The role of Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family is one that propels anyone who plays the character to global stardom. It happened recently to Jenna Ortega who played Wednesday on Netflix’s Wednesday and in 1991 to actress Christina Ricci who played her in The Addams Family. Ricci is the face of the iconic character that audiences worldwide have come to love.
Ricci has since grown up and has been a part of many films and TV shows. She made an appearance in the reboot Wednesday, and stars as the lead in Yellowjackets. The star mentioned how things have changed in the industry and that she has a specific condition to adhere to before signing any film or show.
Christina Ricci’s Rise To Stardom
Before she became the victim of Doja Cat’s ‘Doja Devil’ in the latter’s latest music video, Christina Ricci was well-known for her work as a child actress. She began her career on Saturday Night Live at the age of eight and went on to star in films like the Winona Ryder starrer Mermaids.
She had her breakthrough role at the age of eleven when she played Wednesday Addams in the film The Addams Family. Her role as the daughter who is interested in death and the macabre was lauded by critics and she was seen as a breakout star. She reprised the iconic role in the sequel Addams Family Values. Both films collectively earned over $300 million globally.
Christina Ricci slowly transitioned to adult roles in the late 90s, starring in Ang Lee’s drama The Ice Storm. She collaborated with Johnny Depp thrice in the films Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Tim Burton’s horror drama Sleepy Hollow, and the drama The Man Who Cried. She starred in the black comedy The Opposite Sex and earned a Gloden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
Christina Ricci’s Non-Negotiable Condition
Throughout the 90s, Christina Ricci was known for her ‘obnoxious’ comments off-screen. She has in retrospect mentioned that she had no idea what she was talking about most of the time. She said,
“When I was younger, a lot of the strange things I said were based on the fact that I was so aware of how weird it was. People were asking me questions and I was like: I’m 17! I have nothing of value to add. I haven’t lived a life yet; I can’t tell you how I feel about this or that. Don’t ask me my opinions on things.”
Her filmography includes mostly dark and oddball characters. Be it Wednesday Addams or her present role in the TV show Yellowjackets, she seems to be attracted to the macabre. She has mentioned that she usually looks for characters that are a bit ‘scumbag’ and are intriguing enough to be seen. However, the actress does have one condition that is a dealbreaker when it comes to choosing roles, which seems contradictory to her characters.
In an interview with The Guardian, she said,
“I would never be able to play someone who is mean to a child. I can’t even read it if it’s in scripts. I have a lot less ability to handle extreme misery.”
Ricci ascribed this quality to her being a mother and raising her son. She has mentioned how she has been raising her son to be a feminist and she hopes that seeing his mother work would push him in the right direction.
Also read: Wednesday: Christina Ricci Praises Jenna Ortega’s Performance
Source: The Guardian
