It was the dance. You know the one. That stiff, jerky, hypnotic shuffle to The Cramps’ "Goo Goo Muck" that basically ate the internet for three months straight. People weren't just watching a show; they were witnessing a total cultural reset of a character we thought we already knew. If you’ve spent any time on the couch lately, you probably already know that Jenna Ortega is the powerhouse who played Wednesday on Netflix, but the story of how she landed the role—and what she did to change it—is way more intense than just putting on some black pigtails.
Honestly, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in that oversized hoodie now.
Ortega didn't just show up and read lines. She lived it. To play Wednesday Addams, she took fencing lessons twice a week. She learned how to play the cello. She even dipped her toes into German. Most actors just pretend, right? Not her. She famously went through a "transition" where she stopped eating meat and leaned into the macabre energy of the character so hard that even the crew felt the chill. Tim Burton, the king of goth cinema himself, didn't just cast her because she looked the part. He cast her because she had the "silent movie" eyes that could stare a hole through your soul without blinking for several minutes at a time.
Why Jenna Ortega Was the Only Choice
When people ask who played Wednesday on Netflix, they usually expect a simple name. But Ortega brought a specific kind of "deadpan-but-human" energy that’s actually really hard to pull off. Before this, we had Christina Ricci’s iconic 90s version, which was dry and perfect. Then there was Lisa Loring in the 60s. Filling those shoes is a nightmare for any actor.
Jenna actually reached out to Christina Ricci (who plays Ms. Thornhill in the series) but decided not to ask for advice. That takes guts. She wanted her Wednesday to be a "weirdo" in a way that felt modern, not just a copy of a copy. She fought for the character’s autonomy. In interviews with TUDUM and The Hollywood Reporter, Ortega admitted she even changed lines on set because she felt the original script made Wednesday sound too much like a "regular" teenager. She refused to say certain things that felt too emotional or "cringey."
It paid off.
The show became a massive juggernaut. It wasn't just a hit; it was a billion-hour phenomenon. This version of Wednesday is a bit more of a detective, a bit more of a loner, and a lot more physically capable. She’s not just a girl who likes spiders; she’s a girl who can take down three bullies in a coffee shop without breaking a sweat.
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The Audition That Almost Didn't Happen
Funny enough, Jenna Ortega almost passed on the project. She’d done a lot of TV—Jane the Virgin, You, Stuck in the Middle—and she really wanted to focus on film. She actually passed on the audition a few times.
What changed? Tim Burton.
Meeting with a visionary like Burton isn't something you just skip. They had a Zoom call while she was filming X in New Zealand. She was covered in fake blood, had a massive cut on her face, and hadn't slept in about twenty-four hours. She looked like a disaster. Burton apparently loved it. It was the most "Addams" introduction possible.
The Physical Toll of Being a Deadite
Playing the lead in a Tim Burton production isn't a walk in the park. It's more like a sprint through a graveyard. Jenna has talked openly about the grueling schedule in Romania, where the show was filmed.
- The Cello: She actually plays. While she’s not a pro, she learned the fingerings for "Paint It Black" so it would look authentic.
- The Staring: She decided Wednesday shouldn't blink. Try it. It’s exhausting and makes your eyes water like crazy.
- The Choreography: That viral dance? She choreographed it herself. She pulled inspiration from 80s goth club footage and Siouxsie Sioux. She did it while she had COVID (before the test results came back), which is kind of insane when you think about the energy required.
It’s that level of commitment that separates a "Netflix star" from a legitimate generational icon. She wasn't just "the girl who played Wednesday on Netflix"; she became the executive producer for Season 2 because she cared that much about the direction of the story.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Casting
A lot of casual fans think Ortega was a newcomer. Not even close. She’s been working since she was nine years old. Her background as a Latina actress also brought a new layer to the Addams family. While the Addams family has always had Hispanic roots (Gomez Addams, anyone?), this was the first time it was front and center in a way that felt integrated and real.
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There's also this weird misconception that she’s exactly like the character in real life. While she definitely has a dark sense of humor and a love for horror movies (she's a certified "Scream Queen" after the recent Scream reboots), she’s actually known on set for being incredibly professional and, well, alive. She doesn't just sit in corners brooding.
But she does have that "Wednesday" edge.
She told Wired in an autocomplete interview that she used to perform autopsies on little animals when she was a kid. Mostly dead lizards she found in her backyard. So, maybe the casting was more accurate than we thought?
The Legacy of Nevermore Academy
Wednesday’s time at Nevermore Academy changed the formula. Usually, the Addams family is the "weird" group in a normal world. In the Netflix show, Wednesday is the "weird" person in a school full of monsters. It’s a subtle shift that allowed Ortega to play with the idea of being an outcast among outcasts.
The chemistry she had with Emma Myers (who plays the colorful, bubbly Enid Sinclair) was the secret sauce. You need the sunshine to show how dark the shadow is. If it were just Wednesday being gloomy for eight hours, we’d get bored. But seeing her navigate a roommate who loves K-pop and sweaters? That’s where the magic happened.
Beyond the Braids
As we look toward the future of the series, it’s clear that Jenna Ortega has basically claimed this role for life. Much like how Robert Downey Jr. is Iron Man, Ortega has become synonymous with this character.
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Season 2 is reportedly leaning further into the horror elements and ditching some of the teen romance stuff. This is a direct result of Ortega’s influence as a producer. She knows what the fans want. They don't want a love triangle; they want to see Wednesday solve a gruesome murder while making a witty comment about the futility of existence.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Creators
If you’re obsessed with the show or just curious about how such a massive hit gets made, here’s the reality of what made this casting work:
Authenticity beats imitation.
Don't try to be the "next" version of something else. Ortega didn't try to be Christina Ricci. She looked at the source material (the original Charles Addams cartoons) and built something from the ground up. If you're creating content or acting, find the core of the character rather than the surface-level tropes.
Skills matter.
The fact that she actually learned the cello and fencing added a layer of "prestige" to a teen show. It made it feel grounded. If you want to stand out in any field, gain the specific, difficult skills that others are too lazy to learn.
Advocate for your vision.
Ortega’s willingness to push back against scripts that didn't feel "right" for Wednesday is a lesson in creative integrity. Whether you're a writer, a business owner, or a student, knowing your "brand" or your voice well enough to say "no" is incredibly powerful.
Watch the original influences.
To understand why the performance works, go back and look at the things that inspired it. Check out old German Expressionist films or 80s punk videos. It gives you a much deeper appreciation for the "language" Ortega is speaking on screen.
The next time you're scrolling through your feed and see a "who played Wednesday on Netflix" trivia question, you'll know it’s not just about a name. It’s about an actress who took a 1930s cartoon character and made her the most relevant person on television in 2026.