If method dressing were on life support, Jenna Ortega just pulled the plug in the most gothic way possible.

The actress stepped onto the red carpet at the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards in a look that felt unmistakably Wednesday-coded, proving that when done right, dressing in character can still feel fresh, grown and intentional. This wasn’t cosplay. It was evolution.

Ortega, 23, arrived in an all-black, gothic-chic ensemble that nodded to her breakout role in Wednesday only dialed up with sparkle, skin and sophistication. The look featured a blouse-style bodice with a high turtleneck and cap sleeves, heavily embellished with black jewels and sequin tassels that shimmered with every step. Dark, dramatic and quietly theatrical, it felt like something Wednesday Addams might wear… if she were attending a couture afterparty instead of Nevermore Academy.

The dress pushed the mood further with daring cut-outs that revealed almost the entire torso, save for a narrow strip of fabric running down the center of her stomach. The back was nearly bare, adding an unexpected sensuality that transformed the character reference into something unmistakably adult. Gothic, yes but also confident, polished and red-carpet ready.

It’s a reminder that method dressing doesn’t have to be literal to work. Ortega didn’t recreate Wednesday; she interpreted her. And that’s where the magic happens.

The Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star is nominated this year for Best Actress in a Comedy Series, competing alongside Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), Jean Smart (Hacks), Kristen Bell (Nobody Wants This), Natasha Lyonne Poker Face) and Selena Gomez (Only Murders in the Building).