Keiman Shipka from Mad Men shares how going through a traumatic childhood helped her character become strong and independent
What do you admire most about SallyIJ
She has really gone through a tough situation. She has had quite a dramatic childhood and people cannot forget that and she certainly reacted to it, just like anyone else would. Even then she had been brave through the entire thing.
What makes Sally’s point of view uniqueIJ
Back in the day, there was a general thought process that children were just meant to be seen and not heard; they were meant to just stand and observe. Sally is totally opposite of that which I think is really important and the show kind of gives a look of her real life. It mirrors a lot of peoples’ lives in a way. But she’s a different aspect of the show.
What is it like to be on a show with so many strong female charactersIJ
They are amazing and beautiful and it’s a pleasure to work with them, I can’t say nice enough things about them. Their characters are so diverse and I guess embody all the different kinds of women in society.
Do you enjoy playing Sally DraperIJ
She is a challenging character and so far, it has really been a fun challenge to understand her and to get into her shoes. Frankly, I couldn’t ask to be on any other show.
What do you think of the final seasonIJ
It’s totally nostalgic and sentimental. There’s a lot of excitement but then it’s also really sad. It’s the very definition of bittersweet, honestly because I’ve been on the show for more than half of my life. So just thinking about how it’s going to be over makes me really sad.
From the pilot episode till now, how has Sally evolvedIJ
She has gone through her ups and downs and there was a point where everything was super rocky for her. When people saw her in the beginning, Sally was this really normal kid but I think we have seen her evolve and grow along with the show. Especially after she went off to boarding school, she kind of became more independent. I think she has a stronger outlook on everything now — adults, life and love. She’s a smart girl and she’s gone through a lot but she’s handled it exceptionally well for her age. She’s awesome and I am going to miss her. She is the best character I could get, I love her.
What about Sally’s relationship with DonIJ
Sally has always adored her father, I think. You see her in the earlier seasons and she just adores him. She really does and then that’s sort of crushed. That is the point where that adoration turns into bitterness and she starts being sick of man she looked up to.
Now, after some time a new standard of honesty has developed between them and they have become more open with each other. He feels like he can be more honest with her. What’s seen can’t be unseen but I think they’re definitely at a more healthy state from what we’ve seen before.
Has Sally’s relationship with Betty changedIJ
Nothing has changed much since people saw them interact with each other for the first time. It was when Sally walked in with a plastic bag over her head and Betty said, “My clothes better not be on the floor, and not, oh my gosh! You have a plastic bag over your head. Get that off now. That’s dangerous.” And Sally rolled her eyes and walked away. I think not much has changed, to be quite honest, because their relationship still kind of seems to be like that.
Tell us about your favourite moment.
Sally has her first smoke with her mother and January kind of taught me how to light a cigarette and I was feeling like a total pro. And then in episode 707, Sally also has to light a cigarette but I’m not a pro because I lit it backwards and it was very disgusting. I had like a lot hairspray in because my hair was really big, and I basically felt like I was just going to go up in flames. It was very funny.
(The show airs on Star World Premiere HD every Monday)