Q&A - Kiernan Shipka (Sally Draper)
Over the course of Season 2, Sally Draper grew up and got into trouble. She visited Sterling Cooper, tried smoking, received a pair of riding boots, and even mixed cocktails. AMCtv.com spoke with Kiernan Shipka, the articulate 9-year-old actress who plays the Draper daughter.
Q: Sally Draper has a lot of personality. Do you relate to her personally?
A: I love playing Sally. She is a quintessential girl of the 1960s. People come up to me and say how much they relate to my character. It conjures up a lot of memories for them.
Q: Did you study the '60s to learn what it was like?
A: I talk to my mother and get her advice about what she was like as a girl.
Q: What's it like working with your TV parents, Jon Hamm and January Jones?
A: They are great. We have fun, and then sometimes, we're very serious.
Q: The costumes you wear as Sally are quite different from what kids wear today. Do you like her clothes?
A: Sally's wardrobe is so pretty. I get advice from my fittings all the time! Sometimes I wear clothes that are like Sally's.
Q: Sally also practices ballet. Do you dance?
A: I love dancing. I dance about 20 hours a week. I play piano, too, but it's not serious yet. It's mostly playing around.
Q: In Season 2, your character gets to order room service. Have you ordered room service before?
A: I love ordering room service. It's my favorite thing to do when I stay in a hotel.
Q: What's your favorite thing to order?
A: I'm pretty hooked on the French onion soup right now.
Q: At the end of Season 2, your character gets her own pair of riding boots. Do you ride horses?
A: I loved the riding boots. They were really beautiful. I ride Western and English. I would like to do it more.
Q: What do you think Sally will be when she grows up?
A: She could grow up in her mom's footsteps and go to college and have a family, or I think she could be a dance instructor.
Q: What is your favorite thing about being on Mad Men?
A: I love the cast and crew. They are delightful to be around.
Be sure to also hear from Sally's parents:
Wow, Kiernan, you are articulate!
I can't wait to see how Sally transforms over the course of the series. With everything we know that's coming towards the end of the decade, she is poised to be one of the most fascinating characters on the show.
It's pretty obvious that as time goes by and Sally gets older she's going to be the quintiscential rebellious 60s teen. The whole Draper dysfunctional family meme is just too ingrained at this point.
AL is right, Kiernan, you certainly are very well-spoken and a lovely young lady.
I enjoy your work on Mad Men very much -- you are a fine actress.
I look forward to seeing you grow up on the show!
Keep up the great work!
.....Kiernan.....So happy you are coming back for Season 3 - Sally is one of my favorite characters!
She is delightful and brave and wise and funny, and I never know how she is going to amaze me or make me laugh next.
You are perfect in the role, and a great actor, too.
I love Sally Draper. She is beyond articulate. I saw her interview at the SAG awards Red Carpet, and it is obvious that she is over the top when it comes to being intelligent.
I look forward to Season 3 and to what she might be up to this season.
This is my favorite TV show and I can't wait for it to start.
I want Sally to fix me a drink and do her ballet solo while I give her one of my ciggs to smoke.
I will even let her "out of the closet" after her mommy locks her in.
Poor little Sally,
S.tary