logo
Everything was so beautiful: Jenna Ortega on filming Wednesday in Ireland

Everything was so beautiful: Jenna Ortega on filming Wednesday in Ireland

RTÉ News​7 days ago
Jenna Ortega has praised the kindness of the people and the beauty of the landscape after filming the second season of the Netflix hit Wednesday in Ireland.
The 22-year-old American actress, who reprises her role as Wednesday Addams, the morbid, sharp-witted teenager with psychic powers, said she had never visited the island before working on the new season.
The new season sees Wednesday return to the halls of Nevermore Academy, where fresh foes and woes await.
Directed once again by Tim Burton, the latest instalment of the gothic hit welcomes a number of new cast members to the team including Joanna Lumley as Grandmama, Steve Buscemi as Barry Dort, the new principal of Nevermore, and Billie Piper as Isadora Capri, the school's new head of music.
While the first season was filmed in Romania, the latest instalment of the popular series was shot in various locations around Wicklow, Dublin and Offaly.
"I'd never been to Ireland and it was wonderful," said Ortega.
"My favourite thing was just how kind the people are, but also the countryside was really nice. I did my best to see as much of the island as I could while I was there. I went north, south, east, west, I went all over. I'm pretty proud of myself."
According to Tourism Ireland, some of the locations used to shoot the new series include Charleville Castle in Co Offaly, Dean's Grange Cemetery in Co Dublin and Ashford Studios in Co Wicklow.
Lumley, 79, said: "I was pretty thrilled, because having filmed there a few times, in Ardmore studios, I didn't know there was a studio even further south of that, and then to come to Ashford Studios was marvellous.
"There's something in Ireland which is slightly otherworldly and it embraced the whole feeling of Wednesday."
Buscemi, 67, famous for his roles in Reservoir Dogs and The Sopranos, said he enjoyed the Guinness.
"I was surprised at how much Guinness I could actually drink every day, never while shooting," he joked.
"It was so lovely shooting there. The people are amazing."
Ortega added: "Everything about Ireland was so beautiful and we had such a hard-working crew, and people who really just gave it their all, and were so skilled.
"But the only real challenge we had was fighting the green. It was so green there and it was so bright for the show. Suddenly the Addams looked alive."
Wednesday season two, which sees Welsh actress Catherine Zeta-Jones continuing to play Morticia Addams, is on Netflix on 6 August with a first part and a second part coming on 3 September.
Created by cartoonist Charles Addams, the macabre family have inspired a 1960s TV show, and 1990s films starring Anjelica Huston and Christina Ricci, who also appeared in Wednesday season one as a teacher.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Wednesday showrunner reveals Ireland was always the plan for hit series
Wednesday showrunner reveals Ireland was always the plan for hit series

Extra.ie​

timean hour ago

  • Extra.ie​

Wednesday showrunner reveals Ireland was always the plan for hit series

Ahead of the release of season two on Netflix this week, more fun facts are emerging about the making of the hit series Wednesday. The second season moved production to Ireland, after season one was shot in Romania, and it turns out, Ireland was always on the cards. When visiting the Wednesday set in Ashford Studios, Geek Ireland got to speak to Showrunner Alfred Gough about finally getting the series to Ireland, where he and his co-showrunner, Miles Millar, shot their previous show. Geek Ireland's Olivia Fahy on the set of Wednesday in Ashford Studios Pic: Netflix He then revealed that this was where they had planned to shoot season one, but they hit a few too many bumps in the road to get it here from the off. He shared: 'We shot our last series here, so we've been to Ireland before and we love it. So it's been fantastic to get back here and that's one of the reasons why Ireland was on the list for Wednesday. 'We tried to get here in season one, and it was right after the pandemic when everything was starting to, at least the film world, was opening up again. Geek Ireland's Olivia Fahy on the set of Wednesday in Ashford Studios Pic: Netflix 'And literally between Brexit and the rush of other productions, we couldn't [set up here]. There were no stages [available] here. 'Even the areas for our last show, Into the Badlands, like old warehouses that we had shot in, I think had become COVID test centres or like package depots because of Brexit, so there was literally nothing to do. 'So we ended up in Romania for season one, which, you know, worked out great. It gave us all the space that we needed, but it wasn't really conducive for a long term television show So when we had the opportunity to come to Ireland, we all jumped on it.' Emma Myers as Enid Sinclair, Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams in Wednesday Pic: Vlad Cioplea/Netflix Production designer Philip Murphy even went as far as to say that he believed the series was even written with Ireland in mind as the shooting location, proving just how much of a grá Gough and Millar have for our shores. He elaborated: 'They [Gough and Millar] had the idea for the show while they were in Ireland and actually they had Ireland in mind [for the shoot] with a lot of the locations in Wicklow. 'Unfortunately, when it came time to produce it, there wasn't capacity in Ireland to take the show and, whilst I know they had a wonderful time in Romania, I think a little part of them always wanted to be here.' Joonas Suotamo as Lurch, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Jenna Ortega as Wednesday, Isaac Ordonez aș Pugsley Addams, Thing and Luis Guzmán as Gomez Addams. Pic: Helen Sloan/Netflix So with so many sets and teams already established here in Ireland, should we assume we're going to be the filming location for the recently announce third season? Philip added at the time of our set visit: 'It's been great fun working on the show, and we're all hoping that it comes back for a season three. That's the big wish.' Fingers crossed that's still the plan!

