Morticia Addams is one of television’s most recognisable matriarchs—equal parts alluring, mysterious, and fiercely devoted. For Catherine Zeta Jones, stepping into such an iconic role for Wednesday came with both reverence and a desire to bring fresh nuance.
“I think as an actor you always try and bring something in, but with Morticia, I certainly did not want to deviate into a different image or look,” she tells marie claire Australia. “When everyone closes their eyes, they have an image of Morticia which you can guarantee is the same.”
Working alongside celebrated costume designer Colleen Atwood, the actor leaned into Morticia’s timeless look while weaving in subtle differences in performance.
“It’s like approaching Lady Macbeth. Thousands of actors have played her, but each brings something uniquely theirs.”
“She’s an iconic matriarch, but there’s a fragility to her, and I really wanted to have that and make it real.”
Season two promised a bigger role for Morticia and Gomez, with storylines expanding beyond their cameo-like presence in season one.
“Louis [Guzmán] and I were thrilled when the creators said we’d be there throughout,” she says. “There’s more comedy, more emotion, and even a bit of action.”
One of the most exciting additions? Joanna Lumley joins as Grandmama, creating what the actor calls “a wonderful triangle” of three generations of Addams women.
That dynamic, along with Morticia’s evolving relationship with Wednesday, gave her rich material to explore.Motherhood is central to this new arc, and Zeta Jones admits her own experiences informed Morticia’s parenting style.
“Sometimes as a parent, you know how something will end, but you have to let your child make mistakes. That’s part of growing up,” she tells us, “As a parent, I’m the same.”
Watch Wednesday season two on Netflix now.
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