Image: Getty Images / Daniele Venturelli
American actress Christina Hendricks, 43, is best known for playing the role of Joan Harris/Holloway in Mad Men, the hit US series about ’60s cocktail-quaffing ad men and women. She currently stars in the British-Canadian TV crime-drama series Tin Star. Here, she reveals how she has always been a woman who goes her own way in life.
My shape, my way
I’ve never had a problem with men finding me sexy – but you want to be appreciated for more than just that. I’ve always had a good body image and I never listened to agents and casting directors who told me to lose weight; I told them it wouldn’t change my shape that much anyway and that this is who I am. I’m glad I stood my ground.
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Seeing red
When I was 10, I was obsessed with the Canadian novel Anne of Green Gables – I decided I was Anne. There was something that spoke to me about her. My hair was very blonde at the time, and I wanted to have her beautiful red hair. So my mother said, “Let’s just go to the pharmacy and get one of those cover-the-grey rinses!” My hair went carrot red – I was over the moon. I went to school the next day and felt like myself. What a cool mom, right? After that, I stuck to the red. I’m so used to it now I can’t even imagine what it would be like to go back to being blonde, and I suppose it probably makes me stand out.
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My roots
My father is English – he’s from Birmingham. I lived in London for a year while I was still working as a model in my mid-twenties. It was one of the best times of my life and I feel I had the chance to get to know the culture. London has always been one of my favourite cities, although I must admit the weather in California is better.
Marriage matters
I married Geoffrey [Arend, the US TV actor] in 2009 – we were introduced by a mutual friend who thought we might get along. He was right! I’m very focused now on building for the future. The business we’re in is so full of ups and downs it can be very destabilising, but when I’m at home with my husband, I have this sense of confidence that our life together is real, no matter what else is going on with our careers.
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