Christina Hendricks on Spreading Confidence & Her Go-to Cocktail

Christina Hendricks as the bombshell Joan Holloway on “Mad Men.” (Photo: AMC)

I got to know Christina Hendricks the way many of you did: watching her hold her own as the bombshell Joan Holloway on Mad Men. On April 5, Mad Men returns to air its final seven episodes, and Christina will walk away from playing a very complex and iconic redhead for seven seasons. Although, as it turns out, red isn’t her natural color. While she’s tried every shade from pink to purple to black, she’s really a blonde. After Mad Men filming wrapped, the Clairol spokesperson and former model went back to the color she was born with. Of course, Christina is beautiful inside and out, no matter what her hair color.

Christina is a confident woman who loves a good cocktail, admits that she’s not a fan of exercise (so she does it while watching movies), and believes in spreading confidence, a message I can get behind.

Bobbi Brown: Hey Christina, so nice to talk to you. I’m such a huge fan and an obsessive Mad Men watcher. I can’t believe it’s ending after this season. Is it sad for you? 

Christina Hendricks: It is! It’s bizarre after this long. They’re about to air the final season. Then once those seven [episodes] are done, then it’s really, really done. It’s emotional.

Your red hair on the show was such a signature look, but now that filming is over, I saw you just made the move to strawberry blond. 

I’m probably about three shades lighter than I was. A few months back, we started with the red campaign with Clairol, because they’re launching a line with different colors inspired by that red shade. When they first approached me, I said, “Well, I don’t know if you guys are interested, but I’ve been really thinking about going blond when Mad Men ends.” So that’s how it became the dual situation where we went into the blonds and also the reds.

Christina Hendricks recently went back to her blonde roots using box color. (Photo: Clairol)

How have you changed your makeup since you’ve changed your hair color?

Well, it’s only been two days, but I have noticed that some things that I would normally go to seem a bit too severe or too strong. I feel like I could try a little bit more color around my eyes now. Maybe some grays and blues rather than sticking to so many golds and bronzes.

What’s your natural hair color? 

Well, it’s been a while.

Is it true you’ve been coloring your hair since you were 10? My mom put some color on it when I was about 10. Just for fun. It was a rinse called Loving Care. Then, in high school, I started using Clairol. I went black, and then I played around with my punk colors and did purple, pinks. But in between that, my natural hair color was blond.

Christina Hendricks was a punk back in high school. (Photo: Courtesy of Bravo)

I’d love to see the punk you with purple and black hair. No one would ever believe it.

A few people have slipped some pictures on the Internet — it is kind of hilarious.

High school can be so rough. Was it for you?

Oh good lord, yes. I moved around a lot, so I was always the new kid, which is always difficult. So from a very early age, I had to make new friends, make a good impression. I always felt sort of awkward. I didn’t know where I belonged, and certainly high school was a really tricky time for me. I got a lot of harassment and bullying in high school. It wasn’t a very happy place for me. So, when I left high school, it sort of felt like I was starting over. Like I had reclaimed my life. I felt like it was my turn to make decisions.

Why do you think that you were picked on? You must have been absolutely stunning then, too! 

[Laughs] Well, thank you. One, I was the new kid in school, so that’s the start. And two, I was in the drama department, which was not cool at my school at all. That would just make you a target. And then, not soon after I got there, I sort of started to go in this punk-goth phase because I was trying to distance myself. I didn’t feel like the people in the high school were the people that I understood and understood me. And I made it sort of physically aware to them.

But you ended up becoming a model for eight years, you showed them. How was your experience modeling compared to being an actress?

I always sort of considered modeling as sort of acting in a way. Sort of like freeze-frame acting. That’s how I enjoyed it. I sort of felt like I was becoming a different character in these different fashions, different looks. But now I get to talk.

And now you’re modeling again! Everything goes full circle.

I’ve joked that all the amazing photographers that I’d wanted to work with when I was a model — I now actually get to work with them as an actress. It sort of seems backwards, but it’s funny how it worked out that way.

Do you go in the sun or have you always avoided the sun? 

I’ve never avoided the sun. I am naturally fair. l live in Los Angeles, so oddly, this is tan for me. If you met me 20 years ago, I was even fairer. But of course I put sunblock on every single day. I put it on my face and my chest. I try to remember to put it on my hands and arms, but I oftentimes forget.

And what about exercise? You’re in California, so you do get to be outside a lot. What’s your favorite form of exercise?

My favorite form is to not do it.

Are you one of those people who don’t need to exercise? Is that an option?

No, it’s not an option! So, we set up a little gym in the small house in our backyard. It’s a very private thing to me. I’m not really a gym person. So, I’ll go back there and put on a movie and get on the elliptical and do weights and do squats on my own. Sometimes I’ll use a trainer and they’ll come over to the house. I’ve tried Bar Method. I like that quite a bit.

Are you a healthy eater? I’m a green juice fanatic, but I have the good things I put in my body and the not-so-good things. What are some of your favorite not-good things?

I’m a pretty healthy eater, but my favorite not-good thing would be pasta and pizza. I could eat it every day of my life if someone would let me. If someone told me that it was healthy for me, I might cry for a week of joy.

How about cocktails? On the show you’re always holding some beautiful martini in your hand. Do you have a go-to cocktail?

I think it sort of depends on the season. In the winter, I tend to lean towards the scotch. And in the summer, usually brighter, vodka with cucumber and lemonade. Something like that.

Actress Christina Hendricks describes herself as “brave.” (Photo: @lovechristinahendricks / Instagram)

Yahoo Beauty is about confidence and empowering all the women that read it. Do you have any words of advice for all the women out there looking at you and admiring how beautiful and confident you are?

Well, thank you. That’s what I admire in other women, their uniqueness and individuality. I think we always want things we don’t have. I think it’s just in our nature. I always think women with olive skin and long, dark hair are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, because it’s the exact opposite of who I am. But you know, I was made the way that I’m made and it’s not changing. It’s what I’ve got. So, why not celebrate it and celebrate my uniqueness? I know that when I feel confident, the people around me feel more confident, too. It sort of spreads.

It is definitely a mindset, and I’m happy you shared that. After Mad Men is done, I look forward to seeing you in more things. What are you working on now?

I just finished a pilot with Cameron Crowe for Showtime called Roadies, which I’m really excited about. We’re just waiting to see what happens with that. I’ve got a film with Charlize Theron called Dark Places. I was in a film that Ryan Gosling directed that just came out, Lost River. I also did a comedy for Comedy Central called Another Period. So, I’m trying to do all sorts of different genres.

I’m excited to see all of them. It has been a pleasure talking to you; hopefully one day I will also get to meet you in person. 

I hope so too!

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