When Emma Myers got the call she would be playing Enid Sinclare in Netflix’s new series Wednesday, she couldn’t believe it.
“I have never screamed so loud in my entire life!” the 20-year-old exclusively tells GRAZIA USA. “My manager likes to play this prank on me whenever she tells me I booked a role. She’ll call me and call me by the name of the character, but this time, she called and was like, ‘There’s something wrong with my phone. I’ll call you back.’ She called me back and said, ‘Do you think your phone will have this problem in Romania?’ It completely went over my head and then I realized what she was saying. I ran to my mom screaming and then we went out to dinner to celebrate.”
The rising star explains that the whole process took a long time, as she first auditioned in February 2021 but didn’t officially get cast until June of that year. “It was a long, nerve-wracking process, but it was totally worth it,” she admits.
Myers plays Enid, a werewolf. “She’s a bit of a late bloomer so she doesn’t have her full powers,” she explains. “It makes her feel like an outsider but then she meets Wednesday [played by Jenna Ortega] and they become roommates. She tries to hit it off with her, but we’ll see how that goes!”
The show, which premieres on Wednesday, November 23, on Netflix, is an upcoming coming of age supernatural horror TV series featuring Wednesday Addams of the Addams Family. “I watched the ’90s movies growing up because my aunt is a really big fan,” she says of her experience with the kooky brood. “But it wasn’t until after I was cast that I went and researched and found out it was originally a comic. Then I went back and watched parts the original TV show.”
Myers admits since this was her first “fantasy or supernatural” show, she had to attend a werewolf boot camp, which “had me crawling on the floor with the stunt guys around me,” she recalls. “That was definitely very interesting. The fantasy aspect of this role was my favorite because I’m such a big fan, and I’ve never gotten to do that before. This was really something special.”
But trying to make the fantasy aspect of it all was hard for Myers. “We’re sitting there having conversations about monsters, and I’m trying to make it seem like it’s this normal, everyday thing,” she quips. “It was also challenging to have so much energy since Enid does, but it was worth it!”
It was also a treat for Myers to share the screen with a slew of A-listers, including Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia Addams), Luis Guzmán (Gomez Addams) and Christina Ricci. “They are all sweet. I was nervous at first, but they were all welcoming and the sweetest cast I’ve ever worked with,” she gushes. “I didn’t get to meet Fred Armisen because we never had a scene together, but everybody else I loved dearly. I’m so glad I got to work with them.”
After being around Ricci and Zeta-Jones, Myers says, “You can definitely learn by watching them. They taught me a lot.”
Myers also adores Ortega, who is around the same age as her. “I really wanted to form a good relationship with her. The first time we met she ran up to me and gave me a hug and was so sweet,” she shares. “The whole time she was looking out for me on set. If you ask her for advice, she’ll be honest with you and tell. I love her to death. I’m so happy I got to work with her, and she’s the perfect Wednesday. I think people will really enjoy her!”
Though there have been other adaptations of The Addams Family over the years, there are a lot of Easter eggs throughout the new show, which fans will love. “There’s a really good message the show promotes: embrace your weirdness! Be kooky, be who you are. I would love for younger audiences to learn that,” Myers says. “People can’t get enough of the family!”
She adds, “I’m really excited because this is the first time we see Wednesday front and center. We see her navigating high school in the 21st century, and it’s really funny to see her interact with kids who are on TikTok and Snapchat. The writing is amazing.”
From a young age, Myers was always interested in acting, but it wasn’t until she was 16 she wanted to dive into the film and TV industry. “It’s been quite the journey since,” she shares. “I would love to do more films — especially fantasy ones. I would love to do something with Oscar Isaac. He’s so incredible and talented. If I could act with him, that would be a dream role. I’d also love to do a Christopher Nolan film.”
Myers is still pinching herself over getting the chance to act in Wednesday — a moment she’ll treasure forever. “It’s very surreal,” she states. “I’m so thankful for all of it. I still am like, ‘Am I still good enough?’ Do I really deserve this?’ But you have to tell yourself, ‘I made it, I did it!’ I am proud of myself, but I’m also thankful for everybody who was involved in casting me.”
“It’s very special,” she adds. “I also would love to be able to empower young girls through this, and I would love them to watch it and see themselves in this and say, ‘Hey, I can do that too.’ I really like that we’re going to be inspiring young women. I hope they take away some good messages from the show.”
