WednesdayactressJenna Ortegasparked controversy last year with her critical comments about the writing of the hit Netflix series, and has dealt with backlash from fans ever since. However, an interview earlier this week withWednesdaywriters Alfred Gough and Miles Millar clarified that, although Ortega’s comments may have been in poor taste, there is no animosity against the up-and-coming actress.
Follows Wednesday Addams' years as a student, when she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart and solve the mystery that embroiled her parents. Directed by Tim Burton.
In a podcast appearanceshortly following the release ofWednesday, Ortega criticized some choices that were made for her character, expressing her desire to alter certain lines and scenes against the writers' wishes. Although she has since assumed responsibility for her “unprofessional” attitude, the comments continued to draw attention — possibly due to the enormous fanbase that quickly amassed behindWednesdayupon its debut. While some fans rallied behind Ortega, others accused her of hating the show or attacked her behavior as childish.
Series writers Gough and Millar finally addressed Ortega’s comments this week in an interview withThe Hollywood Reporter, seeming eager to put the controversy to rest. They attributed Ortega’s behavior to her inexperience in the spotlight, and stated that, although disputes on set are never pleasant, they’re almost certain to happen when working with young stars.“What you don’t want,” Gough added, “is to give these things oxygen.“The writers went on to praise Ortega’s work and dedication, indicating that there was truly no bad blood between them.
For Ortega’s part,she has confessed to feeling very overprotective of Wednesday’s character, disagreeing with some of the writers' choices because they didn’t feel authentic to Wednesday. However, although Ortega acknowledged her unprofessional behavior, she’s still of the opinion that her thoughts should have been taken into account.“I’m aware of my position as an actor. I know that I’m not in charge… But I think with someone like Wednesday, who is in every scene, it only makes sense for that person to be that involved in what’s going on behind the scenes because she’s onscreen every second of the project,“Ortega said in aVanity Fairinterview.
Outspoken or Unprofessional? Gender Plays a Role
Director Tim Burton, who also worked with Ortega onBeetlejuice Beetlejuice, doesn’t seem to share the same criticisms about her outspokenness. In the sameVanity Fairinterview, Burton praised Ortega’s direct, no-nonsense attitude, and spoke about his appreciation for her creative and artistic inputs on-set. While Ortega has lamented her own tendency in the past to “ramble,” leading to potential verbal missteps, Burton’s praise as a filmmaking giant in the industry seems that Ortega may not be as “unprofessional” as she believes.
Women in Hollywood are frequently held to unfair standards compared to men, and the reception to Ortega’s comments aboutWednesdayis a perfect example. A male actor making certain decisions about his character that contradict the script might be perceived as an “auteur,” while an actress demonstrating the same behavior is viewed as bossy or difficult to work with. Furthermore, the backlash against women’s mistakes is often magnified disproportionately. While Ortega may not have behaved perfectly when voicing her disagreement with theWednesdaywriters, she also shouldn’t have to. It’s time that this “controversy” is finally put to rest.
