Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty; Jonathan Hession/Netflix Jenna Ortega is opening up about the downsides of playing Wednesday Addams in the Netlfix seriesWednesday The actress shared in an interview withHarper's Bazaarthat people often patronize her and other actresses when they've starred in teen roles for long periods of time "I'm doing a show I'm going to be doing for years where I play a schoolgirl," she added. "But I'm also a young woman." Jenna Ortegasays playing a well-known character like Wednesday Addams has its downsides. The actress, 22, spoke about the success of Netflix'sWednesdayin an interview withHarper's Bazaarpublished on Thursday, May 29, sharing that while some parts of taking on the iconic role have been amazing and influential — including Wednesday's style preferences — there have still been some negatives regarding public perception. "I definitely feel like I have a bit more Gothic taste than I did when I was a teenager," she told the outlet, opening up about how her taste has changed since she began starring inWednesday. "I've always been into dark things or been fascinated by them, but I was a Disney kid, and the whole thing is being bubbly and kind and overly sweet." According to Ortega, she has also picked up a few skills from her character, including playing the cello, the synth, and learning how to fence. But she toldHarper's Bazaarthat the infantilization that comes with being an adult actress playing a teenager is one of the more difficult aspects ofWednesday. "I'm doing a show I'm going to be doing for years where I play a schoolgirl," she added. "But I'm also a young woman." Vlad Cioplea/Netflix Elsewhere in the report, Ortega's co-star in the upcoming movieThe Galleristand former child star herselfNatalie Portmanalso spoke about feeling infantilized as an actress, especially considering her height. "We're both physically tiny, so people will often treat you like a child forever," Portman said. "I'm 43 now, and people kind of pat me on the head. I don't look like a child, but I often feel like I'm treated like a kid." "Child actors often cultivate a serious persona because otherwise they'll get treated like kids forever," Portman added to the outlet. "When you start working as a kid, you kind of always feel like a kid in the workplace. Having some of that seriousness helps remind people, 'I'm a grown-up.' " Ortega added that she related to the star's comments "immensely." "It's always been really annoying, because you just don't feel like you're being taken seriously," Ortega continued. "You know, it's like how you're dressed in the schoolgirl costume … There's just something about it that's very patronizing. Also, when you're short, people are already physically looking down on you." During her conversation withHarper's Bazaar,Ortega also shared that she felt even worse soon after the first season ofWednesdaywas released. "To be quite frank, after the show and trying to figure everything out, I was an unhappy person," she shared. "After the pressure, the attention — as somebody who's quite introverted, that was so intense and so scary." According to the actress, becoming a producer on the Netflix series has helped immensely, and so has the show's production moving from Bucharest to Dublin. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "Season 2 is bigger, bolder, gorier, and a bit darker," she said of the upcoming season ofWednesday. "It's sillier in the best way possible." "Dublin was incredible," she added. "I loved everything about that experience, the cast, the crew. It was so sweet and so awesome. That island is so beautiful." In another recent interview, Ortega also spoke with herHurry Up Tomorrowco-starThe Weeknd, 35, for an interview withV Magazine. During the chat, the musician asked her if she ever misses the "anonymity" she had in the early days of her career. "Oh, most definitely," Ortega said, before explaining that starring as the titular character in Netflix'sWednesdaywas the changing factor. "I mean, that was just a few years ago. I'd done some shows and was working in film, but it wasn't until that show, the day of the week [Wednesday], that just catapulted everything." Read the original article onPeople
