Photo: Vlad Cioplea/Netflix
Netflixhas a new favorite day of the week.
Wednesday, the streamer’s new Addams Family series, is officially one of Netflix’s most popular shows of all time, having become the first English-language series tosurpass 400 million viewing hoursin a single week. Shortly after its record-breaking release in November 2022, the series wasrenewed for a second season.
In addition to an acclaimed director, the series also has an all-star cast, featuring a mix of A-list stars, up-and-coming actors and even an Addams Family alum.
For the show’s lead,Jenna Ortega, stepping into the role of Wednesday was a no-brainer. “People have been telling me I look like her since I was six years old,” the actress told PEOPLE. “And I have a pretty dark sense of humor!”
From where you’ve seen their faces before to their off-screen dating lives, here’s everything to know about the cast ofWednesday.
Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage ; Netflix
Jenna Ortega, 20, was already one to watch before taking on the titular role inWednesday, but the series has undoubtedly catapulted the actress' career to new heights.
However, there was almost a reality in which Ortega didn’t play Wednesday Addams. In March 2023, she toldThe Times U.K.thatshe originally “passed” on the roleseveral times.
Prior toWednesday, Ortega was best known for her role as Ellie Alves in the second season ofYou, but she actually got her start as a child actress. The California native portrayed young Jane onJane the Virginfrom 2014 to 2019 and was later cast as Harley Diaz in Disney Channel’sStuck in the Middle.
Even before the release ofWednesday, Ortega was already establishing herself as a scream queen. She played Tara Carpenter in the fifth installment of theScreamfranchise, a role she revived inScream 6. She also appeared inA24’sX, playing the girlfriend of an adult film director in the 1970s-set indie slasher.
“One time, I did a take where I didn’t blink at all,” she recalled to the publication about how she and director Burton developed her take on Wednesday’s signature scowl. “He loved it so much that he gave me the note to not blink again. If I did blink, we’d restart the take.”
One of the most captivating moments of the series occurs when Wednesday attends her high school dance at Nevermore and performs a gothic dance to The Cramps' “The Goo Goo Muck.” The scene quickly became a fan-favorite thanks to Wednesday’s eccentric moves, which Ortega later revealed she came up with herself.
“I choreographed that myself!” Ortegatold NME. “I’m not a dancer and I’m sure that’s obvious. I’d gotten the song about a week before and I just pulled from whatever I could … it’s crazy because it was my first day with COVID so it was awful to film.”
Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty ; Vlad Cioplea/Netflix
Catherine Zeta-Jones, 53, takes on the role of the family matriarch, Morticia Addams.
The Academy Award winner started as a child actress in London’s West End, appearing in musicals likeAnnieandBugsy Malone. She then appeared on the British television seriesThe Darling Buds of May, which aired from 1991 to 1993. After relocating to Los Angeles, Zeta-Jones became a household name with leading roles in films likeThe Mask of Zorro(1998),Entrapment(1999),Traffic(2000) andChicago(2002), the latter of which she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.
The actress returned to television in 2017 for the first season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology seriesFeudin the role of Olivia de Havilland. She then had a recurring role in season 2 of the Fox dramaProdigal Sonin 2021 before making her streaming series debut inWednesday.
Zeta-JonestoldInStylethat she set out to create a new version of the iconic character in the Netflix series. She focused on crafting Morticia as a modern mother dealing with many of the same issues as any parent with a teen — albeit with the added supernatural aspect.
“It’s really Wednesday’s story. I’m hoping that they continue with Wednesday’s story forever, so I can grow old playing Morticia,” she said. “I mean, nothing would make me more happy than to be 80 years old and still playing Morticia.”
In real life, Zeta-Jones is a mother of two children, Carys and Dylan, whom she shares with her husband of 22 years,Michael Douglas. Dylan, 22,accompanied his mother to the L.A. premiere ofWednesday, where the actress gushed to PEOPLE about the support her children have shown her.
“Both my daughter and Dylan have been so incredibly supportive to me, not just as an actor, but just me, you know,” she said of their “very close relationship.”
“I’ve been extremely blessed to be able to have both in my life,” she added.
The following month, Zeta-Jonescompared Carys to the character Wednesday. On Dec. 22, 2022, the actress shared a throwback video of her daughter wearing a black and white top at a school event and glaring off-screen.
