Jenna Ortega said working on her hit Netflix show Wednesday, explaining it was not ‘proudest moment’ of her acting career so far.
In an interview on the Armchair Expert With Dax Shepard podcast, the 20-year-old actress, who is gracing the cover of Elle magazine, opened up about some of the behind the scenes difficulties.
She admitted she was not always happy with the script, and at times, let the frustration get the best of her.
‘There were times on that set where I even became unprofessional, in a sense, where I just started changing lines,’ she said.
The Kids Choice Award winner said she was very protective of her character. ‘The script supervisor thought I was going with something,’ she explained, ‘and then I would have to sit down with the writers, and they’d be like, “Wait, what happened to the scene?” And I would have to go through and explain why I couldn’t do certain things.’
Unprofessional: Jenna Ortega said working on her hit Netflix show Wednesday, explaining it was not ‘proudest moment’ of her acting career so far. In an effort to protect the character she revealed, ‘There were times on that set where I even became unprofessional’
Dance scene: Jenna said she rejected the idea that her now viral dance scene would begin with a flash mob and a line about the costume she wore that went, ‘Oh, my god, I love it! I can’t believe I said that. I literally hate myself.” And I had to go, “No, there’s no way”’
One example the Scream star used to explain the discord to Dax and his co-host Monica Padman, was regarding the costume she wore in the school dance scenes.
‘There was a line about this dress that she has to wear for a school dance, and she says, “Oh, my God, I love it! I can’t believe I said that. I literally hate myself.” And I had to go, “No, there’s no way.”’
The Disney alum also put her foot down about the circumstances leading up to her now viral dance.
‘Initially, it was supposed to be a flash mob, and she was supposed to start dancing, and everyone was supposed to pick up on it and start dancing with her,’ she shared.
‘And that, I vetoed because why would she be OK with that?’ she explained. ‘I said, “Either cut it or have Wednesday knock someone out, and then it’s done.”’
Jenna admitted she was too overwhelmed with other tasks, including learning to fence and play cello, to work with a choreographer on the dance, and was allowed to create the moves herself.
She was also unhappy with some of the ‘morbid’ things Wednesday had to say.
‘When you’re little and you say morbid, offensive stuff, it’s funny and endearing and, “Aww, you don’t know any better,”‘ she explained.
Overwhelmed: Jenna admitted she was too overwhelmed with other tasks, including learning to fence and play cello, to work with a choreographer on the dance, and was allowed to create the now viral moves herself
Morbid: Jenna was unhappy with some of the ‘morbid’ things Wednesday had to say. ‘When you’re little and you say morbid, offensive stuff, it’s funny and endearing… But then you become a teenager — it’s, “Now you’re being nasty and you know it.” There’s less excuse’
Love triangle: Jenna said Wednesday’s love triangle between fellow student Xavier, played by Percy Hynes White (seen here), and townie Tyler, played by Hunter Doohan ‘made no sense’
‘But then you become a teenager — it’s, “Now you’re being nasty and you know it.” There’s less excuse.’
Jenna was also displeased with the love triangle between Wednesday, fellow student Xavier, played by Percy Hynes White, and townie Tyler, played by Hunter Doohan.
‘Her being in a love triangle made no sense.’ she adamantly contended.
The actress did give way on certain aspects, saying ‘You can’t lead a story and have no emotional arc because then it’s boring and nobody likes you.’
Jenna shared scenes with acting luminaries such as Catherine Zeta Jones and Luis Guzman who starred as Wednesday’s parents Morticia and Gomez Addams.
And she also worked with Gwendoline Christie as the Nevermore Academy head mistress and Christina Ricci as a teacher.
Family portrait: Jenna shared scenes with acting luminaries such as Catherine Zeta Jones and Luis Guzman who starred as Wednesday’s parents Morticia and Gomez Addams, and Isaac Ordonez who stars as little brother Pugsley
Arc: The actress did give way on certain aspects, saying ‘you can’t lead a story and have no emotional arc because then it’s boring and nobody likes you’
‘I can’t watch my work, but I can go home from set and say, “The scene that we shot today felt good.” On Wednesday, there was not a scene in that show that I went home and was like, “OK, that should be fine.”‘
Although Jenna may not have been satisfied with the creative process, audiences were pleased with the final product.
She received nominations for her work on the series from the Screen Actors Guild, the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards.
‘My brain completely disregards that,’ she said. ‘Oh, the general public must be so easy to please.’
Jenna may have some of her concerns about the show addressed before production begins on Season two of Wednesday.
Netflix confirmed in January via a teaser trailer that the show would return to the streaming service, but has not yet issued a release date.
Nominations: Jenna said she was surprised to receive SAG, Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations for her performance. ‘My brain completely disregards that,’ she said. ‘Oh, the general public must be so easy to please’
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