Few fictional teenagers have spent six decades refining a look of pure, glorious disdain. Wednesday Addams—the deadpan daughter of the Addams Family—has gone from a single-panel cartoon in 1938 to a global Netflix phenomenon, played most recently by Jenna Ortega in 2022.
First appearance: 1938 (New Yorker comic) · Original TV actress: Lisa Loring (1964) · Netflix series premiere: November 23, 2022 · Character age range: 12–18 (varies by adaptation)
Quick snapshot
- Wednesday Addams originated in Charles Addams’ New Yorker cartoons (Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database))
- Lisa Loring played her in the 1964 TV series (Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database))
- Jenna Ortega stars in Netflix’s 2022 series (Netflix Tudum (official Netflix editorial platform))
- Netflix renewed Wednesday for a second season (DIRECTV Insider (entertainment news outlet))
- Whether Wednesday is intended to be autistic (no official confirmation from creators) (Women’s Media Center (feminist media advocacy organization))
- Reason for Jenna Ortega’s rumored departure (unconfirmed) (DIRECTV Insider (entertainment news outlet))
- Potential recasting of Morticia in Season 2 (speculation) (DIRECTV Insider (entertainment news outlet))
- 1938 – First New Yorker cartoon appearance (Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database))
- 1964 – Original TV series debut with Lisa Loring (Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database))
- 2023 – Lisa Loring dies at 64 (DIRECTV Insider (entertainment news outlet))
- 2025 – Season 2 Part 2 release date (Sept 3) (TV Guide (established entertainment magazine))
- Season 2 Part 2 premieres September 3, 2025 (TV Guide (established entertainment magazine))
- Pugsley Addams begins attending Nevermore Academy (DIRECTV Insider (entertainment news outlet))
- Joanna Lumley joins as Grandmama Hester Frump (DIRECTV Insider (entertainment news outlet))
Six key facts about Wednesday Addams, drawn from decades of canonical and official sources.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Wednesday Friday Addams |
| First Appearance | 1938 (The New Yorker) |
| Creator | Charles Addams |
| Original TV Actress | Lisa Loring (1964) |
| Netflix Actress | Jenna Ortega (2022) |
| Catchphrase | “I’m a natural-born ghoul” (attributed) |
| Typical Age | 12–18 depending on adaptation |
What is Wednesday Addams known for?
Wednesday Addams is the fictional daughter of Gomez and Morticia Addams from the Addams Family franchise, created by cartoonist Charles Addams. She first appeared in a New Yorker comic in 1938 and was given the name “Wednesday” in the 1964 television adaptation, derived from the nursery rhyme line “Wednesday’s child is full of woe.” Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database) describes her as “deadpan, morbid, and darkly humorous.”
Wednesday’s popularity has grown precisely because she refuses to perform conventional femininity. Yet the franchise keeps casting Hollywood beauties to play her—a tension that fuels ongoing debates about representation and authenticity.
What are some fun facts about Wednesday Addams?
- Name origin: The name “Wednesday” comes from the traditional nursery rhyme “Monday’s Child.” Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database)
- First actress: Lisa Loring was only 6 years old when she played Wednesday in the 1964 series. Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database)
- 1991 film: Christina Ricci’s portrayal in The Addams Family (1991) made Wednesday a pop culture touchstone. Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database)
- Netflix update: Jenna Ortega’s Wednesday at Nevermore Academy is a sharp, witty teenager with a supernatural secret. DIRECTV Insider (entertainment news outlet)
What this means: Wednesday’s core has stayed intact for 85 years, but each generation’s actress has added a different flavor—Loring’s innocence, Ricci’s deadpan, Ortega’s angsty edge.
Will there be a Wednesday Season 2?
Yes. Netflix officially renewed Wednesday for a second season in January 2023. Production began in early 2024. The season is being released in two parts: TV Guide (established entertainment magazine) reports that Part 2—consisting of four episodes—arrives on September 3, 2025, following a four-episode Part 1 that dropped earlier.
New season, new Morticia?
- Morticia at Nevermore: DIRECTV Insider (entertainment news outlet) reports that Morticia Addams takes a philanthropic position at Nevermore Academy and moves onto campus.
