Kiernan Shipka, 25, reveals what it was like seeing co-star Jon Hamm have sex on Mad Men when she was only nine

Kiernan Shipka, 25, reveals what it was like seeing co-star Jon Hamm have sex on Mad Men when she was only nine

As someone who grew up watching Mad Men alongside its young star Kiernan Shipka, I must say it was fascinating to see her revisit the series as an adult during the pandemic. It was like stepping into a time machine and reliving my own childhood experiences through Sally Draper’s eyes.


During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kiernan Shipka, aged 25, experienced Mad Men from start to finish for the very first time.

On the widely acclaimed AMC series, Sabrina first appeared as a cast member when she was just six years old. Watching it again as an adult provided quite an enlightening experience.

She told Jesse Tyler Ferguson on his Dinner’s On Me podcast that they were extremely careful about shielding me from mature or sensitive subjects, and preserving my innocence.

Still, even as a very young child, Kiernan ‘had context’ for scenes like the one where she walks in to her father Don Draper (Jon Hamm) having sex with a neighbor. 

She stated, “I was well aware of what triggered my response. In other words, I was fully conscious of the situations I was unexpectedly encountering. Yet, it wasn’t necessary for me to repeatedly witness it.

Kiernan Shipka, 25, reveals what it was like seeing co-star Jon Hamm have sex on Mad Men when she was only nine

Despite acknowledging that she was quite mature for her age, she may have come across as overly confident or uninterested in school matters among the cast and film crew.

At some stage, Shipka remarked, “Folks, I get it now. I’ve got this under control. I’m alright.

‘But I really, like, admire and respect the way that they handled it. But I do think in my head, I was probably like, “I’m mature. I’m an adult. I know what’s going on here. Like, it’s fine, guys.'”

Before the pandemic-induced lockdowns, she had only watched specific episodes that were aired during season premiere screenings.

She said, “At the moment when we were filming, I felt quite genuine about what Sally was going through. However, looking back now from a more mature perspective, I can see that she might have been expressing grief and acting out her feelings.

At that point, I believe I comprehended her about as well as she did herself. As I grow older, I’m starting to grasp her in a manner I wish she might someday understand herself through therapy.

In a sense, observing Sally play felt intertwined with Kiernan’s own, non-film childhood experiences.

Additionally, it carries a certain unexpected charm to witness such an event, as if it were unfamiliar, similar to when we only come to understand our own experiences in retrospect.

Kiernan Shipka, 25, reveals what it was like seeing co-star Jon Hamm have sex on Mad Men when she was only nine
Kiernan Shipka, 25, reveals what it was like seeing co-star Jon Hamm have sex on Mad Men when she was only nine
Kiernan Shipka, 25, reveals what it was like seeing co-star Jon Hamm have sex on Mad Men when she was only nine
Kiernan Shipka, 25, reveals what it was like seeing co-star Jon Hamm have sex on Mad Men when she was only nine
Kiernan Shipka, 25, reveals what it was like seeing co-star Jon Hamm have sex on Mad Men when she was only nine
Kiernan Shipka, 25, reveals what it was like seeing co-star Jon Hamm have sex on Mad Men when she was only nine

If given another opportunity, she’d eagerly take it to portray Sally Draper as an adult in a contemporary sequel that focuses on Sally’s life in later years.

In 2022, when I spoke to Entertainment Tonight, I made it clear that my relationship with Sally isn’t over. I believe she wouldn’t be in New York anymore; instead, I think she’d choose Los Angeles. However, I’ve got more to explore and discuss with her.

Shipka starred on Mad Men for its entire seven season run.

She played the oldest child of advertising executive Don Draper and his wife Betty Draper, played by January Jones 45.

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2024-11-13 22:22

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