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Jenna Ortega Made Sure She Wasn’t ‘Ripping Off’ Winona Ryder for ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’

'Wednesday' star Jenna Ortega spoke at the Venice Film Festival about playing the daughter of another goth icon in 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.'

“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. 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.” 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.

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