- Cast additions: Joanna Lumley joins as Grandmama Hester Frump, and Fred Armisen returns as Uncle Fester. DIRECTV Insider (entertainment news outlet)
- Gwendoline Christie: Reprises Larissa Weems in Part 2. TV Guide (established entertainment magazine)
The catch: While Jenna Ortega is widely expected to return, official casting confirmations for other roles remain unverified—leaving fans to parse rumor from fact.
Does Wednesday have autism?
There is no official confirmation from Netflix or the creators that Wednesday Addams is autistic. However, a growing body of interpretation argues the character exhibits traits that align with autistic coding. Women’s Media Center (feminist media advocacy organization) published an essay noting that Wednesday shows “sensory reactivity, including aversion to bright colors and possible headaches from sensory overload,” as well as “difficulties in social communication, including a blunted affect and stilted peer interactions.”
An episode of the Autistic Culture Podcast (community-run show by autistic creators) describes Wednesday’s traits—flat affect, sensory boundaries, focused interests, rejection of social norms—as aligning with many listeners’ own experiences.
“Wednesday Addams probably meets the diagnostic criteria for autism—here’s why that’s so important.”
— Women’s Media Center essay headline
“Wednesday’s flat affect, sensory boundaries, and focused interests make her read as autistic to many in the community.”
— Autistic Culture Podcast
Jenna Ortega has stated she played the character without a specific diagnosis in mind, leaving interpretation open.
The risk of labeling Wednesday as autistic without canonical support is that fans may project a diagnosis onto a character written by neurotypical writers. The conversation, however, has opened space for audiences to see themselves in a beloved gothic icon.
Timeline of Wednesday Addams
- 1938: Wednesday first appears in a New Yorker cartoon by Charles Addams. Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database)
- 1964: The Addams Family TV series premieres with Lisa Loring as Wednesday. Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database)
- 1991: The Addams Family film features Christina Ricci as a defining big-screen Wednesday. Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database)
- 2022: Netflix’s Wednesday premieres November 23, with Jenna Ortega in the lead. Netflix Tudum (official Netflix editorial platform)
- 2023: Lisa Loring dies at age 64. DIRECTV Insider (entertainment news outlet)
- 2025: Season 2 Part 2 scheduled for September 3. TV Guide (established entertainment magazine)
Clarity check
Confirmed facts
- Wednesday Addams was created by Charles Addams in 1938. Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database)
- Lisa Loring played Wednesday in the 1964 TV series. Addams Family Wiki (fan-curated character database)
- Jenna Ortega stars in Netflix’s 2022 series Wednesday. Netflix Tudum (official Netflix editorial platform)
- Netflix renewed the series for a second season. DIRECTV Insider (entertainment news outlet)
What’s unclear
- The exact reason for Jenna Ortega’s rumored departure from the series (unconfirmed).
- Whether Wednesday Addams is intended to be autistic (no official confirmation). Women’s Media Center (feminist media advocacy organization)
- Whether the role of Morticia will be recast for Season 2 (speculation only).
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Frequently asked questions
How old was Wednesday Addams when she died?
Wednesday Addams has not died in any canonical story; she is typically portrayed as a child or teenager aged 12–18.
Why did Jenna Ortega leave Wednesday?
Reports of Jenna Ortega leaving are unconfirmed. She is expected to return for Season 2, but no official statement has been made about her departure.
Who is the 3rd Addams baby?
In various adaptations, Wednesday has younger brothers Pubert (film) and Pugsley (TV series), plus an unnamed baby brother in some versions.
What disability does Jenna Ortega have?
Jenna Ortega has not publicly disclosed any disability. She has stated she played Wednesday without a specific diagnosis in mind.
Is Morticia the same actress in Wednesday 1 and 2?
Catherine Zeta-Jones played Morticia in Season 1; for Season 2, Morticia moves to Nevermore, but no recasting has been announced.
For fans following the gothic icon across decades, the implication is clear: Wednesday Addams continues to evolve, but her core—deadpan, brilliant, defiant—remains intact. The debate around autistic coding shows no sign of cooling, and Netflix has yet to confirm whether Season 2 will address it directly.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Focus, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.