For “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” star Jenna Ortega, part of both the challenge and fun of taking on the role of Astrid Deetz was playing with the expectations the audience has of her being the daughter of Winona Ryder’s iconic character Lydia Deetz.
“You think that they’re going to be the same, so for me, it was just making sure that I wasn’t ripping off lovely Winona’s work back in the day and making something new, but still pulling certain aspects and things like that that would make them similar,” said the Emmy-nominated “Wednesday” actress at the Venice Film Festival press conference for the new Tim Burton film.
“They’re very self-assured and opinionated and know who they are, and I think their anger comes from a different place,” added Ortega, expanding on the idea of Astrid not quite fitting in the same gothic mold as Lydia. “You just love dark things,” she said, talking to Ryder in the next seat, “and I think Astrid has a bit more trauma and resentment towards the world, and that’s what she’s working through.”
Despite being part of the project that Burton has said helped “reenergize” him as a film director, Ortega said she still entered the “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” set feeling like “I was joining a team of giants, and people who were so special and talented at what they do, [so] I just kind of tried to mind my business in the corner.” Still, she was thrilled and excited to play what Burton described as an “anchor” character, which makes the project feel new because the audience is “seeing it through her eyes.”
She said, “Obviously, I was a huge fan of the first one, and I love everyone here. I really looked up to a lot of this cast.” In fact, Ortega’s reverence for “Beetlejuice” is so large that she previously said she began “disassociating” upon seeing Michael Keaton in costume as the titular troublemaker from the afterlife.
And Burton really did provide a certain level of comfort. “It was really wonderful to have already established a working relationship with Tim because he’s somebody that I trust immensely, and I really really enjoy working with,” Ortega said.
“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” releases in theaters September 6 following a world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.