Jenna Ortega, the star of the hit show “Wednesday,” recently opened up about her intense experience filming the first season. The 20-year-old actress underwent rigorous preparation for the role, taking lessons in fencing and cello. However, the demanding production schedule, combined with a COVID diagnosis, took a toll on her.
During a Q&A session, Jenna shared her grueling schedule, which included 12 to 14 hour days on set, followed by lessons on zoom or in person. The production was relentless, with lessons even scheduled on weekends if they didn’t have a shooting day.
The “Paint it Black” cello sequence was especially challenging for Jenna as she had to switch teachers and perform a piece meant for two cellos with just one. She revealed that the pressure resulted in a lack of sleep and frequent bouts of crying, captured in FaceTime calls with her dad.
However, director and producer Tim Burton reassured her that everything would turn out great, and indeed it did. As filming progressed, the production started running out of time, but Jenna remained determined to be as prepared as possible, using her own skills instead of stunt doubles or cello doubles.
Let’s hope that season two of “Wednesday” will be a little less rigorous for the talented actress!
