For those who live and breathe gothic style, the dark aesthetic isn’t just reserved for Halloween — it’s a year-round statement, and Jenna Ortega continues to prove she’s its modern-day muse. Known for her brooding allure and roles that lean into the eerie and mysterious, Ortega has become synonymous with gothic elegance.
From playing Wednesday Addams on Netflix’s Wednesday to headlining the upcoming comedy-horror sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice with Winona Ryder, Ortega’s career is drenched in dark undertones. Now, with her new project — A24’s Death of a Unicorn — she’s once again going dark, both on and off screen.
At a premiere screening of the movie in New York, Ortega emerged in a show-stopping black cut-out dress by David Koma, which complemented her new hair colour to perfection: a deep, rich cherry cola colour. The new colour was first glimpsed by fans earlier in the week at the SXSW film festival, where Ortega sported her hair in a low ponytail. The screening provided the first complete glimpse of the makeover.
Styled by Bobby Eliot, her straight, sleek hair was left down with a slightly off-centre part and gentle face-framing tendrils, letting the shiny cherry-toned colours catch the light and take centre stage.
Her beauty look picked up on the gothic theme with a dramatic double-winged smokey eyeliner, created by make-up artist Vincent Oquendo with all Dior products. Oquendo applied the Diorshow On Stage Crayon in Black and built shadows from the 5 Couleurs Eye Palettes in Pied-de-Poule and Nude Dentelle. Lashes were lineal with Diorshow Mascara, and her lips remained soft but seductive with Rouge Dior Velvet Finish in Nude Look and topped with Dior Addict Lip Glow in Rosewood.
Curiously, Ortega’s new cherry cola hair is only a month since she was previously spotted with her iconic jet-black locks — something directly associated with her portrayal as Wednesday Addams. The timing has generated speculation from fans that shooting for Wednesday season two — which is set to debut this year — is now potentially done.
