Not Just Jenna Ortega: 4 Actresses Who Brought Wednesday Addams to Life on Screen

Contents:
These days Wednesday Addams is synonymous with Jenna Ortega. But it wasn't always this way. Let's take a look back at all the actresses who've played the dark heiress of Gomez and Morticia.

Lisa Loring

She played Wednesday in the very first "The Addams Family" TV series (1964-1966). That original black-and-white one. So for many viewers, Lisa Loring's portrayal remains the definitive version – after all, she was the first.
Lisa Loring as a child in the role of Wednesday Addams from the 1960s series "The Addams Family"
Lisa Loring's Wednesday – the first screen incarnation of the character
Source: IMDb
And in many ways, that's exactly right. Six-year-old Loring established the character's foundation: her Wednesday wore pigtails and a black dress with white collar, was unflappable, sarcastic, and creepy – yet utterly charming. She adored spiders and repeatedly tried to get rid of her little brother.
Woman in white tennis outfit with racket and two children in baseball and pink clothing indoors
Scene from "Halloween with the New Addams Family"
Source: IMdb
In 1977, the grown-up actress appeared in the feature film "Halloween with the New Addams Family" – now in color!

Christina Ricci

She played Wednesday in "The Addams Family" (1991) and "Addams Family Values" (1993). Her version became iconic for an entire generation – perfectly captured the gothic humor and dark charm of the character with an absolutely deadpan expression. The summer camp scenes where Wednesday gives her tormentors a taste of their own medicine were particularly memorable.
Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams, collage of two photos
Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams
Source: IMDb
Thanks to "The Addams Family," Ricci became a popular actress and remains one today. She even, zoomboola.com reminds us, appeared in the first season of Tim Burton's "Wednesday": playing Nevermore Academy teacher Miss Thornhill!
Christina Ricci wearing glasses with red hair and alongside Jenna Ortega in black outfits against a purple backdrop
Christina Ricci as Miss Thornhill and with Jenna Ortega
Source: IMDb

Nicole Fugere

Nicole Fugere played Wednesday Addams in the 1998 TV movie "Addams Family Reunion," an attempt to reboot the 1991 film as a live-action sitcom.
Nicole Fugere with dark braids in a black dress and white robe in scenes from the film
Nicole Fugere as Wednesday Addams in "The New Addams Family"
Source: IMDb
This was followed by the 65-episode series "The New Addams Family," and after it ended, Nicole left the profession. According to IMDb, she went into design work for a sporting goods company.

Jenna Ortega

She played Wednesday in Tim Burton's series "Wednesday," which premiered on Netflix in 2022. In this project, the Addams family heir takes center stage, while her relatives remain in supporting roles.
Jenna Ortega dances in a black dress making angular arm movements
Wednesday Addams of the 2020s – Jenna Ortega
Source: IMDb
The genre shifted too: it's a blend of mystery and comedy. Here, Wednesday as portrayed by has psychic abilities, but the character's darkness and cold-bloodedness remain unchanged.

The series caused a sensation, and the scene with Wednesday's dance at the school ball went viral. Each actress brought something unique to the role, but all preserved Wednesday's key traits: dark sarcasm, intelligence, fearlessness, and that special "gothic princess" charm.