Headline Key Takeaways:
– Jenna Ortega gained recognition for her role as Wednesday Addams on Netflix's series ‘Wednesday'.
– The actress attributes her successful casting to her dry sense of humor and prominence in the horror genre.
– Tim Burton, the director of ‘Wednesday', holds Jenna Ortega in high esteem for her work in the horror genre.
– Ortega will feature in another film by Burton, titled ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice'.
Jenna Ortega Speaks About Her Role in Wednesday
Actor Jenna Ortega fondly recalls her time playing the iconic character, Wednesday Addams in the Netflix series, ‘Wednesday'. Executive producer and partial director Tim Burton's involvement attracted the 21-year-old actress to the role, which significantly catapulted her career.
Noted for her performances in multiple horror projects, Ortega is now considered a leading “screen queen.” However, the actress candidly admitted that she wouldn't have landed the role without appealing to two key factors that entranced Burton.
Filling Famous Shoes
Ortega acutely understood the pressure to succeed Christina Ricci—the original Wednesday— from the Addams Family's 1991 rendition. She diligently researched the character and practiced her mannerisms to deliver a performance that was both memorable and appreciated by critics. Despite her desire to expand into more film roles, the prospect of working with Burton lured her back to the realm of TV series.
Casting Day Challenge
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Ortega revealed that her casting on ‘Wednesday' came at the last moment. The news that the renowned filmmaker Tim Burton wished to meet her was initially overwhelming. When queried about what could have caused Burton's interest in her, Ortega surmised that either her “dry sense of humor” or her notoriety in the horror genre were the possible reasons.
She said, “Honestly, I don't know if it was a dry sense of humor more so than I had a lot of horror projects coming out and I was coming up on the horror scene a little bit.”
The Versatility of Jenna Ortega
The casting decision paid off as Wednesday went on to attract massive viewership and earned rave reviews, cementing Ortega as a cultural icon.
Tim Burton, the veteran director whose work in the gothic genre has been celebrated worldwide, has been a key component in the success of the Netflix show, ‘Wednesday'. Praising Ortega's performance on the show, Burton confirmed, “She's one of the most aware, not only as an actress, but everything, around the camera, the set. She's a very special talent. And she's done a lot of horror movies, which I love too.”
A Promising Future
Along with being part of Wednesday's much-awaited second season, Ortega is also set to appear in Burton's upcoming sequel, ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice'. The film, scheduled to be released on September 6, 2024, features an ensemble cast including Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, Monica Bellucci, and Willem Dafoe. Fans can catch Ortega's acclaimed performance in ‘Wednesday' on Netflix.
