'She's weird': Jenna Ortega talks about her role as Winona Ryder's daughter in 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Jenna Ortega spilled the beans on her next project ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' as she features as the daughter of Winona Ryder.
The actress told Vanity Fair, “I don’t know how much I’m allowed to say, but I am Lydia Deetz’s daughter, so I’ll give that away.”
Jenna Ortega describes her character as Lydia's daughter
Jenna Ortega added about the sequel, “She’s weird, but in a different way and not in the way you’d assume, I would say. The relationship between Lydia and Astrid, my character, is very important. And it’s also really strange because it’s a lot of catching up and putting the pieces together of what’s gone on in Lydia’s life since, which is nice, I think, for anybody who loves the character and is excited to see her again.”
This is the second time Ortega and director Tim Burton will be working together on a project.
Ortega also spoke about dynamics between Astrid and goth Lydia. She said, “She doesn’t go to the opposite end of the spectrum, but any kid who becomes a teenager wants to be removed from their parents. I think they instantly just fight whatever it is that their parent loves.”
“So I think it’s a little bit of that. I’m not wearing pink and a cheerleader, but I am a little bit against my mom’s history or past. We butt heads quite a bit," the actress added.
'Scream' star Jenna Ortega talks about working on a Tim Burton set
Talking about the filming which wrapped up in 2023, the 21-year-old actress said, “They rebuilt Winter River, which was insane. All of the locals were so excited. But we were able to finish all of our Winter River stuff so that when the strike hit, they could take it all down.”
“I remember it being super-weird energy on set the last week. For a lot of the cast that was revisiting Vermont, it felt weird to rush such a sentimental moment for them, seeing that house again and being together and calling each other by the same names again,” Ortega added.
She further said, “But for the most part, up until the very last day, I feel like the shoot was a celebration of everyone being back together and doing practical effects again. It was probably the happiest I had ever seen Tim on a set, where he’s clapping at the monitor and shouting and laughing, which was really, really endearing.”