Jenna Ortega has revealed she was offered the role of Wednesday Addams multiple times and politely declined at every attempt.
The 20-year-old actor sat down with The Times to chat about all things Hollywood, and explained that she originally rejected the role that would eventually make her a household name.
When asked if she pursued the role, Ortega said: "No, I didn’t. I got the email, and passed on it.
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She added: "I have done so much TV in my life, all I’ve ever wanted to do is film.
"When I first started acting, I don’t want to say nobody believed in me, but at the same time nobody believed in me."
Ortega went on to reveal that Hollywood is a town in which you have to earn your stripes if you wish to be seen.
"You have to prove yourself. It’s only in the last three or four years that I’ve been able to start going up for films, X, Scream, et cetera," she said.
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"I was scared that by signing onto another television show it could prevent me from doing other jobs I really wanted and cared about."
But it was when she discovered that Tim Burton would be at the helm of Wednesday.
This, she revealed, would change everything.
"The only reason I went back is because Tim is such a legend, and we just happened to get along very well," she said.
"But even then I said, 'Ah, no, I think I’m okay' a couple [more] times."
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She further elaborated about her struggles on the set of Wednesday during a chat on Dax Shepard's podcast, Armchair Expert.
"I don't think I've ever had to put my foot down on a set in the way that I had to on Wednesday. Everything that she does, everything that I had to play did not make sense for her character at all," Ortega said.
The 20-year-old added: "Her being in a love triangle made no sense!"
She also revealed she initially thought Wednesday would be a far darker programme.
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"When I read the entire series, I realised, 'Oh this is for younger audiences'," she said. "I didn't know what the tone was."
But that didn't go down well with Wednesday producer Steven DeKnight.
DeKnight took to social media after her chat with Shepard, calling the actor 'entitled' and 'beyond toxic' after she 'publicly s**t' on her Wednesday colleagues.
He added on social media: "Life’s too short to deal with people like this in the business."
Yikes. He's since walked back on those comments though.
Topics: Jenna Ortega, Netflix, TV and Film, Celebrity
Rachel Lang