If you’ve spent any time on Netflix lately, you know the vibe. Sharp braids, a deadpan stare, and a cello cover of "Paint It Black." But let's be real—while Jenna Ortega is the sun (or maybe the black hole) that the show orbits around, everyone wants to know about the woman in the floor-length lace. Who plays Morticia in Wednesday? It's Catherine Zeta-Jones. Yes, the Oscar-winning Welsh legend who basically defined "glamour" for an entire generation in movies like Chicago and The Mask of Zorro.
Honestly, it's a bit of a trip seeing her in the Addams family getup. You've got this Hollywood royalty stepping into shoes previously filled by Anjelica Huston and Carolyn Jones. It’s a lot of pressure. People have opinions. Strong ones. Some fans think she’s the perfect grounded matriarch, while others are still busy arguing on Reddit about whether her makeup looks "too human" compared to the older movies.
The Woman Behind the Pale Makeup: Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta-Jones isn't just a random casting choice. She’s a heavy hitter. When Tim Burton called her up for the role, she didn't even hesitate. She’s gone on record saying Morticia was "embedded in her self-consciousness" long before she ever stepped onto the set in Romania.
What's interesting is how she plays the character. In the 90s movies, Anjelica Huston’s Morticia was almost ethereal—like she was floating two inches off the ground. Zeta-Jones brings something a bit more... tactile? There’s a warmth there, even if it’s wrapped in black spandex. She’s playing a mother who is genuinely worried about her daughter pulling away, which is a very "normie" problem for a woman who grows man-eating plants.
Why the Casting Caused a Stir
When the first photos dropped, the internet did what it does best: it obsessed over the details.
- The Look: Many fans were used to the gaunt, almost skeletal look of the 60s and 90s versions. Zeta-Jones has curves. She looks healthy.
- The Chemistry: Her Gomez is Luis Guzmán. This was a deliberate move by Burton to align more with the original Charles Addams cartoons from the 1930s. In those drawings, Gomez wasn't a suave leading man; he was a short, stout, eccentric guy.
- The Legacy: Taking over a role that is basically a Halloween staple is terrifying. You aren't just playing a character; you’re playing a silhouette.
Morticia’s Evolution in Season 2
If you felt like Morticia was barely in Season 1, you weren't alone. She was technically a guest star. But things have shifted. For Season 2, Catherine Zeta-Jones has been upped to a series regular.
That means way more screen time. More fencing. More "Tish, that's French!"
The new season actually dives into the "Frump" side of the family. We get to see Morticia’s own mother, Hester Frump, played by the iconic Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous). This adds a whole new layer to the character. Suddenly, Morticia isn't just the cool, collected mom—she’s the frustrated daughter.
What Really Happened with the Wardrobe Change?
There’s been a lot of chatter about a specific scene in the Season 2 teasers where Morticia is wearing red.
Wait, red?
The Addams family has a strict "all black everything" policy, right? Well, sort of. In the Wednesday universe, they’re classified as "Outcasts." This version of Morticia seems to use color as a symbolic tool. Some fans speculate the red dress is a nod to her past at Nevermore, or perhaps a sign of mourning for Principal Weems. Or maybe she just felt like shaking things up. It’s a bold choice that signals this version of the character isn't just a carbon copy of what came before.
The "Ageism" Debate and the Fan Reaction
You can't talk about who plays Morticia in Wednesday without mentioning the weirdly intense scrutiny Catherine Zeta-Jones has faced. In late 2025, during the press rounds for Season 2, she became the target of some pretty nasty "age-shaming" comments online.
People were dissecting her face, her makeup, her everything.
It sparked a massive backlash from fans and fellow actors. The reality? She’s 56. She’s playing a mother of a teenager. She looks incredible, but she also looks like a woman who has lived a life. The "controversy" mostly highlighted the impossible standards actresses face as they age, especially when playing characters who are supposed to be "immortal" icons of beauty.
How Zeta-Jones Prepared for the Role
She didn't just put on a wig and call it a day. Zeta-Jones worked closely with legendary costume designer Colleen Atwood to nail the silhouette.
- The Corsetry: To get that signature hourglass shape, she spent hours in restrictive costumes that forced her to stand and move with a specific, rigid grace.
- The Accent: She kept her natural Welsh lilt mostly tucked away, opting for a transatlantic, Mid-Atlantic poshness that feels timeless.
- The Fencing: Since Morticia was a star student at Nevermore, Zeta-Jones had to brush up on her sword skills. She joked in an interview with Seth Meyers that she hadn't picked up a sword since Zorro, but it "all came back like riding a bike."
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of the woman who plays Morticia, here is how to actually engage with the fandom and the lore:
- Watch the Source Material: Don't just stick to Netflix. Go back and look at the Charles Addams cartoons in The New Yorker. You’ll see exactly why Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán were cast—they are the closest physical match to the original 1938 sketches.
- Follow the BTS: Catherine is actually pretty active on social media. She often shares behind-the-scenes clips from the Wednesday set in Ireland (where Season 2 was filmed).
- Ignore the Trolls: The debate over "who did it better" will never end. Whether you prefer Anjelica Huston’s icy cool or Zeta-Jones’ gothic warmth, both interpretations bring something valid to the table.
The "Addams Family" isn't a museum piece; it’s a living franchise. Catherine Zeta-Jones isn't just playing a role; she's anchoring the family's history in a way that makes the show feel like more than just a teen drama. As we head further into Season 2 and beyond, expect her version of Morticia to become the new blueprint for a whole new generation of goths.
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Next Steps:
To fully appreciate the performance, you should compare the "Parent's Weekend" episode of Season 1 with the opening episodes of Season 2. Pay close attention to the way Morticia's body language changes when she's around her own mother, Hester. It’s a masterclass in subtle character acting that explains exactly why a veteran like Zeta-Jones was the only real choice for the part.