As Wednesday Addams’ mischievous, obsessive admirer Agnes in Netflix’s hit Wednesday, Evie Templeton steps into the shoes of a vanisher. But in real life, something tells us the 16-year-old rising star isn’t going anywhere – in fact, she’s only just getting started.

Blink and you’ll miss her. But… only in Tim Burton’s fantastical world of Wednesday. England-based, Barbados-born actor Evie Templeton stepped onto Nevermore grounds this summer, starring in season two of the Netflix phenomenon as Agnes DeMille – Wednesday Addams’ stalker-turned-ally. Witty, chaotically loyal and, well, a tad psychotic in classic Addams style, Agnes is one of the season’s most adored characters among fans – and a stellar starting point for the 16-year-old actor, who’s breaking through as a star to watch.

On the heels of Wednesday’s second season release, Templeton sat down with Wonderland to talk all things character prep, bonding with screenmates Jenna Ortega and Emma Myers, and the cast’s wonderfully mad days in Dublin. Read on…

How are you feeling? How has it been since the new season started? I imagine it must be such an exciting time for you.
It’s really exciting. A little bit nerve-wracking, to be honest. It’s a bit scary just because obviously it’s got such a huge fanbase, but I’m also incredibly grateful and feel very honoured to be a part of a show that people love so much.

Were you a fan of the show before joining the cast?
I was a huge fan of the first season. My sister and I binge-watched it at least three times – probably an unhealthy amount. But yes, I was obsessed. So then getting to join in for the second season and step into the magical world of Nevermore that they built through season one was an incredible opportunity that I’m so grateful for.

Tell me a little about the audition process. How did it come about? How many rounds did you go through?
It started with a self-tape. I got some sides through – I did the Bikini Bottom scene and also the “Don’t bother, Pup, you won’t see me coming anyway” line, which is probably my favourite from the whole show. I wasn’t actually sure what I was auditioning for because the scenes had code names, but I sort of had an idea – because I was already a fan of the show – that it could be something Addams Family-related from the tone and writing.

After that, I did an in-person audition with Sophie Holland in London, followed by a few Zoom calls. I had a chemistry read with Emma and Jenna over Zoom – it was quite a lengthy process but honestly so much fun. It gave me a great chance to play around with the character and work out where they wanted her to go. Getting to collaborate with Tim [Burton] and the fantastic showrunners was a great experience.

How was it building a connection with Emma and Jenna?
They’re both so lovely. I’m really lucky because most of my scenes are with them. Honestly, they’re like big sisters to me, they’re both such inspirations. It’s tricky to do a chemistry read over Zoom, but I think we clicked pretty much straight away. I remember the first time I met Jenna in person, she just introduced herself really calmly, gave me a hug, and from there it was smooth sailing.

Let’s talk about character prep. Did you study Wednesday to create Agnes? How did you approach mirroring her mannerisms, no-blinking and all?
Watching season one and studying Wednesday as a character was a big part of my prep, because Agnes is really enamoured by her and tries to mold herself into that kind of personality. I also watched a lot of films with characters who were slightly unhinged or unpredictable – ones where something was going on behind the eyes and you weren’t quite sure what. I watched The Shining, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane – some proper classics.

Did you grow up in a creative environment?
I’d say a lot of [my creative influences] come from my sister, to be honest. I’m the little sister, so I’d always be tagging along to her dance classes or singing sessions. I think I started singing as soon as I could talk. I feel really lucky to know what I want to do at such a young age – it’s such a privilege. I’d say it’s mostly down to my sister, but we’re quite a creative family in general. My mum’s an ice-skating coach, so I guess it runs in our veins.

Tell me a bit more about Agnes. What about this character challenged you the most?
The most challenging part was probably working on her duality. She has this dual personality because, deep down, she’s quite insecure and vulnerable. That’s what motivates her to put up these walls and pretend to be this psychotic stalker – she thinks that’s how she’ll get Wednesday’s attention. There’s this lovely scene, the “sum of our parts” moment, where she exposes herself a bit more and we get to see the real Agnes behind those walls. It was such a beautiful scene to play. 

Was the process quite collaborative? Did you feel like you had room to contribute ideas?
Definitely. I had the honour of working with Tim Burton, who’s a huge inspiration to me, and he has such a collaborative approach. His attention to detail is amazing, and he always made me feel at ease on set – he’s very calm and approachable, which really helped. The sets were also insane. They totally immersed you in this magical world, which makes it so much easier to get into character.

What was the most incredible thing you saw on set?
The most detailed set was probably one of the school rooms where Orloff teaches – the science lab. They had all these weird and wonderful plants, jars, equipment… It was insane. It looked like something straight out of another world.

You spent quite a lot of time in Dublin during filming – how was that experience?
I loved Dublin! It was my first time in Ireland. I think it’s quite similar to London in that it’s a melting pot of people and cultures, with loads of amazing restaurants. I even went to watch Riverdance at the Gaiety Theatre, which was so much fun. Got my dancing shoes on!

What’s next for you?
I’d love to do theatre again, that’s where it all started for me when I did Les Misérables at age ten. It really sparked my love for this industry. Dream role-wise, I’ve always wanted to be in a movie musical. Meryl Streep is a huge inspiration, so something Mamma Mia-ish would be amazing. But I also love horror. The characters are so layered, you can really sink your teeth into them. I enjoy playing around with complex roles, but also ones that feel close to who I am in everyday life.

Can you handle horror films, though? I sure can’t!
I love acting in them. Watching them is another story! I’m always hiding behind a cushion. 

Did you spend long in makeup? Were you wearing a wig or did you dye your hair for Agnes?
It was a wig – the hair team was fantastic. I always think the hair is like the frame and makeup is the mask of your character. It really helped me feel more like Agnes when I looked in the mirror. I got to play around with loads of different looks this season, from the full Wednesday-style black pigtails and uniform to breaking out of the braids and embracing my individuality with curly hair. Working with the hair team to build that transformation was great.

If you could have a superpower at Nevermore, what would it be?
I think invisibility. My character’s power is pretty cool. You’d get to spy on people, be a bit of a wallflower, a fly on the wall. That would be interesting. But I’d also love to be a werewolf, just for the claws. I want the nails!

WEDNESDAY Part Two is available to stream on Netflix now.

Words – Sofia Ferreira