Donegal dancer says starring in Netflix’s Wednesday ‘a portal into another world’
Emily Rose Colangelo, a Dungloe native, was cast as an extra in Netflix's critically acclaimed Wednesday
Dungloe’s Emily Rose Colangelo has described starring in Netflix’s Wednesday as “incredible from the very beginning.”
The 21-year-old was cast as an extra and appears on the pilot of the upcoming season. The filming was an intense week, and having no experience with night shifts, this took some adjustment.
Wednesday is an American comedy-horror series on Netflix, based on the character Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family. The first season, released in November 2022, drew widespread attention and was a global hit. Season two is due for release in two four-episode segments. The first part premiered earlier this month, and part two is due for release on September 3.
“The energy on set was unforgettable. It felt almost surreal; standing in a field at 3am, surrounded by incredible actors and actresses, then heading home to sleep for a few hours before waking up and doing it all over again, as if the whole experience was a dream. Ireland’s cold nights were definitely a challenge, but the production team looked after us with heat patches and blankets.
It was all worth it, and to make it even more memorable, she spent her 20th birthday with the cast and crew. “The experience was incredible from the very beginning. My fitting day felt surreal. I was taken from station to station for hair, makeup, and costume, and the attention to detail was unbelievable. It genuinely felt like stepping through a portal into another world.”
During the filming process, Emily got to converse with Catherine Zeta-Jones in between scenes and met the protagonist, Jenna Ortega.
“But the biggest highlight was watching the director Tim Burton at work,” Emily said. “Seeing his creative process unfold in real time was nothing short of mesmerising.”
At the time, she had committed to six months in a dance show, which interfered with the seven months required for the filming of Wednesday.
The Rosses native has always enjoyed being in front of the camera but had never really pursued it until the opportunity arose. “Being part of Wednesday gave me a whole new appreciation for the dedication, artistry, and behind-the-scenes magic that goes into making a production of that scale. Although my role was small, it was an unforgettable experience, and I feel fortunate to have been part of it.”