Wednesday Season 2: Jenna Ortega Talks About Being Taken Seriously and New Addams Family Faces Joining the Fun

Wednesday turned Jenna Ortega into a name everyone knows. But some parts of playing her teenage character are proving hard to shake off. Ortega, who is now 22, talked about her mixed feelings toward the fame that came with her Netflix show in an interview with Harper's Bazaar. It sounds like a lot to handle for anyone.

"To be quite frank, after the show and trying to figure everything out, I was an unhappy person," Ortega said. "After the pressure, the attention — as somebody who's quite introverted, that was so intense and so scary." It makes you think about how suddenly being so well-known can affect someone, especially if they prefer to keep to themselves.

Ortega’s friend and costar Natalie Portman shared her own feelings about being treated differently because she was a child actor and is physically small. "We're both physically tiny, so people will often treat you like a child forever," Portman said. "I'm 43 now, and people kind of pat me on the head. I don't look like a child, but I often feel like I'm treated like a kid." Ortega agreed with Portman completely. It seems like a frustrating experience for both actresses.

Jenna Ortega Opens Up About The Challenges Of Being Seen As A Child Actor And Her Wednesday Role

Understanding How The "Schoolgirl Persona" Makes It Hard For Her To Be Taken Seriously

Ortega really connected with Portman's thoughts. She said, "I relate to that so immensely, and it's always been really annoying, because you just don't feel like you're being taken seriously." It sounds like this feeling comes from a few places. She mentioned how playing a schoolgirl can feel "very patronizing." She also added that when you are short people are "already physically looking down on you." It must be hard when your acting work makes people assume things about you, especially when you are trying to grow up.

The actress noted that her character’s age and the setting of a boarding school make people think she is younger than she really is. "I'm doing a show I'm going to be doing for years where I play a schoolgirl," Ortega said. "But I'm also a young woman." She feels that young men in the public eye have more freedom to change from teen stars to grown-up actors. But for girls it is different. "If they don't stay as this perfect image of how they were first introduced to you, then it's 'Ah, something's wrong. She's changed. She sold her soul.'" Ortega rightly points out that women are "experimenting because that’s what you do" during pivotal times in their lives.

Ortega also finds it bothersome when people say, "Oh, you don't understand. You're so young." She believes that if you are not open to your experiences and willing to learn from mistakes you will not grow. She said, "You're choosing to be a bystander." Despite these struggles, Ortega mentioned that her experience has been better on Wednesday Season 2. She is also a producer on this season. "I sit in on meetings and listen and learn," she explained. "I'm still finding my footing in that area." It sounds like she is working hard to have more control and be heard.

Wednesday Season 2 Promises More Spooks With New Characters And A Darker Tone

The Addams Family Grows And The Show Leans Into Its Horror Side For The Next Episodes

Netflix is bringing out the second season of Wednesday later this year. The show's creators have already shared some interesting details. Jenna Ortega's Wednesday Addams is going back to Nevermore Academy. She will face new enemies and troubles there. But that is not all that is new in season 2. When Wednesday returns, a new member of the Addams Family will appear. Joanna Lumley will play Grandmama, Hester Frump. Creator Miles Millar talked about Lumley joining the cast and how fun she will be for the Addams Family.

"She's a whole different flavor of Addams that brings such delicious fun to the show and into the family," Millar told Entertainment Weekly. Lumley's Hester will join other Addams Family members we saw in season 1. These include Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams, Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley, and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams. Looking ahead to season 2, Millar admitted it was tricky to find the right balance with the family, including Hester. He said: "We weren't sure how many episodes that character should be in, but seeing how well it played, I think Grandmama will definitely be coming back if we get a Season 3." That is good news for fans of the eccentric family.

Lumley's Grandmama Hester is not the only new face we will see when the show finally returns. Other new cast members include Steve Buscemi as Barry Dort, Billie Piper as Capri, and Thandiwe Newton as Dr. Fairburn. While a third season has not been confirmed yet, the show is coming back for season 2, part 1 on August 6. Addams Family members, like Hester, will have a bigger part in the new episodes. Co-creator Alfred Gough said that Gomez and Morticia will be staying at Nevermore Academy more often in season 2. "You get to explore the mother-daughter dynamic with Wednesday and Morticia. So, it's really delving more into the Addams family and their backstory, but also their relationships. You can have a family that loves each other, but there's still issues and clashes."

Hester Frump looks like an exciting addition to Wednesday season 2. The show was renewed in January 2023. It took over a year and a half for the second season to arrive. The wait for season 3 might be similar. For now, Millar suggested audiences should get ready for new, unexpected things in the second run. "The last thing you want is people to be disappointed, having waited for so long. We really want to ensure that the show is loaded with surprises and comedy and action, and that they see the characters they love, but also introduce new ones," he shared. It sounds like they are working hard to make sure the long wait is worth it.

What Else Is Coming For Wednesday Fans And When To Expect New Episodes

Release Dates For The Split Season And How The Show Will Continue To Evolve

Showrunner Miles Millar hinted at the upcoming second season of the show. "Season 2 definitely has some moments which are more straightforward horror," he said. He added, "we're very aware that the show is watched by everybody in terms of the age groups. So we want to make sure that it's never torture porn, but that there's enough bite to it that it feels that there are real stakes and that people die in this world, and it's scary at moments. And I think that's the great tonal shift that the show makes between comedy and horror." This means we can expect some genuinely creepy moments alongside the show's dark humor. The blend of comedy and horror is a big part of what makes the show work so well.

The first season of Wednesday was incredibly successful. It became Netflix's most-watched series in its first week. It got 252.1 million views and 1.7188 billion viewing hours. This put a lot of attention on Jenna Ortega. While such popularity is something every actor dreams of, it also comes with downsides. Ortega found this out after season one. She was praised for the dark humor she brought to Wednesday. Her acting was a big reason for the show's success.

Part 1 of season 2 of Wednesday arrives on August 6 on Netflix. Part 2 will then come out on September 3. This season will continue the story and take things to the next level. Music star Lady Gaga is also reportedly joining the cast which has many fans excited since it was announced. The second season of Wednesday is expected to be another big hit for Netflix, especially if it can keep up the quality from the first season.