Who would’ve thought that the role of Wednesday Addams, which changed Jenna Ortega’s life, almost didn’t belong to her?
In an exclusive interview, Ortega revealed that she was initially hesitant to accept the offer to play Wednesday in the hit series Wednesday, directed by Tim Burton.
“I was worried about being stuck in another long-term franchise,” Ortega explained.
“But the more I thought about the character, the more I fell in love with her,” she added.
Her first conversation with Tim Burton took place over Zoom, while she was still wearing head prosthetics from a gory scene in the film X (2022). Yet, Burton didn’t mention it at all.
One key moment during her audition was when she performed the scene where Wednesday catches Thing spying on her.
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“I was exhausted, but I still went to the bathroom and re-recorded one take.
I didn’t want Tim Burton to think that was my final impression,” she said.
The deeper she dove into the character of Wednesday, the more she realized she was ‘trapped’ in the character’s aura.
“I thought, maybe she walks like this… and then I realized, oh no, I’ve fallen in love with this character,” she said again.
Now, Jenna Ortega is the face of Wednesday, the quirky and cynical girl whose image is now plastered on mugs, T-shirts, and cereal boxes.
“It’s funny. Wednesday is the type who hates attention… and now she’s become a pop icon,” she said with a laugh.
Ortega also admitted that, while she’s grateful for the success and fan support, she’s now more selective with her acting projects. – BOOM!
