been ignored in previous adaptations or at least not explored to its full potential.
Ortega has continuallygiven a nod to Christina Ricci, whose iconic interpretation of Wednesday has dominated imaginations sinceThe Addams Familyfilm debuted in 1991. Though different interpretations paint Wednesday at different ages, the role of 6-year-old Wednesday Addams in the original 1960’s television series was played by Lisa Loring.
Perhaps the most popular character in the Addams Family legacy, Wednesday Addams was created by cartoonist Douglas Addams inThe New Yorkercartoon that inspired the 1960’s television series. Addams was reportedly inspired by a nursery rhyme line that read “Wednesday’s child is full of woe.“Wednesday has persisted as a popular pop-culture figurefor nearly 60 years, boasting ample merchandise, comics, books, animated series, and even a Broadway musical. While many actresses have played Wednesday in a variety of more and lesser-known contexts, Ortega is quickly establishing herself in the classic role charmingly despite the weight of a heavy legacy.
