Jenna Ortega: “Wednesday has become a full -fledged weapon”

Revealed from childhood on television, Jenna Ortega is today one of the most prominent actresses of her generation. At 21, she resumed her cult role from Wednesday Addams in season 2 of the successful series of Netflix, expected from August 6, 2025 and in which Lady Gaga will appear. Darker, more physical, this new salve of episodes reveals an always so singular heroine. Meeting with an actress in full control of her character.

In this new, more intense season, what has been your main challenge?

Learning new weapons! There was a multifunction knife, a kind of Swiss knife, moreover, which I had never handled before. You had to be precise, especially with Hunter Doohan, who plays Tyler, just opposite – I obviously didn’t want to hurt anyone. There was also an ax, swords, daggers. I had already used in season 1, but it was less advanced. That said, I was told that I was learning quickly!

Tim Burton says your biggest weapon … is the cello. You confirm?

(Laughs) Yes. I am not a virtuoso, but I come out of it. For Wednesday, the cello is an extension of itself. It is almost a symbolic weapon. Whenever I play, I feel that it strengthens its presence.

What do you appreciate the most at home?

His strength and confidence. In general, we are looking for a character’s flaws. But Wednesday, she did not doubt. She is fully herself. And that simplifies the game: if a scene did not correspond to him, I sometimes got out of the frame, without saying anything. It was our way of saying: “It’s not her.”

You seem to be very linked to this role …

Completely. From the first season, I was on the set before everyone else. I like to observe. And Tim Burton leaves a lot of freedom: he can reinvent a scene from a word from the script. Working with him is never falling into the routine.

What memories do you keep of the sets of this season 2?

They were beautiful. We filmed in Ireland, more in Romania. The atmosphere was different, but still very Gothic. The sets were covered with foam, spiders … As we burned part of the school at the end of season 1, everything was rebuilt. Mark, our chef, really let go.

A scene with Hester – the character of Joanna Lumley – who shoots pigeons in clay while Wednesday talks to him. It sounds simple, but the details were crazy: hugs of croquet made of bone … When you enter a plateau like it, you no longer need to play, we are already in the universe.

This season explores the emotions of Wednesday, especially with Enid, embodied by Emma Myers. How did you approach this?

It’s delicate. For Wednesday, a hug is something “traumatic”. She prefers to pretend nothing had happened. She had opened up a bit to Enid at the end of the first season, but now she refuses to talk about this. Enid has become like a sister. Even without words, it acts, and it is already proof.

Do you have a ritual before turning?

(Laughs) Yes. I listen to industrial music. Noise, raw. It immediately immerses me in tone.

What do you hope that the public discovers in this season?

Steve Buscemi has a great role and Joanna Lumley is incredible. Each appearance of Joanna is a highlight. We had a crazy chance to have them with us this season.