The Addams Family has always been a little bit mysterious and a little bit spooky, but in the latest season of Netflix's Wednesday, the show has taken on a distinctly British flair. With the production’s move from Romania to Dublin for Season 2, the halls of Nevermore Academy are now brimming with British and British-adjacent talent, giving the series a fresh twist on its already unique aesthetic. And just when fans thought they knew what to expect, a surprise Lady Gaga spoiler has upended all expectations, adding another layer of intrigue to a show that thrives on the unexpected.
Jenna Ortega returns as the ever-gloomy Wednesday Addams, the child of woe who has captured the imaginations of viewers across the globe. According to Telly Visions, the British presence in Season 2 is stronger than ever, with a cast list that reads like a who’s who of UK acting royalty. Catherine Zeta-Jones, who plays the enigmatic Morticia Addams, steps up her role in the new season, bringing her signature gravitas (and a bit more screen time) to the Addams matriarch. Zeta-Jones is joined by the legendary Joanna Lumley, who brings Grandmama Hester Frump to life—a character who runs a funeral services empire and just happens to be the wealthiest Nevermore alum. The dynamic between Morticia and her mother is more fraught than ever, especially as Grandmama Hester’s wealth becomes a crucial piece in Morticia’s plans to organize a massive ball for the school.
But the British invasion doesn’t stop there. Billie Piper, beloved for her roles in Doctor Who and other UK hits, joins the cast as Isadora Capri, a music teacher with a special interest in Wednesday’s cello talents. Thandiwe Newton, known to American audiences for her work in Westworld, brings her formidable presence to Dr. Rachel Fairburn, a psychiatrist at Willow Hill tasked with reforming Tyler Galpin (played by Hunter Doohan). As Telly Visions notes, Dr. Fairburn’s methods are anything but conventional, raising eyebrows about just how far she’s willing to go for her patients.
The younger cast members also include a healthy dose of British talent. Moosa Mustafa, who plays Eugene Ottinger, returns as Pugsley’s roommate and reluctant partner in crime. Mustafa, a Londoner, first appeared in the 2022 series The Last Bus before joining the Wednesday ensemble. Georgie Farmer, another young London actor, continues his role as Ajax Petropolus, a member of Enid’s wolfpack and a key figure in the season’s love triangle drama.
Evie Templeton, a relative newcomer, takes on the role of Agnes Demille—Wednesday’s stalker, assistant, and Enid’s nemesis. Her character’s enthusiasm for all things dark and dangerous lands both her and Wednesday in hot water more than once. These rising stars are joined by a few "bonus" Brits, including Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, a South African actor with deep UK ties who plays Detective Ritchie Santiago, and Noah B. Taylor, a Philippines-born actor who studied in Scotland and plays Bruno, another member of Enid’s wolfpack.
With so many British and Commonwealth actors now part of the fabric of Wednesday, it’s no wonder the show’s atmosphere feels both familiar and freshly eerie. But the real twist this season comes not from across the Atlantic, but from the world of pop stardom. For months, rumors have swirled about Lady Gaga’s much-anticipated debut in the Addams universe. Fans speculated wildly about her role, with many convinced she’d be playing a teacher at Nevermore Academy. But, in a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Jenna Ortega set the record straight. When pressed about Lady Gaga’s role, Ortega was quick to reveal, “She’s not a teacher. So that’s your little clue. Yes, she’s not. Whatever you heard, it’s wrong.”
This revelation sent shockwaves through the fandom, as the misinformation had been carefully cultivated to keep the hype alive. Catherine Zeta-Jones, never one to miss a beat, chimed in enthusiastically about Gaga’s addition to the cast, calling it “an addition that was made in heaven. We’d say hell, which is a good thing. I actually feel that she is somehow related genetically to the Addams Family.” Luis Guzmán, who plays the ever-dapper Gomez Addams, added his own tongue-in-cheek twist, joking, “As Gomez, Addams’ lawyer, I’m preparing the papers to adopt her.” Zeta-Jones laughed, “I could be a mother!” to which Guzmán replied, “Again.”
As for Gaga herself, she will be playing Rosaline Rotwood—a character whose true connection to the Addams family remains shrouded in mystery. The only thing certain is that she is not the teacher everyone expected, and the showrunners have been more than happy to let speculation run wild. Ortega, reflecting on the experience of working with the pop icon, said, “Of course, of course. One of the kindest, most grounded people I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. She’s such a powerhouse.”
For fans eager to watch all the drama unfold, the good news is that Season 2, Part 1 of Wednesday is already available for streaming on Netflix as of August 9, 2025. And the wait for more won’t be long—Season 2, Part 2 is set to premiere on September 3, 2025. All episodes of Season 1 remain available for those who want to revisit the origins of Nevermore’s most famous student.
With a cast that blends British legends, rising stars, and global pop icons, Wednesday continues to reinvent itself while staying true to its spooky roots. The blend of British and American sensibilities, combined with the show’s gothic humor and supernatural intrigue, promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. As the second half of Season 2 approaches, fans can only guess what other surprises lie in store—but if the Lady Gaga reveal is any indication, nothing is quite as it seems at Nevermore Academy.
The Addams Family has always thrived on the unexpected, and with its latest season, Wednesday proves once again that it’s not afraid to shake things up—whether it’s with a new setting, fresh faces, or a perfectly timed pop culture twist.
