Jenna Ortega Has a Lot in Common with Her 'Wednesday' Character: 'I Have a Pretty Dark Sense of Humor'

Mar. 15, 2025

Jenna Ortega.

ForJenna Ortega, playing Wednesday Addams may have been fate.

In signing on to play the iconic role, Ortega tells PEOPLE, “I had to do things a bit different with my physicality and the way I carried myself. She almost has a social awkwardness. So when she does toxic, manipulative things, you know it’s not coming out of malicious intent.”

Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams.Netflix

Ortega also shared scenes withChristina Ricci, who played Wednesday in the 1991 film and its sequels, and appears on the Netflix series.

“It was really intimidating because I have so much respect for her as an actress, and being dressed up how she was 30 years ago, it was a little awkward,” Ortega admits of working with Ricci, 42. “But I felt safe with her on set almost immediately. She was really sweet about it, and such a generous actress.”

Still, Ortega — who first major role was as a youngGina RodriguezinJane the Virginin 2014 — says that despite over a decade in front of the camera, “I don’t always watch what I’ve done. I’m hyper critical of myself and it’s almost like if I watch myself, it destroys my self-esteem!”

Regardless, the actress says she’s grateful for her success thus far- and looking forward to a bright (or dark!) career ahead.

“I never want to be pigeonholed, but I have immense respect for the horror genre,” says Ortega, who also starred inX,Insidious: Chapter Twoand this year’sScreamreboot. “It’s incredibly hard for me to turn down a good horror script and I’ve been lucky enough to do a lot of it in recent years.”

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As for what’s next? “I don’t know what the future holds,” she says. “I feel like I won’t know it until I see it!”

source: people.com