The star of Netflix’s Wednesday has become an icon within the LGBTQIA community
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY NETFLIX
If you’ve been on TikTok in the last three weeks and managed to avoid spoilers for Netflix’s new Addams Family adaptation, Wednesday, you must have your own supernatural powers. Released on 23 November 2022, Wednesday follows the high school struggles of everyone’s favourite angsty teenager – Wednesday Addams played by Jenna Ortega. Including a confusing love triangle, a dismembered hand as a confidant, and a deadly monster attacking the local village, Wednesday is not just your average high school drama.
Beyond the show itself, fans on TikTok have been going crazy over its lead actor – Jenna Ortega. At only 20-years-old, Jenna has already had an impressive acting career from starring in Jane The Virgin to becoming a resident “scream queen” in 2022 slasher films X and Scream. #JennaOrtega already has over 13 BILLION views on TikTok alone, and queer TikTok has firmly claimed her as their own.
Jenna hasn’t specified her sexuality online, but she’s proven herself to be a great ally to the LGBTQIA community throughout her career. When asked in a recent interview by Gayety about why Wednesday was such a popular character within the LGBTQIA community, she said: “She’s cool, she’s got a nice sense of style, but she’s somebody who embraces her differences and isn’t out to please anybody. I feel like that’s a really, really powerful thing to see. I feel like people want to see powerful women with powerful women.”
But what is TikTok going crazy for right now?
THAT dance
It’s everywhere at the moment. Lady Gaga even donned the iconic plaits and posted a video of her dancing to Jenna’s infamous scene. Choreographed by Jenna herself days before shooting, the erratic dance moves to Goo Goo Muck by The Cramps have captured the imagination of TikTok.
Jenna said in an interview that the scene was largely inspired by a combination of choreography by icons like Bob Fosse and videos she found of goths dancing in the 80s.
@jamiemaximoff 90’s wednesday >>>> still amazing tho #jennaortega #edit #aftereffects #netflix #wednesdayaddams #theaddamsfamily #velocity #dance #jamiemaximoff ♬ jamiemaximoff – ᴊᴀᴍɪᴇ 🙂
Like most things, TikTokers took their own spin on the scene by changing the song to a sped-up version of Lady Gaga’s Bloody Mary. #WednesdayDance has over 870 million views with fans putting on cosplay to recreate the iconic scene.
Her obsession with Gwendoline Christie
If we were Jenna Ortega, we’d probably do the same. TikTok has fallen in love with Jenna’s obsession with her co-star Gwendoline Christie who plays Principal Weems in the show. Gwendoline is mostly known for her role as Brienne in Game Of Thrones or as Lucifer in Netflix’s The Sandman. Everything from Jenna’s pet name for her being “my woman” to her adoring gaze is enough to fill hundreds of TikTok edits.
@sapphicsource Pls Jenna😂 #fypシ #wednesday #wednesdayaddams #jennaortega #netflix ♬ original sound – Sapphic Source
#Wenclair
Wednesday’s black and white aesthetic is soon compromised in the show by rooming with Enid Sinclair – a werewolf that loves nothing more than rainbows and bright colours. Played by co-star Emma Myers, fans were quick to point out the soft spot that Wednesday develops for her polar-opposite friend.
@youre.hawtt and they were roommates🤭 #wenclair #girlfriends #lgbt #wednesdayaddams #emmamyers #jennaortega ♬ original sound – secret😋
In an interview with Pride.com when asked if she thought Wednesday and Enid would make a good couple, Emma quotes the popular vine reference “and they were roommates”. Both Jenna and Emma seem to be in support of the #Wenclair ship – maybe we’ll see something more in season two?
@slvre they’re such good friends | #fyp #foryou #wednesday #wednesdayaddams #enidsinclair ♬ original sound – ㅤ
Her red carpet looks
At the Wednesday premiere, Jenna looked amazing in an iconic all-black Versace dress complete with a veil and thigh slit. She’s also been photographed in a variety of black lace dresses since the show aired such as her outfit on Jimmy Fallon which sent TikTok into a frenzy. Fans across the internet are obsessed with her in-character dresses, and she seems to still be channelling her inner Wednesday outside of the show.
@enews When we look at #JennaOrtega, the following emojis come to mind: 🖤⭐️😍 #Wednesday ♬ original sound – heyy
Do you think you’ll be getting into costume to join in with the trend any time soon?
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