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"The real head of the family... low-voiced, incisive and subtle, smiles are rare... ruined beauty... contemptuous and original and with fierce family loyalty... even in disposition, muted, witty, sometimes deadly... given to low-keyed rhapsodies about her garden of deadly nightshade, henbane and dwarf's hair..." |
Template:MainCharacterInfoBox Morticia A Addams (née Frump) is the fictional matriarch of The Addams Family, created by cartoonist Charles Addams. Charles Addams gave her the name "Morticia", implying "death" or "mortician".
Description
Morticia is the wife of Gomez Addams, and the mother of Wednesday, Pugsley, Wednesday Jr., Pugsley Jr. and Pubert. She is also the sister of the daisy-headed Ophelia Frump and daughter of Hester Frump.
She has pale skin and long black hair. She commonly wears black gothic dresses to match her hair, tightly form fitting, with a hobble skirt.
Depictions
The Addams Family (TV Series)
In the original television series Morticia was portrayed by Carolyn Jones.
According to Wednesday, Morticia applies baking powder to her face instead of actual makeup. In each episode, she easily allures her husband Gomez by speaking French (or any other foreign language for that matter). Morticia is musically-inclined, and is often seen freely strumming a shamisen. She frequently enjoys cutting the buds off of roses which she discards, keeping only the stems. She also has a carnivorous plant, an African Strangler named Cleopatra, which she enjoys feeding. Morticia also has an affinity for making certain that her family upholds the traditional Addams way, and is usually the most taken aback when one of the clan goes astray and does something "pleasant."
The Addams Family (animated 1973)
In the first animated series made in 1973, Morticia was voiced by Janet Waldo.
Gold Key Comics
This version of Morticia also appeared in The Addams Family comic books published by Gold Key Comics.
The Addams Family films
Morticia was played by Anjelica Huston in The Addams Family (1991) and its sequel Addams Family Values (1993). Huston's portrayal of Morticia was always illuminated by a ghostly glow around the eyes, which became most noticeable when she was standing or lying in dim light.
In the movie, she is soft-spoken, seductive, warm and loving to her family. She is the one who consoles Gomez when he is at his lowest and proves her fierce loyalty to her family when she goes to confront Fester when he kicks the family out of their manor. During a job interview, after the entire Addams family was evicted from their house due to Abigail Craven's scheme, she revealed that she studied under a private tutor and claimed that her specialty is in conjuring hexes and spells, but the interviewer put down liberal arts.
She seems to have an astonishing ability to suppress pain as she stays completely calm during childbirth.
The Addams Family (animated 1992)
In the 1992 animated series, she was voiced by Nancy Linari.
The New Addams Family
Canadian actress Ellie Harvie portrayed Morticia in the 1998 revival series, The New Addams Family.
- Unlike the other Morticia incarnations, this one's bare feet are seen three times in the series:
- "Deadbeat Relatives" - Morticia's left foot has a toe-tag on it, as she comforts a sad Gomez.
- "Lurch Learns to Dance" - During a dance, Lurch spins Morticia so fast, her left shoe pops off.
- "Fester Goes on a Diet" - Thing gives her a pedicure while she gives herself a manicure.
The Addams Family: A New Musical
In the Broadway musical, she was portrayed by Bebe Neuwirth with little difference from her other incarnations, although she seems sterner and smiles even less.
Gallery
Trivia
- Morticia was the inspiration for Disney's duck-witch Magica De Spell, first designed and drawn by Carl Barks.
- Morticia is also the main basis for the Mistress of the Night herself, Elvira.