Jenna Ortega reveals the funny real-life consequence Wednesday has had on her. The adaptation of The Addams Family took everyone by surprise, becoming a bonafide television sensation towards the end of 2022. It launched a viral dance, led to a widespread debate about fandom and relationships in teen dramas, and helped to shift the narrative around Netflix to prove that the streaming service still had the ability to launch huge hits. The series also helped to solidify Ortega, who plays the titular Wednesday, as a star on the rise.
In a new interview with The Cut, Ortega revealed that playing Wednesday Addams inadvertently changed her wardrobe. Ortega was asked whether she incorporated the style of her characters into her own. In her response, the actor replies that it depends on the character. But, when it came to working on Wednesday, she suddenly "only ever wore black":
When I was working on Wednesday, I suddenly only ever wore black. I didn’t know why. For some reason, my closet just lost all its color. But I have played characters where, no matter how good or at ease I felt in the clothes, it’s just not something I would typically wear or I think is a good representation of myself.
How Jenna Ortega Left Her Mark On Wednesday
As a series, Wednesday had all the needed elements of success and teen dramas are generally known for their fervent viewership. But it wouldn't have clicked without the right person at the center of the story. Ortega has spoken in interviews about the toll of the Netflix adaptation, from its long hours to the fact that she filmed that popular Wednesday dance while sick with COVID. She also had to learn new skills for the show, in addition to finding the vulnerability in the protagonist's sardonic exterior.
Wednesday has an iconic style that has been present in every iteration of the character. With that look being updated for a modern show, Ortega took influence from her Wednesday's unique style. Her take on the character has led Ortega to be nominated at the SAG Awards and the Golden Globes, with an Emmy nomination looking likely as well.
With the massive success of Wednesday, Ortega took influence from her character's appearance and incorporated it into her own life. There has been a lot of discussion about how and why Wednesday took off for Netflix. It may just be the right match of a character with an actor that fully embraced the role.
Source: The Cut