Too cool for school

JENNA ORTEGA AND NEW CAST MEMBERS JOANNA LUMLEY AND STEVE BUSCEMI JOIN DIRECTOR TIM BURTON TO DISCUSS WEDNESDAY SEASON 2. BY LYNN RUSK

- BY LYNN RUSK

“WEDNESDAY Addams is one of the coolest characters of all time, so getting the opportunity to play her once again was incredible,” reflects Jenna Ortega.

The 22-year-old Californian reprises her role as the morbid, sharp-witted teenager with psychic powers in the second season of the gothic Netflix hit, Wednesday.

Directed once more by Tim Burton, the new season sees Wednesday return to the halls of Nevermore Academy, where fresh foes and woes await.

The cast expands with several notable additions, including Dame Joanna Lumley as Grandmama, Steve Buscemi as Barry Dort, the new principal of Nevermore and Billie Piper as Isadora Capri, the school’s new head of music.

Jenna, who earned both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for her performance in season one, says she was thrilled to step back into Wednesday's shoes.

“Getting to play someone who's so much more intelligent than you will ever be is quite funny, strange, and enjoyable,” she says. “She runs circles around everyone she talks to.”

The actress reunites with director Tim, following their recent collaboration on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

“Working with Tim again was so much fun,” Jenna says. “He's one of the funniest people I know and probably my favourite director I've ever worked with. It’s nice to have got into such a routine, we've grown quite comfortable, especially after Beetlejuice Beetlejuice as well.”

This season sees Wednesday's family become more entwined in her life at Nevermore. Her younger brother Pugsley, played by Isaac Ordonez, joins the school as a student, while her mother Morticia, portrayed by Catherine Zeta-Jones, takes on a new role at the academy.