How excited were you to return to Wednesday for Season 2?
Catherine Zeta-Jones: It was so incredible to return for Season 2 of Wednesday. Shooting the first season was just a joy. Tim Burton called me up and said, “I’m doing this show called Wednesday and how would you feel about playing Morticia Addams?” I hadn’t read a script. I said, “When do I show up?”
It was a complete joy. First of all, to be meeting and working with Jenna Ortega for the first time — I remember, so well, being mesmerized by her as an actor, but also who she is as a person. This was before the world became entranced with her, and quite rightly so. It was like being at the grassroots of watching something become huge. I remember forgetting my lines in one scene, because I was just so intrigued by what she was doing. And her work ethic! She was just a joy to be around.
And then working with Luis Guzmán, who I did a movie with 25 years ago. We adore each other. Stupidly, I had probably not seen him in 20 years until I arrived on the set. So for him to be playing Gomez, to be playing my husband, we just instantaneously had a relationship and that was a joy. And for the whole thing to be helmed by Tim Burton, and to see this world materialize, was amazing.
Cut to: We’re doing Season 2 after what was an amazing, incredible international hit. The success of it took us all by surprise. It was the demographic — from my niece, who’s 10 years old, to grandparents, and it was amazing to be part of it.
In Season 2, everything has been lifted a little bit more, the characters have been delved into more. The relationships are more solid, the writing is incredible.
We took a break for the summer between school years. What have the Addams family and Wednesday been up to this summer?
Zeta-Jones: This summer, the Addams family are just getting over the events of what happened at Nevermore. They’ve been trying to regroup. I know that Wednesday has been writing a book, which is dear to my heart because we’re big readers. The reading material is a little bit offbeat. The fact that Wednesday has been concentrating on writing makes me proud. It’s been very cathartic for the family.
Then, of course, like all families, we are anticipating the first day of school. This year, both my children will be enrolled in Nevermore, which I went to, as did Gomez. It’s keeping it within the family. But as a parent, I’m looking forward to the children being back at school.
What position is Morticia considering taking up at Nevermore this season?
Zeta-Jones: With two children now enrolled at Nevermore, Morticia is wondering what her next chapter is — what her purpose is going forward — as she has a little bit more time on her hands. Having been at Nevermore herself as a child, she’d like to partake in some committee meetings or be part of the school more than she was before.
How does Wednesday feel about Morticia being more present at Nevermore this year?
Zeta-Jones: Morticia and Wednesday’s relationship lends itself to times of separation. Morticia being more associated with Nevermore is not something that Wednesday anticipated. As would I; not having my mother so close to me during the school day was always rather nice. So the family being more associated with Nevermore is a little bit of a thorn in Wednesday’s side.
What are some of the challenges that Morticia and Wednesday have to face and to overcome as mother and daughter this season?
Zeta-Jones: When you approach the characters — especially characters like Morticia Addams, Wednesday Addams, Gomez, Pugsley — as a family unit, the beauty is that they’re real. As an actor, we strive to play real. But in our show, we have the ability to extend reality and push the characters a little bit more than you would in any other show, which is wonderful as an actor.
Mother-daughter relationships are varied. Some of them are at loggerheads during certain times in their life. Wednesday Addams and Morticia Addams’ relationship is beautiful, it’s encouraging, it’s contentious, it’s fraught. It’s all those things a mother-daughter relationship goes through, which is a wonderful experience as a mother and not so much as a daughter. I speak from experience. To be able to play those in Wednesday is something that’s very important and something that’s very real.
One would think that after Season 1, this mother-daughter relationship — this navigating the shoals of mother-daughter relationships — would’ve gotten better. But one finds that it’s a little bit more strained. So that’s always wonderful to play.
You mentioned Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) is also at Nevermore. How is Morticia feeling about both of her children being at her alma mater?
Zeta-Jones: Morticia now has both Wednesday and Pugsley at Nevermore. As a mother, when both your children are at school and you wonder, “Wow, what happens next?” And then they grow up and then they go to college and the same thing happens after that.
