Wednesdayhas delighted audiences on multiple fronts, and Jenna Ortega’s performance as the titular character has been one particular aspect that has received a lot of praise. Ortega, as it turns out, brought the character to life in her own way and even choreographed Wednesday Addams' now-iconic dance sequence.
Wednesdayis Tim Burton’s take onThe Addams Family.It’s been a major success forNetflix, withWednesdayeven outpacing aStranger Thingsviewership record. The series follows Wednesday Addams as she traverses a new stomping ground: a private high school for outcasts called Nevermore Academy. The school is full of supernatural happenings and plenty of other kids her age.
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In the obligatory high school dance episode, Wednesday launches into her own over-the-top dance. Taking to Twitter, Ortega explained that she was the one to choreograph the scene and had various inspirations when doing so. Ortega wrote in a caption over the scene, “Thanks to Siouxsie Sioux, Bob Fosse’s Rich Man’s Frug, Lisa Loring, Lene Lovich, Denis Lavant, and archival footage of goths dancing in clubs in the [’80s]. Helped me out on this one.”
ThoughWednesdayis filled with plenty of interesting characters, the scene captures why this is Ortega’s show. Hypnotic but also campy and in the spirit of the character, the sequence illustrates that Ortega is willing to do her research for a role and more than capable of pulling off some fun character decisions in her acting. It’s a moment that fans will probably remember for a long time, and it’s already become a viral meme to copy the dance on various social media platforms.
It also helps differentiateOrtega’s take inWednesdayfrom other features in the IP. Ortega’s characterization of Wednesday owes a lot of inspiration to Christina Ricci’s (who also happens to be in the show) portrayal of the character in the ‘90s film adaptations. It’s hard to imagine Ricci’s take on Wednesday dancing, but Ortega’s take feels natural and fun.
Ortega has previously talked aboutthe similarities between her and Wednesday, so it’s no surprise the actress can get into the character’s head like this. Though the show suffers from some cliches and has weaker characters in its ensemble, Ortega is a bright spot in the show itself.