Robbie Henshaw wows Mayo pub with accordion tunes
Robbie Henshaw wows Mayo pub with accordion tunes

Extra.ie​

time9 hours ago

  • Extra.ie​

Robbie Henshaw wows Mayo pub with accordion tunes

Irish and Leinster rugby star Robbie Henshaw has shown he is a man of many talents after he broke out the button accordion in a pub over the weekend. The rugby international was dressed in a Fred Flinstone-inspired costume when he popped into Dohertys Bar, Mulranny in Westport. Due to the costume, which some of his peers were also wearing, it is thought he was at a Stag Do in the Mayo town. Irish and Leinster rugby star Robbie Henshaw has shown he is a man of many talents after he broke out the button accordion in a pub over the weekend. Pic: TikTok The 32-year-old was videoed sitting at the bar, with a pint of Guinness behind him, as he played a tune on the instrument. The Athlone man was accompanied by what sounded like a tin whistle before another person began singing along. Dohertys Bar, who were hosting the stag do, took to social media to share a clip of the brilliant tune. @dohertysbarmulranny We were thrilled to welcome Irish Rugby international and Leinster star Robbie Henshaw today — and who better to treat us to a few tunes on the box! #music #irishrugby #robbiehenshaw #ireland #mulranny #rugby ♬ original sound – Dohertysbarmulranny 'We were thrilled to welcome Irish Rugby international and Leinster star Robbie Henshaw today — and who better to treat us to a few tunes on the box!' they wrote alongside the minute-long video. Social media users took to the comments full of praise regarding Robbie's musical capabilities. One shared: 'Robbie's dad plays in Killeen's pub and restaurant in Shannonbridge, Co Offaly. The craic is always sensational.' The Athlone man was accompanied by what sounded like a tin whistle before another person began singing along. Pic: TikTok Another praised: 'Talented man.' A third wondered: 'So… um… none of us are questioning why they're in Fred Flinstones? Ok so…' It is unknown who's stag Robbie was on, however it certainly wasn't his own as he celebrated his one year anniversary to wife Sophie Marren earlier in the year. The couple tied the knot at the five-star Cashel Palace Hotel in Tipperary on March 21, 2024, with Sophie taking to social media this year to share how they were marking their one-year anniversary. Heading back to where they first became husband and wife, Sophie shared a snap showing two cocktails sitting on the bar alongside the caption 'back to our happy place.' Just a month after the monumental occasion, Sophie took to TikTok to give fans a glimpse behind the scenes at their big day.

Today's top TV and streaming choices: What Happened at Hiroshima, Lady Bird and King of The Hill
Today's top TV and streaming choices: What Happened at Hiroshima, Lady Bird and King of The Hill

Irish Independent

time11 hours ago

  • Irish Independent

Today's top TV and streaming choices: What Happened at Hiroshima, Lady Bird and King of The Hill

Na Féilte Tine RTÉ One, 6.30pm The series examining our ancient seasonal festivals ends with Lúnasa, which continues to be celebrated via modern events across the country. There's also a chance to find out how Edwina Guckian's Irish Culture Retreat carries on certain traditions in Leitrim. BBC One, 8.30pm To mark the 80th anniversary of atomic bombs being dropped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, reporter Jordan Dunbar meets the world's only nuclear explosion survivors. They discuss their experiences while also revealing their fears for the possible future use of such devastating weapons. The Veil RTÉ2, 10.40pm Emir's arrival in Paris causes problems for Max, while Adilah's concerns for her daughter's safety prompt her to tell Imogen a revealing secret — something she may live to regret. Lady Bird TG4, 9.30pm Greta Gerwig's acclaimed comedy-drama benefits from a brilliant performance by Saoirse Ronan as the titular teen who is about to face family issues and romantic difficulties. King of The Hill Disney+, streaming now Between this and the return of South Park, it's 1997 all over again (if only). Hank and Peggy return to Arlen after building their retirement fund in Saudi Arabia (peddling propane, obvs), while Bobby now lives it up in Dallas as a chef. For more grown-up animation, there's also Eyes of Wakanda. Hunting The Yorkshire Ripper Prime Video, streaming now Not to be confused with Jack the Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe shared a taste for misdirection and was ultimately facilitated by a Wearside Jack, whose notes and tapes led the police astray back in the 1970s. Fifty years later, retired detective Chris Gregg assembles a cold case team to hunt the impersonator who kept Sutcliffe's crimes alive. Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 Netflix, streaming now Frankly, I don't mind that they're starting to get repetitive; it's still appointment viewing every week in Chez McGinley. In 2019, a joke Facebook event to 'storm Area 51' went viral, drawing millions and triggering warnings from US authorities. Indeed, it does sound exceedingly similar to last month's Real Project X instalment, but I'm still here for it. Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes Netflix, streaming now 'Tis the turn of David Berkowitz's police tapes to get an airing. This chilling docuseries unpacks the Son of Sam killings, exposing Berkowitz's disturbing mindset he unleashed on 1970s NYC. Brady and the Blues Prime Video, streaming now Prime appears to be chasing some of that Welcome to Wrexham magic with a new sports docuseries featuring NFL icon Tom Brady. Mind you, this could be entirely different given Brady, at 3.3pc, is very much a minority stakeholder in Birmingham City FC. Perfect Match Netflix, streaming now Netflix's biggest reality stars – from Love Is Blind to Too Hot To Handle – head to paradise to search for love (or more followers) in a strategic dating showdown. So, like Battle Camp but with more bikinis. For more 'unscripted' drama, WWE: Unreal takes fans inside the writer's room for a look at the chaos behind the curtain. Leanne Netflix, streaming now Leanne Morgan's world flips when her husband leaves after 33 years. Menopausal and newly single, she leans on her family – especially her fierce sister Carol (Kristen Johnston) – to tackle this next chapter with Southern grit and lashings of 'jello salad'. Chuck Lorre is involved, so it can't be too bad.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store