Wednesday Addams actor Jenna Ortega learned the cello for her part in the upcoming series Wednesday. Based on the Addams Family comic strip first published in 1938, Wednesday marks the latest incarnation of media inspired by the gothic and peculiar family. Created by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Tim Burton, the Netflix series will deviate from previous Addams Family adaptations by focusing on a teen version of the family's only daughter, Wednesday, and centering the show around her time at a mysterious institution called Nevermore Academy. Ortega, who has starred in several horror properties including Scream, was announced as Wednesday in May 2021.
While appearing in a video for WIRED, Ortega discussed her upcoming part in the new series, revealing that her audition with Burton took place over Zoom while still in her death scene make up for the horror film X. The actor also mentioned that she learned the cello for the role of Wednesday, expressing her hope to continue working with the string instrument. The character of Wednesday's cello hobby is a hallmark of her morose nature, and the instrument also makes up the bulk of the iconic Addams Family theme song, so the instrument is likely to be an important facet of the series. See what Ortega had to say about her cello experience below:
“Actually, I learned to play the cello for Wednesday. I started working on the cello about two months before we started shooting. I probably couldn’t play too well now just because I’ve been away from home so much working, but it is something that I want to continue to purse. I have immense respect for anybody who plays the cello, I think it’s such a delightful instrument.”
Why Jenna Ortega Is A Perfect Wednesday
Master of gothic cinema, Burton himself has praised Ortega's portrayal of Wednesday, saying that she was dedicated to becoming Wednesday completely and that he couldn't imagine making the show with any other actor in the titular role. Ortega's genuine interest in learning cello for the show marks yet another reason that she is perfect for the part of Wednesday. With a long catalog of roles and a wealth of experience as a child actor, Ortega manages to balance deadpan humor and subtlety with real heart and emotion, making her an ideal candidate for a coming-of-age story centered on Wednesday. In addition, Ortega had begun to build up a reputation as a scream queen due to her roles in You and The Babysitter: Killer Queen before being cast in Wednesday, with 2022's Scream and X adding to that roster and proving her prowess when it comes to twisted and dark projects.
As Wednesday, Ortega will experience the unique challenge of bringing a cartoonish, gothic, and sadistic character to life while also making viewers care about her and invest in her journey. She also has to balance the expectations of fans who loved Christina Ricci's iteration of Wednesday in the 1991 film. Despite Ricci's success in the part, Ortega will bring her own version of Wednesday to life, which is fitting since the series is one of very few Addams Family adaptations in which Wednesday is not a little girl. Ortega will also offer the first Latina interpretation of the character since the series will continue the oft-established thread of featuring a Latino patriarch in Gomez.
With Burton's enthusiasm for Ortega's role in the upcoming series as well as the positive response the actor has already earned from viewers eager to see more of her morose character, it's clear that Wednesday is in good hands. Ortega will star alongside Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, and Isaac Ordonez as the members of her nuclear family, with George Burcea, Fred Armisen, and Victor Dorobantu playing Lurch, Uncle Fester, and Thing, respectively. Viewers can look forward to seeing Ortega flawlessly bring the eerie and beloved character to life when Wednesday premieres on November 23 on Netflix.
Source: WIRED