Joanna Lumley is officially leveling up in the Wednesday universe.
According to Deadline, after being introduced in Season 2, the veteran actress will return for Season 3 as a full-time Netflix series regular, expanding her role as Hester Frump—Wednesday Addams’ formidable maternal grandmother.
Lumley’s character made a brief but memorable impression in the previous season. Portrayed as a wealthy mortuary mogul with a complicated dynamic with her daughter, Morticia (played by Catherine Zeta-Jones), Hester’s storyline took a sharp turn in the finale.
In the closing moments, she was seen descending into a hidden basement where her long-missing daughter, Ophelia, was revealed to be locked away. That cliffhanger now sets the stage for a much larger arc in Season 3.
Ophelia, who had previously been committed to a psychiatric facility called Willow Hill, is expected to play a central role moving forward. The character will be portrayed by Eva Green.
Season 3 of Wednesday continues to build out its ensemble, led by Jenna Ortega in the title role. Returning cast members include Emma Myers, Hunter Doohan, Joy Sunday, Luis Guzmán, and Isaac Ordonez, among others.
Fred Armisen is also set to reprise his role as Uncle Fester in a recurring capacity. Additionally, Winona Ryder is joining the series as a guest star, reuniting with director Tim Burton and the show’s creative team.
Long before stepping into the gothic world of Nevermore Academy, Lumley became a pop culture staple through her role as Patsy Stone on the British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous.
The series, created by Jennifer Saunders, first aired in 1992 and quickly built a cult following. Lumley’s Patsy—an ex-model turned fashion magazine editor—was known for her unapologetic indulgence in alcohol, cigarettes, and a chaotic, high-fashion lifestyle.
The show centered on Patsy’s codependent friendship with Saunders’ Edina Monsoon, a PR executive constantly chasing trends and relevance. Alongside characters like Saffron (Julia Sawalha) and Bubble (Jane Horrocks), the series leaned into outrageous humor and satire, earning critical acclaim and multiple awards.
Lumley herself won a BAFTA for her performance, helping cement Patsy as one of British television’s most recognizable characters.
Absolutely Fabulous ran across multiple seasons and specials, eventually leading to a feature film in 2016. Even years after its original run, the series maintained its cultural footprint, with anniversary specials and continued global syndication.