Jenna Ortega told The A.V. Club that she made sure that her performance in Netflix's Wednesday was distinct from Christina Ricci's. Ortega explained, "you are who people see as Wednesday, and that’s just the truth. I feel like the script was very reminiscent of ’90s Wednesday. It was really important to me that I wasn’t doing a knockoff of your performance, and it was different.”
Fans of The Addams Family and The Addams Family Values can spot differences in the ways that Ricci and Ortega have taken on the famous Goth character. While Ricci shows how tough the young adult is, Ortega adds some new layers as the character begins attending Nevermore, a school for misfits where she makes a big impression.
Ortega Plays Wednesday As More Of A Loner
The trailer for Wednesday revealed some changes between Ricci and Ortega's portrayals of the famous character. In the movies, Ricci's Wednesday is independent and strong but loves her family, and her scenes with her brother Pugsley are memorable. Since Wednesday is living away from home and starting a new life at Nevermore, she is separated from her family.
Ortega plays the character as more of a loner than in previous installments. Ortega's performance shows this new Wednesday as someone who embraces the fact that she is on her own now. Ricci plays Wednesday as someone who cherishes her role in her family, as Ricci's character loves torturing Pugsley. Through the look on her face when she is dropped off at school, Ortega proves that Wednesday is frustrated with her parents.
Ortega Gives Wednesday A Sense Of Humor
One of the clearest differences between Ricci and Ortega's performances is that Ortega makes Wednesday much funnier. In the '90s movies, Ricci plays this character as a dark, somber person who doesn't laugh or grin. While Ricci's character doesn't want to make people laugh, it always feels like Ortega wants audiences to find her version hilarious.
Wednesday thrives on witty comebacks and one-liners. Ricci delivers Wednesday's serious and sarcastic quotes perfectly, but Ortega leans into the humor of the script more and emphasizes the character's smart sense of humor.
Ortega Allows Wednesday To Show Signs Of Compassion
When watching the Netflix series, Wednesday feels the same in many ways, from her love for her sidekick Thing to her belief that friends and love interests aren't unnecessary. But she also has some key differences, including the book that she's writing and the mystery that she's attempting to solve. When Ortega plays Wednesday talking to her roommate Enid Sinclair or the objects of her affection, Tyler Galpin and Xavier Thorpe, Wednesday looks a bit more caring than she usually does.
Ortega gives Wednesday more depth and emotion than her portrayal in the two '90s films. Ortega's eyes often show how Wednesday feels. This makes Wednesday relatable and allows fans to feel like they're in on the journey instead of wondering why Wednesday feels so different from them.
Ricci's Character Is Just As Dark But Not As Layered
Wednesday's best The Addams Family quotes show that she loves darkness and doesn't mind insulting other people or sounding cold and harsh. This is all thanks to Ricci's strong performance as her character always sounds cold and serious. But while both versions of this beloved character are gloomy, Ricci's character isn't as layered as Ortega's.
Ricci plays Wednesday as a girl who enjoys being part of a unique family who doesn't need to be like everyone else. She clearly enjoys thinking about death and danger. But it can be tough to figure out what Wednesday is thinking or what her emotions are, as it often seems like she doesn't feel much at all. Ricci doesn't let much show on her face.
Ricci Plays Wednesday As Serious And Somber 24/7
Based on Ricci's performance, it would seem that Wednesday can never be anything but somber, as this is how the actor plays her in The Addams Family and The Addams Family Values. Ricci decides that this character should always look a bit sad and like something terrible has happened.
Ricci's performance is why fans feel nostalgic for this fictional family. It's refreshing that Wednesday listens to her instincts and does what she wants. But it's compelling to see Ortega's Nevermore student feel things a bit more intensely.
Ortega Makes The Character More Expressive
The most memorable thing about Wednesday is that she doesn't often look happy and she isn't cheerful. She definitely doesn't wear her heart on her sleeve. Ortega's performance is compelling as she has many different facial expressions, which is a big change for this iconic character.
While Ricci's Wednesday often has a serious look on her face, Ortega's Wednesday does smile at times. It's clear that she cares about the people who she has met at her new school, despite her best attempts to stay away from personal relationships. Whether interacting with Thing or her roommate, Ortega's Wednesday sometimes looks kinder than her reputation would suggest.
Ortega Gives Wednesday A Sense Of Whimsy
Jenna Ortega's best movie and TV roles prove her talent and the actor excels at the thriller and horror genres. The most memorable scene of Wednesday is when the character dances in episode 4 called "Woe What a Night." While an actor could have made this silly or goofy, Ortega ensures that Wednesday looks like her regular serious self while dancing. But Ortega makes Wednesday feel a little whimsical and shows her having fun.
When compared to how Ricci plays Morticia and Gomez's daughter, this is definitely a huge change. Ricci's Wednesday rarely seems to enjoy herself and looks unimpressed and tough scene after scene. Ortega makes her version a bit quirkier, at least in this episode.
Ricci Makes Wednesday More Mysterious
When comparing the way that both actors portray this beloved character who loves thinking about death and pranks, Ricci's performance stands out for being more mysterious. Ricci ensures that audiences never feel like they really know the character super well. Sure, they understand that she's all about the gruesome and creepy parts of life. But Wednesday remains perplexing in many ways.
Both performances are excellent and bring something distinct to the character. While Ricci's version is mysterious and it's possible to say that Ortega's version is more accessible, it's fun to have two fantastic Wednesdays.
Ortega Shows That Wednesday Can Definitely Feel Fear
If Ricci's Wednesday learned that there was a monster in the woods near her school, it seems possible that she would shrug it off and ignore it, content to bother Pugsley and live her own life. This Wednesday puts herself at the center of the mystery. When Wednesday is close to being killed by the monster, Ortega ensures that her character looks afraid.
Fans feel nostalgia for everything from The Addams Family theme song to Morticia and Gomez's sweet marriage. While Ricci never shows fear on Wednesday's face, Ortega's performance reveals that sometimes, the character does fear for her own life, despite how often she tries to hurt others.
Ortega Ensures That Wednesday Reacts
Even when Ricci's Wednesday gets in trouble with her parents, she doesn't show a reaction on her face. She ignores her family and forges ahead. This is a smart creative choice since the whole point is that this character does her own thing and doesn't think about others.
Ortega decides to play Wednesday differently, making sure that she is reactive instead of passive. This Wednesday gets mad when authority figures tell her that she's wrong, from her therapist to the school principal. It's a cool decision that shows that Wednesday has goals and dreams and even wants to help others, as she's motivated to stop the monster.