IN CONVERSATION WITH ISAAC ORDONEZ
interview by JANA LETONJA
Isaac Ordonez returns as Pugsley Addams in the highly anticipated second season of Netflix’s global hit ‘Wednesday’, with Part 1 now streaming and Part 2 following in September. A proud Latinx actor, Isaac is passionate about authentic representation and hopes to inspire the next generation of young creatives from diverse backgrounds.
Season 1 of ‘Wednesday’ gave us a glimpse of Pugsley. How does Season 2 dive deeper into his story and character?
In season one, you get a quick glimpse of who Pugsley is. He’s emotional and really depends on Wednesday. But in season 2, he gets his own arc. He’s grown up a little and starts making decisions for himself. He’s at Nevermore now, trying to figure things out and struggling to make friends. We also get to see him use his powers more, and there’s a bigger focus on the Addams family as a whole, which is really fun.
You’ve brought a really unique energy to Pugsley, viewers have noticed how grounded and emotionally layered he feels in this version. Now that you’ve spent time in his shoes, what have you learned from playing him, and has he impacted you in any unexpected ways, either on or off set?
Pugsley’s a teen now, which is something we’ve never really seen before with his character. This season, I got to tap into deeper emotions and push myself more as an actor. I was on set a lot more, so I picked up a ton just by being around everyone. It’s helped me grow, not just in acting, but it’s given me more confidence in general.
What can the fans expect with ‘Wednesday’ finally returning?
This season is on a whole new level, with more storylines, epic new characters and villains, bigger scenes, and a huge, cinematic ending. Plus, some major names are joining the cast. It’s going to be wild.
Since ‘Wednesday’ became such a global sensation, your life must feel very different. How do you stay grounded and balanced while navigating new attention and opportunities?
I do independent study for school, so day-to-day life hasn’t changed too much. Most of my friends are actors too, but honestly, we just hang out and barely talk about the industry. I do get recognized sometimes, which is always cool and so far, every interaction has been really positive. I just want fans to know it’s totally okay to come say hi if you see me. Sometimes people point and whisper, which can be kind of awkward. I’ve developed this weird spider-sense for it. So yeah, don’t be shy, come forth, please.
At just 16, you’re part of a rising wave of Gen Z actors making a major impact. How do you stay grounded through success and attention?
I’m lucky to have an amazing team and really great friends who keep me grounded and humble. So far, life hasn’t gotten too crazy, and I’m just taking it all in, one step at a time.
You’ve talked about your interest in writing, filmmaking, and voice work. When you imagine yourself creating your own projects, what kinds of characters or stories are you most excited to explore, and why do they matter to you?
I’d love to explore comedy, especially coming-of-age stories. I’m really into movies like ‘Superbad’, ‘Metal Lords’, and ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. The World’. One of my all-time favorites is the original ‘Scream’, so horror is definitely up there too. I think what I love most about horror is how creative it can get with wild, original concepts. It’s also fun to imagine what you’d do in those intense situations and sometimes horror is so over-the-top, it ends up being hilarious. All the movies I mentioned are ones I could watch on repeat.
As an Latin actor, what does it mean to you to be part of a show as culturally impactful as ‘Wednesday’?
It’s honestly amazing, I don’t see a lot of young Hispanic actors out there, so being part of that representation means a lot to me. I’ve come really close to landing a few roles, but sometimes they ended up going in a different direction, ethnically. Still, I’m proud to be part of this wave and excited for what’s ahead.
We’ve noticed your style evolving. How would you describe your current fashion aesthetic?
I’ve really gotten into metal, grunge and rock music so that influenced my personal style. Although, I'd have to give most of the credit to my amazing stylist Gabriel Langenbrunner. We talk about clothes and accessories, often he’ll FaceTime with my mom and I and share what he's got lined up for me.
You’ve mentioned that gaming helps you relax after busy days. What kinds of games do you enjoy playing the most, and does gaming ever inspire your creative work—like your approach to characters, storytelling, or even writing your own projects? If you could design your dream game, what would it be about?
If I'm not gaming with friends, I mostly play horror or survival games. Just like I'd find inspiration from characters or scenes in TV/film, I also find inspiration from video game characters and cutscenes. Video games also can have really fleshed out characters and story arcs. As for a dream game, if I could design it, probably a really scary dinosaur or underwater horror survival, because I don’t think that concepts are used correctly enough. My all time favorite game is ‘Subnautica’, so making a game like that would be awesome. Aside from video games, on busy days I watch anime.
I read somewhere that you have a cat. If your cat were a character on ‘Wednesday’, which character would he be and why?
My cat Julien probably thinks he is like a huge raging Hyde, even though he is this little house cat. As for me I think he would be a thing as he is obedient yet sassy.
CREDITS
photography JOSH KATZ
styling GABRIEL LANGENBRUNNER
grooming SONIA LEE for EXCLUSIVE ARTISTS using DAMDAM TOKYO AND BALMAIN HAIR
