Wednesday: Jenna Ortega on who inspired her iconic look and why she’s drawn to dark roles

Wednesday is a mood. It is not what those usual spooky teen drama serve. It is something that suits all. Romance for the lovers and some dry humor for the witty ones. It goes way beyond just horror. The Netflix hit took the classic Addams Family vibe and gave it a modern makeover. And of course you will still find the mystery and the murderous plots intact.

Wednesday Addams is seen joining the Nevermore Academy where she is on a Nancy Drew-ish mission. She is solving spooky puzzles and getting psychic visions. All of that while she is busy being a sassy teenage goth queen in the midst of monsters and outcasts.

Jenna Ortega steps into the shoes of Wednesday Addams. She plays the role to perfection with her emotionless stares and classic black wardrobe. It won't be wrong to say that she kind of became her. But what is the inspiration behind her iconic look?

Let's dig up!

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Wednesday: Jenna Ortega’s intense prep

Taking on the role of Wednesday Addams wasn’t just about wearing black and making that killer stare perfect. Jenna had to prepare both mentally and physically. She learned to play the cello. That haunting performance in the show is all her. She took up archery and even started learning German.

But she wasn’t alone in the journey, thankfully. Director Tim Burton was there to guide her every step. They had an amazing creative chemistry. So much so that Tim once told E! News:

"We're very lucky to have Jenna, because I can't imagine another Wednesday."

He also said Jenna has that rare ability to say so much without even speaking.

Singer Billie Eilish actually played a surprising role when it came to shaping Wednesday’s modern persona. According to USA Today, Billie was an inspiration for the character’s look and vibe. She was even on the mood board during their brainstorming sessions. They wanted Wednesday to stand apart from the usual teenage girl trope.

But stepping into such an iconic role was a lot of pressure. Jenna admitted that in an interview with Olivia Rodrigo for The Face.

"It’s been done so flawlessly in the past. Christina Ricci is a legend. The character wouldn’t have been as big if it hadn’t been for her performance. I know that I can’t knock anyone off and I have to do it differently, but the script was also very reminiscent of her, so how can I take this and shift it in my manner?"

She went on to say that she didn’t realize just how much people cared about the project. The pressure and the prep were all part of what made Jenna’s performance feel so raw and real in Wednesday. And it’s safe to say she played the role in a way that feels completely her own. We cannot imagine another Wednesday now, just like Tim Burton.

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Wednesday: Jenna Ortega and the dark side

Jenna opened up a little more about what it was like working with Tim Burton in that same candid chat with Olivia Rodrigo for The Face. She had said:

Working with Tim was incredible. I didn’t really know what to expect and every time I’d spoken to him prior… He’s a man of very few words. You speak to him for five minutes about something that might be a really big deal, but he always goes more in-depth with things on set...I remember on the first day, I was really nervous to continue shooting with him because I didn’t know what it would be like...They were cutting my hair on the day – there were hair and make-up artists cutting new extensions in the trailer as we were speaking and as we were shooting. He took a hairdresser’s comb and brushed my hair. He was taking apart my fringe one [hair] by one until it sat in the place he wanted it to sit. Then he hairsprayed it so that it wouldn’t move. He was very intense and meticulous... He’s one of my favourite directors I’ve ever worked with. I feel like I learned so much from him and he was always happy to teach...I don’t know what I anticipated, but after getting to know him, you couldn’t be nervous. He just wanted you to feel as comfortable and prepared to do whatever it was you were doing, which is wonderful."

You could tell there was a deep respect between the two.

But the conversation didn’t stop there. Olivia pointed out how Jenna has starred in quite a few dark and violent roles. She asked if any of it ever creeped her out. Jenna, being Jenna, was unfazed. She said:

"There are some really disturbing photos out there of me smiling super wide with stuff all over my face, laying on the floor covered in blood. I love that stuff because it’s not real. Knock on wood, I haven’t been stabbed yet, so for me it’s still a fun thing that I do at work, which is so awful to say. I love it when the blood comes out. I love shooting chase scenes – they’re very fun for me. I wish people could see the other side of horror films. We’re laughing so hard the entire time. We shot a scene with Ghostface in the last Scream and there was one day where we could not stop laughing as they were doing their monologue. It’s not so serious. It’s really hard to scare me. People growing up would jump out from behind door frames and I wouldn’t flinch."

Of course, she didn’t. That’s just so her.

She also talked about her love for darker things. She shared:

"There’s some invisible string that’s connected to serial killers, monsters, creatures and myself. No matter where I go. I feel like it’s something that’s always been attractive to me since I was younger, something I was always into... I love things that are a bit off-putting, things when the closer you look, really aren’t that pretty. I love things that are disturbing. They’re interesting and there are so many routes and variations of storytelling that you can do with stuff like that. Also, to play a character that is always in a victim position, it’s a nice challenge for me to give them some personality that makes them different from one another. I don’t want my characters to be all the same, but if they’re in similar situations it’s always so interesting seeing how this person will take it rather than another. They’re also some of my favourite projects to watch. Horror films are what got me out of being a scaredy cat... After working on enough sets, they’re always somewhere I’m going to want to be because the passion and dedication on set is unparalleled. They’re always a good time."

Jenna Ortega does not care about playing it safe. She loves the dark, and that's just who she is. Much like Wednesday Addams herself in Wednesday.

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