Jenna Ortega Discusses Her Work Choreographing The Popular Wednesday Dance
Wednesday is Netflix’s second most-watched program in the platform’s history, with over a billion streams. Jenna Ortega, who played Wednesday’s Addams, recently came on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and discussed her role frankly, notably the dance number she created herself. Ortega, who has been labeled the “Next Big Thing” in Hollywood, described how she constructed her performance with little previous experience. Wednesday is based on Charles Addams’ character Wednesday Addams, who strives to solve a monster mystery at her school. It was nominated for two Golden Globes: Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy for Ortega.
Jenna Ortega went two days without sleeping before filming the Wednesday dance sequence.
Ortega, who is a major horror lover, thinks that working on horror films and series is both therapeutic and pleasurable. She referred to the program’s cast and crew as her family, noting that everyone kept the seriousness at bay while working on the show. Jenna then underlined the show’s renowned dance scene, explaining how director Tim Burton allowed her entire latitude to choreograph it and had complete trust in her ability to carry it off spectacularly. She stated:
“‘I know you’ve got it,’ he said. You’ve been hard at work on it. I’m not even bothered by it. ‘I have faith in you.’ ‘Oh, sure, you know, it’s all so lovely,’ I replied.”
Jenna danced to Goo Goo Muck, a song written and performed by the iconic punk band The Cramps. She had a great time dancing to the song since she is a huge fan of the band and punk rock in general. She also confessed that she hadn’t prepared or practiced prior. Everything we witnessed was done on the spot. The initial plan was for a flash mob, but Ortega advised the director that Wednesday Addams would be better off alone. She stated:
“They wanted a flash mob at first, but I said no way Wednesday would be okay with dancing and encouraging a lot of people.”
Ortega then admitted that she didn’t have time to rehearse the dance since she was busy with cello and fencing that week. She continued, saying:
“I hadn’t given it much thought. Oh my goodness. I was cursing at myself. I felt like a complete moron. I don’t dance. I don’t do any of those things. I have no experience in that subject. I hadn’t slept in two days.”
She watched footage of Siouxsie Sioux, Lene Lovich, and Nina Hagen, as well as Denis Levant’s dancing skills in Claire Denis’ 1999 masterpiece Beau Travail, while creating the sequence, but felt unprepared on set. In the sequence, Ortega even paid respect to Lisa Loring, the original Wednesday Addams, but that bit was tragically cut.
Ortega first dismissed the forecast that her dance would “be a phenomenon on TikTok,” but their prediction came true. The breakthrough star will next be featured in the Paramount+ thriller film Finestkind starring Tommy Lee Jones, Ben Foster, and Toby Wallace and reprise the role of Tara Carpenter in Scream VI.
What is the plot of Netflix’s successful series Wednesday?
Wednesday is an American coming-of-age supernatural mystery comedy horror streaming television series created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar based on Charles Addams’ character Wednesday Addams.
According to the show’s official description:
“Weekend Addams, smart, sarcastic, and a touch dead inside, investigates a murder spree while finding new friends — and opponents — at Nevermore Academy.”
Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, Isaac Ordonez, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Fred Armisen, and Christina Ricci co-star alongside Jenna Ortega in the title role.
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