A woman for all seasons: South Dakotan stars in 'Mad Men'
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, July 25, 2008
January Jones play Betty Draper, the cool housewife, in "Mad Men," a drama set in the 1960s.
LOS ANGELES -- At an awards show, it's practically impossible to pick January Jones out of the crowd.
Without her Grace Kelly hairdo or Donna Reed dresses, the South Dakota native looks nothing like Betty Draper, the frosty housewife she plays in AMC's "Mad Men."
Her hair is swept up, her dress is oh-so-short and her heels are as high and precarious as they get. Betty, where art thou?
Jones laughs after photographers have snapped dozens of pictures.
"When you look in the mirror and the clothes and hair and makeup are all 1962, you definitely feel like you're stepping into the era. But we're not trying to portray people from the past. We're trying to play people now...something we in 2008 can relate to."
Betty and her Ken-like husband Don (creative director at Sterling-Cooper Advertising Agency) look like the perfect couple but plenty bubbles underneath. She's a housewife longing for something more; he's a husband whose eyes can wander.
"We molded Betty a little bit on Grace Kelly," Jones says. "The feeling is that Betty is a fan of Grace Kelly's. She tries to emulate her style and fashion. But this year, the show is set in 1962." Jackie Kennedy's impact will be felt and, say "Mad Men" designers, changes are in store for Betty.
Thankfully, Jones says, much of the character is "on the page. I don't have anything in common with her or have anyone in my family who does. I just try to empathize with what's written for the character."
When she was approached about joining the series -- nominated for more Emmys than any other drama this year -- Jones "took a chance. I'd never done a television series before. For me, it was all about the material. The writing was so smart and it didn't take a whole year to do. I took a leap of faith and gambled well." She smiles.
Created by Matt Weiner, one of the writers of "The Sopranos," "Mad Men" shows how the men who created revolutionary advertising experienced change in their own lives. Seen through the lives of Don and Betty Draper, the world is on the cusp of change. Weiner says Betty, in particular, will be affected by events like the women's liberation movement. She's a conduit through which he can tell stories -- "stories that are more than a little ironic."
Known for roles in "We are Marshall," "American Wedding" and other big-screen ventures, Jones got into Hollywood through modeling. Born in Brookings, raised in Sioux Falls, the 30-year-old has often played "the girlfriend of" or "the wife of" but never anyone quite like Betty.
The 13-week assignment is short enough to afford her the opportunity to do other big-screen work. Still, she says, "when it's all done, I go home for a week and relax with my mom and dad," now living in Des Moines. "We go back to South Dakota and have fun. I was home for Christmas...I get back a few times each year."
That Midwestern base, Jones says, is key to making it in Hollywood. "The best thing the Midwest has done for me is kept me very grounded in my morals and stable and clear-headed in this business. I love going back home."
And Betty? She's one of those dream roles. "I took a chance with her and now I realize it's definitely the right place for me to be."
Without her Grace Kelly hairdo or Donna Reed dresses, the South Dakota native looks nothing like Betty Draper, the frosty housewife she plays in AMC's "Mad Men."
Her hair is swept up, her dress is oh-so-short and her heels are as high and precarious as they get. Betty, where art thou?
Jones laughs after photographers have snapped dozens of pictures.
"When you look in the mirror and the clothes and hair and makeup are all 1962, you definitely feel like you're stepping into the era. But we're not trying to portray people from the past. We're trying to play people now...something we in 2008 can relate to."
Betty and her Ken-like husband Don (creative director at Sterling-Cooper Advertising Agency) look like the perfect couple but plenty bubbles underneath. She's a housewife longing for something more; he's a husband whose eyes can wander.
"We molded Betty a little bit on Grace Kelly," Jones says. "The feeling is that Betty is a fan of Grace Kelly's. She tries to emulate her style and fashion. But this year, the show is set in 1962." Jackie Kennedy's impact will be felt and, say "Mad Men" designers, changes are in store for Betty.
Thankfully, Jones says, much of the character is "on the page. I don't have anything in common with her or have anyone in my family who does. I just try to empathize with what's written for the character."
When she was approached about joining the series -- nominated for more Emmys than any other drama this year -- Jones "took a chance. I'd never done a television series before. For me, it was all about the material. The writing was so smart and it didn't take a whole year to do. I took a leap of faith and gambled well." She smiles.
Created by Matt Weiner, one of the writers of "The Sopranos," "Mad Men" shows how the men who created revolutionary advertising experienced change in their own lives. Seen through the lives of Don and Betty Draper, the world is on the cusp of change. Weiner says Betty, in particular, will be affected by events like the women's liberation movement. She's a conduit through which he can tell stories -- "stories that are more than a little ironic."
Known for roles in "We are Marshall," "American Wedding" and other big-screen ventures, Jones got into Hollywood through modeling. Born in Brookings, raised in Sioux Falls, the 30-year-old has often played "the girlfriend of" or "the wife of" but never anyone quite like Betty.
The 13-week assignment is short enough to afford her the opportunity to do other big-screen work. Still, she says, "when it's all done, I go home for a week and relax with my mom and dad," now living in Des Moines. "We go back to South Dakota and have fun. I was home for Christmas...I get back a few times each year."
That Midwestern base, Jones says, is key to making it in Hollywood. "The best thing the Midwest has done for me is kept me very grounded in my morals and stable and clear-headed in this business. I love going back home."
And Betty? She's one of those dream roles. "I took a chance with her and now I realize it's definitely the right place for me to be."
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