Jenna Ortega openly shares her affinity with her character Merlina, admitting, "I'm a weirdo."
As the Merlina series gains prominence on Netflix's platform, Jenna, in a recent Wired interview, delves into her peculiar interests, showcasing parallels between herself, the character, and her friend Maddie Ziegler—renowned for her roles in Sia's music videos and a childhood marked by dance and acting.
Merlina, a character with roots in The Addams Family's iconic sixties series and immortalized by Christina Ricci in the 1991 and 1993 films, now stars in her own Netflix series. Portrayed by Jenna Ortega, an American actress of Mexican descent, the show holds significance not only for its dark and macabre elements but also for providing Latin representation, a fact Jenna takes pride in during her interviews.
Known alternatively as Wednesday, Merlina's character is distinguished by her dark attire, peculiar and sometimes eerie behavior, and a penchant for violence and the unexpected. Jenna Ortega reveals to Wired that she shares certain traits with her character and emphasizes her close bond with Maddie Ziegler, highlighting their shared eccentricities and idiosyncrasies.
Discussing her friendship with Maddie, Jenna shares, "She is so weird! I am a weirdo." Recounting their shared experiences, including working together on the film "The Fallout," Jenna describes their camaraderie as akin to being the same person with subtle differences. From performing childhood autopsies on small animals to Maddie's spontaneous character shifts and comedic moments, Jenna portrays their friendship as a unique and humorous bond.
Merlina, a spin-off directed by Tim Burton, marks the renowned filmmaker's foray into the small screen, courtesy of Netflix's penchant for securing cherished IPs. Despite mixed critical reviews since its embargo release, Merlina's captivating promotional campaigns are anticipated to propel it to global acclaim, featuring a cast that includes Jenna Ortega, Christina Ricci, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Luis Guzmán, and Jamie McShane.
