Jenna Ortega Credits 'Wednesday' Character For Adventurous Sense Of Style

Jenna Ortega's style has evolved thanks to Wednesday Addams!

The actress has shared the critical fashion pointers she picked from her time playing the titular character in the hit horror Netflix series last year. In fact, she rocked Wednesday-inspired outfits to most of the recent events she has attended, including the Screen Actors Guild (SAG)  Awards, which was held in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 26.

Although Ortega has grown since she appeared in the Disney Channel series "Stuck in the Middle," the most significant change she has experienced came during her time on "Wednesday." The actress revealed that the character, who leaned toward goth-themed clothing, had influenced her to upgrade her wardrobe and style. Speaking to Vogue in a new interview, the former child star said:

"I've always respected goth culture. I've always had a darker sense of humor, but I never felt like I was able to express that. Now I feel like I can embrace those qualities in myself."

She explained that until she partook in the series, she had been "really, really attached to my long hair." However, since she switched things up, she has become more courageous in being "more adventurous; to experiment and be more creative in that way."

The "Yes Day" lead star had the opportunity to show off her new style when she popped up at the 2023 SAG Awards wearing a pretty black Versace number. The dress featured a cleavage-baring top with a flowing skirt and thigh-high slit that showed off her long legs.

She uplifted the look with silver rings, a necklace, black platform heels, and a subtle face beat that emphasized her natural beauty. The Critics' Choice Super Awards winner's short brown hair was styled into wavy pieces that framed her face perfectly. 

Last month, Ortega disclosed that she had made "sensible" changes to the "Wednesday" script to make it more relatable to its target audience. The Golden Globes-nominated star revealed the tidbit during her appearance on "Armchair Expert" podcast:

"When I read the entire series, I realized, 'Oh, this is for younger audiences.' When I first signed onto the show, I didn't have all the scripts. I thought it was going to be a lot darker. It wasn't…I didn't know what the tone was or what the score would sound like."

The "Elena of Avalor: Scepter Training With Zuzo" voice actress then mentioned that some parts of the script were so bad that she took the unconventional route of changing lines. All in all, her plan was to give her character a more rounded personality than the writers gave her on paper. In her words, per The Blast:

"You can't lead a story and have no emotional arc because then it's boring, and nobody likes you. When you are little and say very morbid, offensive stuff, it's funny and endearing. But then you become a teenager, and it's nasty, and you know it. There's less of an excuse."

Despite having Addams' best interest at heart, Ortega's confession was met with backlash from producer Steven DeKnight, who, according to The Blast, aired his grievance on social media. 

"I love talking with actors about their lines/stories. But by the nature of the beast, they don't have the full picture of where the story is going and why some lines are needed for the whole to make sense," the "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" writer began in his lengthy Twitter rant.

While he admitted that the Imagen Awards winner's age might have influenced her actions, she would have been displeased if the situation was reversed, with the showrunners publicly slamming her acting skills. DeKnight then concluded:

"This kind of statement is beyond entitled and toxic. I love her work, but life's too short to deal with people like this in the business."

The writer's rant quickly received attention, with one person commenting that Ortega was just "honest and determined" and another claiming that he gave off "gross vibes." He has since walked back his criticism, claiming that he felt under pressure because of the impending writer's strike.