Dame Joanna Lumley admitted she had little knowledge of Wednesday Addams before joining Netflix’s hit series. The 79-year-old actress quickly watched an episode to familiarise herself with Jenna Ortega’s character after being cast as Grandmama, Hester Frump, the mother of Morticia Addams, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. Lumley described the Addams Family as “the bedrock of America” and expressed her delight at joining the show, even though she had not known about it beforehand.
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The acting icon was approached by director Tim Burton, who asked her to play the grandmother. Lumley revealed she dislikes knowing what her work schedule will be in advance, enjoying the unpredictability of her career, whether earning £10 or £10,000 for a day. She also highlighted her longstanding love for acting, which has kept her busy since the 1960s.
Despite her long career, Lumley has no plans to retire, although she admitted she might scale back on projects in the future. She explained that her year has been “unbelievably busy” with filming, travelling to the US to promote Netflix’s shows, and participating in shoots and commercials. She contrasted this with a quieter imagined retirement, spent gardening, napping, and putting lids on jam pots.
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Lumley said she continues working because she loves what she does, from voice-overs and documentaries to writing and gardening. She added that while she enjoys her varied work, she might seek “just a little less feast” in the future, maintaining a balance between her many passions and personal time.
