Despite the record-breaking success of Netflix's Wednesday and the acclaim it has garnered its lead actor, Jenna Ortega wishes the series wasn't so popular.

In an interview with The Times, Ortega spoke about the success of Wednesday compared to her original expectations and how it's changed her life since its debut last November. Ortega insists she never thought Wednesday would become the hit show it is today, revealing she didn't think it would get much viewership at first. "I didn't expect the reaction. The [Wednesday] cast and I, I remember, we used to talk about it in Romania [where the show was filmed], we were like, 'Hey, what do you think will happen with the show?' That was it, that was the most we ever really got into it. So I thought it wasn't going to be watched. That it will be a nice little gem that someone finds," she said.

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When pressed on whether she preferred Wednesday to become an underground hit rather than a mainstream sensation, Ortega agreed, recalling her experience as Harley Diaz on Disney's Stuck in the Middle and how that, as well as Wednesday, changed everything for her. "Yeah. I used to do a Disney show when I was younger. I was a little bit of a public figure, used to get recognized, or whatever. When I look back, I think I was so out of place. I didn't understand where I was... and you start to see Hollywood for the first time, and it's a bit intimidating, a bit off-putting," she said. "I felt like I was a people's princess. I didn't really feel like myself. Then it started to slow down and I lived a pretty normal life.... until Wednesday, until now, I think."

A Hit New Version of Wednesday Addams

Ortega nearly didn't play Wednesday Addams in the series, based on The Addams Family character, revealing how she passed up on the role multiple times in recent interviews, originally wanting to work on more theatrical projects she was passionate about. However, the opportunity to work with Tim Burton, who serves as an executive producer on Wednesday, ultimately convinced her to take the lead role, one she soon embraced given she was going to play a Latina in a main part.

Wednesday's success has been game-changing for Netflix, with Season 1 of the horror-comedy becoming the second-most watched English-language TV series in the streaming service's history, only trailing Stranger Things Season 4. Wednesday's premiere toppled House of the Dragon to become the most-viewed series debut in 2022 while also grabbing a Nielsen streaming record, reaching the 5 billion minutes viewership mark this past January.

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Ortega thanked the Wednesday fans for their unwavering support after Netflix announced the show's Season 2 renewal. The actor has already stated she hopes to see more horror and less romantic tropes in Wednesday Season 2, with the Season 1 finale teasing a potential major storyline in the upcoming season where Ortega's character may uncover who sent her a threatening text message.

Fans can watch Season 1 of Wednesday on Netflix and see Ortega in the newly released Scream VI, in theaters now.

Source: The Times