With two seasons of Tim Burton’s Wednesday under his belt and a British Independent Film Award longlist nod for Breakthrough Performance, Farmer is slowly but surely claiming his spot as one of the most exciting talents emerging from British soil right now. Here’s why.
Tim Burton’s kids have grown up. The fantastically macabre halls of Wednesday’s Nevermore Academy are now a breeding ground for romantic triangles, family reckonings, and supernatural drama dialled up to eleven. And if the first season of the Addams Family spin-off was responsible for conjuring fans’ obsession worldwide, season two seals the deal – proving there’s perhaps no better group of young actors building such an electrifying world on TV right now.
“It felt like going back to school,” says East London–hailing actor Georgie Farmer. After a three-year break, the cast reunited in Dublin for an eight-month shoot to bring the second season of the Jenna Ortega- and Emma Myers-led behemoth to life. Farmer once again steps into the shoes of Ajax Petropolus – the snake-haired loverboy learning to navigate heartbreak, growing pains, and the power of his… well, powers.
Speaking to Wonderland on the heels of a stellar summer – now topped off by a British Independent Film Award longlist nod for Breakthrough Performance in Rónán Corrigan’s Bitcoin-heist thriller Life Hack – Farmer reminisces on the long hours spent in the makeup chair, the gratitude of working with his heroes, and what’s next. Keep reading…
How are you feeling now that the second season is out?
It’s surreal. The past few months have been crazy. When the show first came out, the reception was incredible, and we were so thankful. Then there was a long break before filming again, so you kind of forget about the anticipation. It wasn’t until the press tour that it hit me how much people were waiting for it. With Netflix, it’s so strange – one day it’s not there, and the next it’s suddenly out in the world. But I’m just so grateful people are watching and that I get to be part of it.
Wednesday has such a dedicated fan base, especially on social media. How do you find that side of it? Are you someone who keeps up with what people are saying, or do you try to stay away from it?
I do end up doom-scrolling sometimes, but not really about Wednesday. The fans are the reason the show is what it is. Without them, there wouldn’t be a second season. The whole cast is so grateful because they care so deeply about it. We went to a fan screening in Chicago, and the excitement was unreal. The fact they connect so much with the story and the characters is the most gratifying thing for all of us.
How did it feel to find out there would be a second season and that you’d be going back to Nevermore? Was it like coming home, or did it feel like a fresh start?
It felt like going back to school. We filmed the first season in Romania during the pandemic and got so close, we really became a family. Coming back was such a joy, like reuniting with old friends. Honestly, it’s the greatest job in the world. You’re working with people you love, inside Tim Burton’s universe. Every time you step onto those sets, it’s incredible. The eight months we film for feel like living in a dream world.
The sets are unreal this season. Did you have a favourite scene or location to film in?
Probably the classroom and the clock tower. I didn’t film there, but I remember watching them build the Day of the Dead festival set for episode five and it was insane, like a full theme park. I wish I could’ve filmed there.
You spent so much time in Dublin. Did you have a special relationship with the city? Any favourite spots?
Dublin was great. Everyone was so welcoming and kind. I loved The Stella Cinema, it’s a historic theatre where they replay old films. I went once for a James Dean triple bill – Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant, all in one day. It was brilliant.
How was it reading the scripts for season two for the first time? Do you remember your first impressions and how you approached Ajax this time around?
I remember reading episode one and thinking, “Wow, they’re really going there. It’s that dark.” Every episode felt huge. The writers care so deeply about the characters and the Addams Family legacy, and it really shows. For Ajax, this season was about him growing into himself, being more confident and using his powers as an asset. And of course, the heartbreak… poor guy.
Brutal, right?
So brutal.
But being that age, it is brutal. Those early relationships always feel like the end of the world.
High school is already hard. Trying to find yourself, dealing with so much. Doing that while having snakes on your head?
Speaking of the snakes, did you spend a lot of time in the makeup chair?
It depended. When I had the beanie, not much. My hair was long, so they just tied it up and put the beanie on. But on days when the snakes came out, I wore a bald cap. It looked terrifying – have you seen the photos? The makeup team were amazing, though. They got it down to about an hour and twenty. But it was great fun, I enjoyed spending time with them.
Nothing compared to the Zombie makeup…
Oh my gosh, Owen [Painter] was incredible. He’d be in the chair for like seven hours. His call time would be 2am for an 8am shoot. I could never complain about the bald cap after seeing what he went through.
What’s your biggest takeaway from working on this project and with Tim Burton?
Honestly, just gratitude. Being part of this show has been such a blessing. Getting to work with people at the top of their game, learning from them and from Tim himself, who’s so generous, it’s been incredible. It’s made me fall even more in love with the craft.
And looking ahead – what excites you about the future? Any dream roles you’d like to manifest?
I want to be the next Bond [laughter]. Can you imagine – from beanie to Bond? I think that’s so many people’s dream roles. But yeah, that would be a dream. I just want to try everything and anything. I think the best actors are the ones with varied careers, who explore every genre. I’m so grateful for what I’ve done so far, but I’m always excited to see what’s next.
Words – Sofia Ferreira
