In our exclusive interview, Sarah Drew, who plays Kitty Romano, talks about what's changed (and what hasn't) since 1962 and a Mad Men-inspired donation to Locks of Love.

Q: Were you a fan of the show before becoming involved?

A: I bought it on iTunes and watched the whole first season the weekend before we started shooting. I got totally hooked! The way people related to each other in that time period is shocking. For me, it's really going against the grain to hear sexist lines as an actress. In order to be in character, you can't balk and have a normal reaction. You have to think to yourself, "Of course that's what someone's going to say to me." Although my character hasn't had to deal with those comments yet -- Sal is different. Kitty and Sal have a real relationship, not just a marital alliance. They like being around each other and they care about each other. They would be best friends if Sal were a girl!

Q: You have a pineapple upside down cake in the Season 2 premiere and then a pineapple and pine nuts pie in "The Gold Violin." Do you have any pineapple recipes yourself?

A: [Laughs] I do not. Unless you consider a Malibu and pineapple! I like pineapple. It's delightful. I imagine Sal does a lot of the cooking, and I imagine Kitty has three pineapple recipes that she always pulls out for special occasions.

Q: Ken comments on how wild Kitty and Sal's place looks. Did you take away any decorating tips from the show?

A: [Laughs] The look is not very "Sarah Drew." It screams over-the-top, which is exactly Sal. I imagine Sal is the one behind the look of the house. He picked out all the furniture. I think Sal actually buys me [Kitty] dresses. He's so fashionable.

Q: Your husband has a secret. So do many of the characters. Which character's secret do you find most intriguing?

A: Peggy's having a child. Elisabeth [Moss] plays the secret all the time. There's always something going on under the surface of her performance, so you're constantly drawn into that story: How's she dealing with this, where's she going with this, what will she do? You can't be emotional if you're trying to be a businesswoman. Peggy has to compromise so much to be respected. It's an interesting commentary. Even today, you get criticized if you're staying at home, because you're not doing enough with your life, but you get criticized for being a career woman because you're not raising your kids. It wasn't easy in [the 1960s] and it's still not easy.

Q: What's it like working with Bryan Batt?

A: I adore him! We immediately bonded. He's such a generous actor -- he really listens and gives at all turns. I think it was fun for him to get to act out Sal's home life. It gives you more meat to bite into as an actor.

Q: Last question: Is that a wig?

A: [Laughs] That was my real hair! When I got to the set, my hair was down to the middle of my back. They said, I know it's your life, but your hair is not "period." I was like, "Ugh!" We chopped off 11 inches, which I gave to Locks of Love. But I have to say, since I got that haircut, I have never worked so much in my life. Someone finally said, "Cut your hair!" The hairstylists are amazing. They do hot rollers, spray the hell out of it, then you sit in it for hours, then they brush it out, then they spray the hell out of it again. So what if you have to wear a girdle. You look fabulous.

Be sure to also check out the interview with Kitty's husband Salvatore Romano (Bryan Batt).