I have a lovely scene with Pugsley where I say, “Good luck,” as he embarks on his first day. And Morticia sees in him all those nervous things about it being your first day at school, which is always traumatic for the person going to school, and also for the parent. But on a personal level, I don’t think I ever didn’t cry when I dropped off my kids for the first day of school. Each year, it was something, another challenge for them. So it’s wonderful.
In the writing, you see the dynamic of Wednesday having a sibling at school. I remember that, too, in my personal life. I remember my little brother coming to the school. I was a little bit parental.
We all love seeing the mother-child dynamics between Morticia and Pugsley, and Morticia and Wednesday. The difference is night and day. Who is Morticia’s mother, and what is she like?
Zeta-Jones: This season we introduce my mother, played by the most amazing actor who, since I was a child, I have been admiring: Joanna Lumley, who in Britain is an icon. When I found out Joanna was cast, I felt so starstruck. I couldn’t wait to meet her. I couldn’t wait to sit next to her in the makeup chair in the morning.
What she brings to Hester, my mother, is just incredible. You think that the relationship between Wednesday and Morticia is a little strained? Well, the relationship between me and my mother is contentious. It’s very strained, and it goes back a long way.
For her to be in the picture, and then also to have the three generations on-screen and the three-generation storyline to unfold, is genius. I see myself in Wednesday. I see myself in my mother. And Hester, my mother, thinks she knows exactly who I am. These three women together are just incredible.
What’s very important about Season 2 is that the storyline encompasses so much, but at the root, is this family. All the idiosyncrasies that happen within any family happen, except the Addams family embraces them much more. They embrace the abnormalities, they encourage them. To have the three generations all together on-screen is really quite something.
You touched on this briefly, but what else can you reveal about the similarities and differences in Morticia and Hester’s relationship, and Morticia and Wednesday’s relationship?
Zeta-Jones: This season, what unfolds are these three dynamic relationships: Me with my daughter, me with my mother, and Wednesday and my mother. I’m a little bit jealous of what unfolds in Wednesday’s relationship with my mother, because when we’re a little strained, she gravitates toward my mother, and she knows that would really annoy me.
We explore the mother-daughter dynamic between me and Hester, the triangle between the three of us, and then my relationship with Wednesday. It’s really interesting. As crazy as it is, there’s something very rooted and very real about it, which of course is the essence of the whole show.
Morticia is so much more prevalent in Season 2 than she was in the first season. Did you do any additional preparation for this season, such as brushing up on fencing or dancing skills?
Zeta-Jones: I was thrilled when Tim and our showrunners came to me and said, “How would you like to do Season 2?” I had the same reaction as when Tim first came to me to do Season 1. It was like, “Season 2? Absolutely, quick! Please!”
The idea of delving much more into the family — much more into Morticia Addams — was just genius. The first season, we set up the characters, we set up that this is about Wednesday. Not just her family, but the world in which she walks. Then we had the chance to really get deeper into the relationships and the family. When I was reading each episode, it was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I get to do so much more. I get to fence. Brilliant!”
I did a movie many years ago, The Mask of Zorro, where I learned to fence. So much so that I actually wanted to continue doing it after I finished shooting. I loved it. So I got to fence this season, which was wonderful, but Morticia Addams fencing is on a different level, as you can imagine. That was great.
Then of course, I got to dance. There is a scene in which I dance and that was just genius. I get to dance with Gomez, I get to dance a tango. I did a movie many years ago, Chicago, where I danced a lot, so I think Luis was a little intimidated by the idea of dancing with me. He worked so hard, and he got it so right. I was so proud of Luis. And we had so much fun shooting that scene.
There’s also a scene where I run a campfire, where I get to sing with Capri, who’s played beautifully by Billie Piper. That was great too. It was like, “Bring it on, what else do you want me to do?” I said to the writers, “I’m pretty good at card tricks. If you want to throw a few sleight of hand bits in there, I can do that too.” It was so much fun, because there’s so much more to do. And it’s been a joy. It really has.
What is your favorite part of the Addams family dynamic that we’ll see this season?
Zeta-Jones: My favorite part of the Addams family dynamic is that they embrace the abnormal. When you think of it, when you dissect it, they are the quintessential modern family where they embrace their differences, they support them, they support each other. Wednesday and Pugsley not so much, but certainly Morticia and Gomez — it all stems from a deep, deep love. A deep love for each other, love of family, love of their children, love of their quirkiness and differences that they both have. That’s one of the successes of the Addams family idea, is that it’s quirky. Quirkiness is good, but it all is deeply rooted in love, and I love that about them.