“Carys, my real daughter as a little girl. 🤣,” Zeta-Joneswrote in the caption. “I have had a Wednesday Addams in my life for 19 years and 9 months.🤣 Morticia and I love you my little rain cloud🖤.”
Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty ; Netflix
Guzmán agreed immediately, but he was sold even further on the project after reading the script for the first time.
“I got the script. I read it. The writing is … you know, the thing about this Addams Family, it’s not about slapstick. The writing is so good, it’s so funny. The delivery, and it makes it funny. That’s really what sold me,” he explained.
As for his personal life, Guzmán has been married to his wife, Angelita Galarza-Guzmán, since 1985. The couple have welcomed seven children together.
Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams
Michael Tullberg/FilmMagic ; Vlad Cioplea/Netflix
The role of Wednesday’s favorite torture victim, her brother Pugsley Addams, went to 13-year-old actor Isaac Ordonez. He previously appeared in Disney’sA Wrinkle in Time(2018) and a handful of indie and short films, though the Netflix series was the young actor’s breakout role. However, as Ordoneztold J-14, he wasn’t nervous “at all” to step in the shoes of such a well-known character.
“I just went in blind,” he explained, adding that he wanted to add a “funny” element to Pugsley. “I just went with it and created him.”
Christina Ricci as Marilyn Thornhill
Joining the cast ofWednesdaywas a full-circle moment for Christina Ricci, 43, who previously played the titular character when she was 10 years old in 1991’sThe Addams Family.
The actress reprised her role as Wednesday again in 1993 forAddams Family Valuesbefore going on to star in several ’90s hits, such asCasperandNow and Then. Ricci then went on to appear in more than a dozen films, includingThe Opposite of Sex(1998),Sleepy Hollow(1999) andMonster(2003).
More than 30 years after she first donned Wednesday’s gothic look, Ricci returned to the Addams Family world to play Marylin Thornhill, the house mother of Wednesday’s dorm at Nevermore. When asked about passing the reins to Ortega, RiccitoldElleshe was thrilled to see the young actress take on the iconic role.
“I loved being Wednesday,” Ricci said. “I’m very proud of that role. I also think Jenna Ortega is amazing. She is so brave, so cool, and really doing the part justice. Wednesday is her part now … [and] those two things can be true at the same time!”
Aside from her career, Ricci is also a mother to two children. She welcomed her son Freddie, 8, with her ex-husbandJames Heerdegenin 2014. Ricci later filed for divorce from Heerdegen in July 2020. In August 2021, the actress revealed she was expecting her second child, her first with her now-husband, hairstylist Mark Hampton. Two months later, Ricci and Hamptontied the knotin October. They thenwelcomed their daughter Cleopatra, 1, in December 2021.
Gwendoline Christie as Larissa Weems
Game of Thronesalum Gwendoline Christie, 44, plays Nevermore’s Principal Weems inWednesday, tasked with keeping the peace between the school’s students as well as with the local town’s “normie” residents. While Christie is best known for portraying Brienne of Tarth in the HBO series, she’s also appeared in a few other major film franchises.
Playing Principal Weems inWednesdaywas a departure from some of Christie’s previous roles. The actress talked withEntertainment Weeklyabouthow much the character meant to her personally, as she got to work with Burton to help shape the role of Nevermore’s fearless leader.
“He said, ‘You can do whatever you like with the character, feel free to make it whatever you want and we’ll keep talking about it,’ " Christie explained. “And that was an unbelievable opportunity from this great cinematic master.”
She added, “It is the first time I’ve ever felt beautiful on screen.”
As for her life off-screen, Christie has been in a long-term relationship with fashion designer Giles Deacon since 2013. The pair have even collaborated on a project together, as Deacondesigned Christie’s wardrobefor her take on Lucifer in Netflix’s adaptation ofThe Sandman.
Emma Myers as Enid Sinclair
Wednesday’s roommate, Enid Sinclair, quickly became one of the series' fan favorites, thanks to Emma Myers' portrayal of the werewolf-in-training as a positive (and colorful) influence on the gloomy protagonist. The 20-year-old has been acting since she was a child, and previously appeared in films likeGirl in the Basement(2021) andA Taste of Christmas(2020).
Not only didWednesdaymark her biggest role yet, but it also presented Myers with another career first — getting to work with actors her own age. The actresstoldTeen Voguethat one of the best parts of filming the series in Romania was bonding with her fellow castmates.
