Wednesday has finally made its long-awaited entrance into Netflix's repertoire, and the first season is a spooky and sensational adventure for the eldest Addams child. After Morticia and Gomez's only daughter crosses one too many lines at a school for normies, she is forced to spend a harrowing semester surrounded by fellow freaks who want her to appreciate her unique nature. There's no doubt that self-love and community are chores for Wednesday, but thankfully she finds a murder mystery on campus to keep her entertained.

Jenna Ortega, who recently captivated viewers in the newest Scream, leads the cast of Wednesday with a fresh new take on the character that pays homage to Christina Ricci's interpretation. While elements of the Addams Family lore have changed, as has the cast, continuity is felt throughout the 8-episode season thanks to Tim Burton's direction and Ricci's own role as the normie art teacher. It also doesn't hurt that the ensemble is filled with stars such as Catherine Zeta-Jones, Gwendoline Christie, and Luis Guzmán.

Related: Jenna Ortega's Horror Movies Prove She's The New Scream Queen

Screen Rant spoke to Ortega about following in Ricci's footsteps when taking on the Wednesday mantle, working alongside the actor who plays Thing, and why her brooding character meshes so well with the world's peppiest werewolf.

Jenna Ortega on Wednesday

Jenna Ortega with the other characters in Wednesday

Screen Rant: Wednesday Addams is such an iconic character, but you totally made her your own. I have to imagine, though, that having Cristina Ricci on set with you is somewhat nerve-wracking. How did it affect your mindset?

Jenna Ortega: It was weird, for sure. I remember when they told me, I think my heart fell just out of pure panic. But fortunately, she's a really cool lady, and we got along really well. We never talked about the character. I just got to know her, and it was really nice and really wonderful. But it is a bit weird.

I felt the script was written very reminiscent of her Wednesday, and audiences already know and love Wednesday, [so] I don't think I could have strayed too far with the character. Otherwise, it would have been a disgrace or offensive or something like that. Also, I really love that iteration and that idea for Wednesday, but then [I was] adding a bit of other qualities and mannerisms or reactions that push the character arc throughout the season.

Then you have Catherine Zeta-Jones as your mother, and you have to keep a straight face and be mean to her. How do you achieve that? How much acting does that take?

Jenna Ortega: Not much. She is lovely. I want to clarify that she is a wonderful woman. She's hilarious; I feel like her humor is severely underrated. She's a really funny woman and such a professional. But I feel like, naturally, it's pretty easy for me when she's so talented, and she's so into her character [that it] kind of pushes you to be a bit more into your character. When you work with talented people that elevate you, it feels more like play.

I love Thing and Wednesday. What is that like for you on set? What is Thing, and how do you understand or communicate with him?

Jenna Ortega: It was so funny, because the Thing language was just made up on the day. Every day we'd show up and go, "Ahhh..." [hand motions] "That looks right. I feel like I kind of know what he's saying." But Tim wanted it to be an actual actor like they did in the 90s films, so it was this magician named Victor [Dorobantu]. He would wear a full blue suit, and he would hide behind walls and underneath beds. Then they built this prosthetic on top of his hand so that it looked like a wrist knob, and he would walk around.

Tim really liked his mannerisms, and he would spend hours in hair and makeup every day just getting that hand on. Then we'd shoot some stuff with him, and other times we would shoot with absolutely nothing there. We'd shoot with the stand-in hand there; never did the tennis ball. I was either working with an actor and responding to him or I was looking at nothing, and then at the end of every take, we would have to bring in these gray and silver balls and a color chart so that they could add CGI. Those scenes always took longer because of that.

I think the character that pulls Wednesday out of herself the most is Enid, and I really love that dynamic between the two of you. How do you walk that line of refusing to be moved but maybe giving in just a little bit?

Jenna Ortega: It's so easy to be moved by Emma Myers. It is so easy. She's such a sweetheart, and Enid is such a ray of sunshine. And I think that's scary to Wednesday, which is why she likes it. It's very easy to toe the line with her, and I think that dynamic was very natural.

Everyone knows that super sunny, happy person and that super dark, depressing person. When they get together, there's something really relatable and beautiful about it. Those are always my favorite dynamics, and I think it came very naturally.

About Wednesday

wednesday tv series review
Jenna Ortega in Wednesday

The series is a sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams’ years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Wednesday's attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago — all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.

Check out our other Wednesday interviews here:

Next: Every Song In Wednesday Season 1

All episodes of Wednesday season 1 are now streaming on Netflix.