Jenna Ortega has reflected on the whirlwind of fame that came with her breakout role as Wednesday Addams in Netflix’s hit series Wednesday, calling the experience “very overwhelming.”
The first season of the Tim Burton-directed show became Netflix’s most-watched English-language series upon its release in 2022, catapulting Ortega, now 22, into global stardom. Despite the success, the actress admits the intense spotlight was difficult to prepare for.
During a recent interview with BBC News, Ortega said: “I’m very grateful and glad that it resonated with people the way it did,” but added that the surge of attention was unexpected. “Is anyone really ready for that? No, I wasn’t. I don’t think that should ever feel like a normal sort of experience.”
Ortega explained that when filming the first season, no one anticipated the cultural phenomenon it would become. “You do these things without knowing what’s to come, so when it explodes like that, it’s a lot to take in.”
Season 2, debuting next week, sees Wednesday returning to Nevermore Academy under new leadership, with the Addams family playing a more prominent role, per Netflix's Tudum.
Gomez and Morticia Addams, played by Luis Guzmán and Catherine Zeta-Jones, now have a stronger presence on campus, much to Wednesday’s dismay, as Netflix teases this as “a rare new form of torture” for the fiercely independent teen sleuth.
For Ortega, the deeper focus on family is a welcome evolution. “The Addams family’s strength lies in their strangeness,” she said. “They’re individuals who shouldn’t fit together, but do. And that’s very relatable.”
She particularly appreciates the nuanced mother-daughter tension between Wednesday and Morticia. “It’s very typical for daughters to want independence and mothers to want to protect. That dynamic is very real, I related to it as a teenager and even more so now.”
Ortega, who also stars in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Death of a Unicorn, and the Scream franchise, is stepping into a new role behind the scenes as an executive producer for Season 2.
“It was a great education for me,” she said. “I tried to absorb as much as I could.” She acknowledged the three-year wait between seasons but believes it gave the creative team time to refine the show. “We wanted to come back with something fresh and exciting. The fans have been patient, we want to make it worth it.”
The new season also features star-studded additions, including Steve Buscemi as Nevermore’s new principal, Billie Piper as music director Isadora Capri, and Joanna Lumley as Wednesday’s eccentric grandmother, Hester Frump.
Ortega believes the show’s deeper themes have struck a cultural chord, especially among younger audiences. “We’re living in a time where people are finding community online, often in isolating ways,” she said. “Seeing a family that embraces their oddities and celebrates individuality is comforting. It reminds people, especially the younger generation, that it’s okay to be different.”
Zeta-Jones agrees: “The Addams family doesn’t hide what makes them different, they embrace it. It’s a message that feels more relevant than ever.”