When you think of the enormous success of Wednesday it’s that, as crazy as it is, as offbeat as it is and taken out of reality, all generations can reflect on how close they are to their family. That’s wonderful. I think that’s why young kids love the family and grandparents love the family — because it’s family. We’re all different. And the beauty of the Addams family is that we embrace our differences, and encourage them, even.
Moving on to costume and hair and makeup, how did you work with those teams to evolve Morticia’s look this season? Do you have a favorite look of this season?
Zeta-Jones: I worked with co-costume designer Colleen Atwood on Chicago, and I’ve known Colleen for over 23 years. So working together, we collaborate so well together. For me, her genius is just a treat. I remember saying to Colleen in the very beginning, “I want everyone to close their eyes and to visualize who they think Morticia Addams is, and that’s how I want her to look.” And that is the classic Morticia Addams look.
That goes for hair and makeup, and of course, costumes. We did that in Season 1. I think everything in Season 2 was amped up. Not just hair and makeup, not just costumes, but the sets, the incredible set decoration. The attention to detail is just sublime. And with Morticia, now we had more time to play. What would she be like when she’s just at home? What would she be like if she’s out in the wilderness? We kept the same authentic Morticia Addams look. We were able to play and to really push the envelope a bit but also completely stay in character.
It was hilarious –– we had one scene where Morticia and Gomez volunteer for the camping excursion that Nevermore does, so you see Morticia Addams in camping attire. Camping’s not really her thing, but when she turns up, it’s genius.
This year, the hair and makeup team really pushed it up a few notches and it was a treat. But the general note for all of us was that we didn’t want to stray away too much from that iconic look. And she is iconic. When you think of all the different people who have come before me to play Morticia Addams so beautifully, we’re all allowed to do our own take on her — but physically, she has to be Morticia Addams.
What do fans have to look forward to when they see this new season?
Zeta-Jones: Fans this season have so much to look forward to. Everything has been taken up, elevated without losing the beauty and the charm of what made Wednesday such a huge international, global across-the-ages success.
For example, the scripts. You ask any actor: The most important thing is what is on the page. And the adventures of Wednesday Addams could be anything. But the way the writers have finely tuned each and everybody’s storyline, and made it somehow dovetail and come together at the end is genius. I read a lot of scripts and it’s a very hard thing to do.
The family dynamic is much the focus this season. That, I think, comes from the fans’ reaction. People wanted to see more or know more about Wednesday in that family dynamic, and that’s come to fruition.
The sets and the set decoration are the finely tuned pieces that create the world in which Wednesday lives. For example, in Morticia’s boudoir at home, they created a room that is just magical. The dressing table itself, every drawer… I sat there to start a scene and I opened the drawer and I found beautiful perfume bottles, gothic hair combs. As an actor, when you put yourself into that environment, everything comes to life. It makes your job so much more enjoyable because you just have to be within it.
We had great new directors coming in to aid Tim, but working with Tim again — he’s created a world that we can jump right back into, and now we can push certain ideas more. We know that we have an amazing fan base who are coming along with us on this ride and it’s just a joy.
The way the show is cast is just genius. Not just in the casting, but the caliber of actors who are now coming into Season 2. We have the core — we have Wednesday, we have Pugsley, we have all the students in the school that our fans and audience know and love and want to see more of. What’s in Season 2 are these new characters who are just going to blow your mind. It’s crazy. These actors came into a huge hit. They came into relationships that have already been formed, not just on-screen but off-screen, and each and every one of them came in and it was like magic. It was like they belonged there. The characters that they created are just accentuating this world.
It’s just unbelievable, this world that was created. It doesn’t happen overnight. It’s hair and makeup, our costumes, our set designers, our sound people, our cinematographers, the new actors coming in. It’s just endless. We had a whole studio in Ireland and it was like our own world. We were in morning, noon, and night. I’m telling you, I wish everybody could have come in and just be here and see it and feel it. It’s just magic here.
Courtesy: Netflix