“I’ve never had a cast around my age before. I’m normally the youngest one on set,” she said. “We got along so well.”
Joy Sunday as Bianca Barclay
As Nevermore’s resident “it girl,” Bianca Barclay is less than enthused about the arrival of Wednesday Addams, who immediately threatens the school’s status quo. And while the character of a queen bee clashing with a protagonist is nothing new, actress Joy Sunday, 26, was excited to bring a new side to the stereotypical “mean girl.”
“I was just elated to be able to put my own spin on it and to really provide a nuanced take on the mean girl, the strong girl,” Sundaytold Deadline. “I feel lucky to have been able to play her.”
Sunday previously appeared in Netflix’sDear White Peopleand Freeform’sGood Trouble. She’s also lent her voice to the narration of a few audiobooks, includingBlack Panther: Tales of Wakanda. The actress cites herself as a huge fan ofBlack PantherstarDanai Gurira, and has her sights set on teaming up with the actress for a future project.
“I would be elated to work with her in any capacity. If it’s not part of a Marvel project, maybe it could be through Wednesday. There might be a future,” she told Deadline.
Hunter Doohan as Tyler Galpin
Despite being a “normie” living in the town adjacent to Nevermore, Tyler Galpin quickly strikes up a friendship with Wednesday Addams after an intriguing run-in with her at the coffee shop where he works. Hunter Doohan, 29, takes on the role of Galpin, whose down-to-earth vibe is a stark contrast to Wednesday’s doom and gloom.
Off-screen, Doohanmarriedhis longtime partner Fielder Jewett in June 2022 — and his on-screen dad, Cranston, actually served as the officiant!
Percy Hynes White as Xavier Thorpe
Percy Hynes White, 21, stars in the series as Nevermore’s brooding bad boy. White previously appeared in films likeEdge of Winter(2016) andA Christmas Horror Story(2015). His first starring role came in 2016, when he was cast as mutant Andy Strucker in Fox’sX-MenspinoffThe Gifted.
The young actor’s role inWednesdaywas his biggest yet, but despite the pressure of filming a major series, White described his on-set experience as a “fun” one.
“It was like working on a huge blockbuster movie, and you’re with all of your friends and you’re just having a ball,” heexplained to theToronto Star.
Hynes White will get a chance to work with one of hisWednesdayfriends, Ortega, on another project. On Dec. 15, 2022,Deadlinereportedthat the two will star in MPCA’sWinter Spring Summer or Fall, for which Ortega is also serving as an executive producer. The story follows two teens who fall in love over four days of the year.
Hynes White and Ortega alsoappeared togetherat Billboard’s 2023Golden Globesafterparty, where Ortega stunned in a bustier corset with aWednesday-inspired collar and Hynes White looked dapper in a sparkly black blazer.
Victor Dorobantu as Thing
“Thing was a very different type of Thing. It was scarred with stitches. It’s a whole different kind of interpretation,” DorobantutoldVanity Fair.
Wednesdayis the Romanian hand performer’s first major television project, and though only a small part of him appeared on screen, the character required serious preparation. Dorobantu told the publication he studied American Sign Language, morse code and military hand gestures when developing Thing’s language. While filming, he donned a bluescreen suit, crouching behind Ortega to stay as invisible as possible.
Fred Armisen as Uncle Fester
John Shearer/Getty ; Vlad Cioplea/Netflix
Despite only appearing in one episode,Fred Armisen’s Uncle Fester was one of the most notable characters in the series. And even though his role was small, Armisen, 56, fully committed to the part,tellingVanity Fairthat he opted to shave his head instead of wearing a bald cap “to just make it that much more convincing.”
Armisen’s one-episode arc inWednesdayadds to a long list of other guest appearances he’s made over the years, popping up in shows like30 Rock,Parks and Recreation,Brooklyn Nine-Nine,Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidtand more. He’s best known, however, for his long-running stint onSaturday Night Liveand his sketch comedy showPortlandia.
Armisen was previously married to singer Sally Timms and actressElisabeth Moss. He most recently dated actressNatasha Lyonneuntil their split in April 2022.
Riki Lindhome as Dr. Valerie Kinbott
Gregg DeGuire/WireImage ; Vlad Cioplea/Netflix
In March 2022, Lindhome revealed onInstagramthat she had welcomed her first child, a son.
source: people.com
