The most recent adaptation of Wednesday Addams in Netflix's titular series Wednesday star, Jenna Ortega has been steadily on the rise. Despite being just 20 years old, she has over 40 acting credits to her name, and in recent years, has been tackling more prominent and starring roles. But, with camera magic, platform shoes, and a variety of roles casting her anywhere from her teens to her mid-twenties, it can be hard to know for certain how tall Ortega actually is. According to a recent interview with Wired, she is 5'1", "maybe a touch less."
How Jenna Ortega's Height Plays Into Wednesday's Appearance
Wednesday's gothic look in the series is exactly in accordance with director Tim Burton's aesthetic. Strong contrast, with primarily black and white, and some pops of vibrant color. Thanks in part to Ortega's height, the inclusion of large platform boots, a staple of gothic clothing, adds to the distinct style of the series and helps Wednesday stand out from a cast of misfits and outcasts.
Wednesday's Platform Shoes May Have Also Been A Practical Decision
Apart from Wednesday's on-screen best friend Enid, played by Emma Myers, most of the cast has a stark difference in height to Ortega. Myers stands at 5'3", but many others are between 5'5" 1/2, with Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams, up to 6'3" which is how tall Gwendoline Christie playing Principal Weems is. In order to make sure that Wednesday isn't overshadowed by her co-stars, the production uses a variety of tricks to ensure the height differences aren't too distracting.
In addition to helping establish the character of Wednesday and give her a unique sense of style, the platforms helped to place the actors on a more level playing field in order to let the acting take center stage. The performance from Ortega has already been widely praised and helped the series to achieve higher viewing numbers in its first week than any other English-language Netflix show, including Wednesday season 2, but with the incredible response to the series so far, it is likely to get renewed.