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Home > Why ‘Wednesday’ is Jenna Ortega’s Best Performance

Why ‘Wednesday’ is Jenna Ortega’s Best Performance

Showcasing Unique Talent and Captivating Presence

Netflix offers a vast selection of shows on its platform, and some quickly become fan favorites, sparking demand for additional seasons. One such show is the horror/mystery series Wednesday. Shortly after its release, it climbed to the number one spot, capturing viewers’ attention for both its intriguing plot and Jenna Ortega’s portrayal of Wednesday Addams. The role brought Ortega significant recognition and further established her popularity among fans.

Mastering the Role

For fans of The Addams Family, Wednesday Addams is well-known for her dark personality, sharp wit, and love for all things spooky and strange. As part of the Addams family, she naturally enjoys the eerie and unusual, showing maturity and sarcasm beyond her years. When Jenna Ortega took on the role of Wednesday in the Netflix series, fans loved her performance, as she captured Wednesday’s personality perfectly. Ortega’s take on the character added a new layer, making Wednesday feel both familiar and relatable. Viewers appreciated how she kept Wednesday’s cool, goth style and her deadpan way of speaking while giving her just a bit of emotion to make her feel real. Ortega knew when to let Wednesday’s emotions slip through just a little to show there was more going on inside her without losing her famously reserved nature. By balancing Wednesday’s dark side with slight hints of feeling, Ortega created a version of Wednesday Addams that connected with longtime fans and new viewers.

Ortega’s impressive talent and hard work earned her a lot of attention and made her a standout in her field, winning over audiences and critics. Because of her outstanding performance, she received nominations for major awards, including a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. These honors highlighted her influence in the industry and her ability to bring real depth and honesty to her role. There was nobody better fit for the role than Ortega. 

Building Her Legacy as a Young Actress

Before Wednesday, Jenna Ortega was known to a smaller audience, mostly those familiar with her work in shows like Stuck in the Middle and You and movies like The Fallout. But it was her role as Wednesday Addams that truly launched her into the spotlight. Her unique, dark, and funny take on the well-known character won over both new fans and longtime Addams Family followers, helping her reach a much wider audience. When Wednesday premiered, her performance quickly gained attention, and fans began sharing tons of videos, images, and clips from the show, especially her now-iconic dance scene. The dance went viral, leading to countless re-creations online, which only added to the show’s popularity and helped Ortega’s fame grow even more. It became a trend on many social media platforms.  

After her success with Wednesday, Jenna received many new opportunities to show off her acting skills. This role became a major turning point in her career, moving her from a somewhat-known actor to a breakout star in Hollywood. Thanks to this role, she has become a widely recognized talent, allowing her to take on more diverse roles and reach new heights in her career.

Ortega started taking on more roles in horror and thriller movies, quickly becoming a popular choice in this genre. She played lead roles in major films, showing her ability to bring strong emotions and depth to darker characters. One of her notable roles was in Scream VI, where she returned as Tara Carpenter. Her performance received a lot of praise from both critics and fans, who appreciated how she added complexity to her character in a genre that often focuses on suspense and fear. Ortega also joined the cast of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, the sequel to the 1988 classic Beetlejuice. Fans were thrilled to see her in the project, especially since her talent for combining dark humor and spooky vibes was a perfect fit for the movie’s style. 

Breaking Boundaries and Growing 

Jenna Ortega has taken a unique approach to playing Wednesday Addams, choosing to follow her instincts instead of sticking strictly to the script. When she first got the role, she noticed that the way Wednesday was written didn’t fully capture the character’s true personality. Ortega felt that Wednesday should come across as darker and more mysterious, which didn’t entirely match the script she was given. Rather than just going along with it, Ortega pushed to make changes she felt were more true to Wednesday’s character. In an interview with Variety, she shared that she didn’t even have a full script at first, which made it hard for her to understand the show’s mood and style. Despite these challenges, Ortega was determined to create an honest version of Wednesday, showing her commitment to making the character her own.

This experience has not only boosted Ortega’s confidence in suggesting changes or pointing out things she believes will improve the show; it’s also helped her grow as a writer. Ortega is not just acting on Wednesday; she’s also taken on the role of executive producer, a position that allows her to have more creative input. As an executive producer, she collaborates closely with the writers, contributing ideas for the plot and character development for the upcoming second season. By being involved behind the scenes, Ortega is helping to shape the storyline in important ways. Her work with the writers lets her guide Wednesday’s character and ensure that the show keeps its dark and clever tone. This hands-on experience in developing storylines and plot twists is helping her grow as an actor and a storyteller. Her role as both actor and producer shows her commitment to bringing Wednesday’s story to life in an honest way while also allowing her to build her skills as a writer and team player.

Putting It All Together 

Wednesday quickly became one of Netflix’s top 10 shows when it was first released, and much of its success is thanks to Jenna Ortega and her unique portrayal of Wednesday Addams. Ortega’s take on the character captivated viewers, bringing her career to new heights. Not only has she grown as an actress through this role, but she’s now involved in the creative process, helping to write and shape the show’s story. This experience has opened doors for Ortega, allowing her to take on roles and responsibilities she once thought might be out of reach.

Watch Wednesday on Netflix now!

Wednesday (2022) Official Netflix Trailer

Source: Dead Talk Live

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Author

Author at Dead Talk News |  Posts

Janaye is a graduate student at Rowan University, pursuing a degree in Writing Arts. She previously earned her bachelor's degree in the same field, specializing in creative writing and public publishing.

Elke Simmons' writing portfolio includes contributions to The Laredo Morning Times, Walt Disney World Eyes and Ears, Extinction Rebellion (XR) News/Blog, and Dead Talk News.