On July 19, 2007 we were introduced to Don Draper, a catalyst in the high-intensity world that is New York advertising. We traveled with him as he navigated family life, several high-priority business accounts, and his own psyche.
But Draper’s presence on the screen was frequently complemented—and even at times overshadowed—by the beautiful, captivating, and refreshing female characters represented by talented actresses. These include the likes of January Jones, Elisabeth Moss, and Christina Hendricks, who piloted the show alongside Hamm.
In honor of the 10 years since the show’s series premiere, let’s acknowledge and admire the madly enchanting women of Mad Men.
Photo gallery: The stunning female stars of ‘Mad Men’
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Stefanie Keenan / Getty
Christina Hendricks
Hendricks’ character, Joan Holloway, rose from a role as the office manager of Sterling-Cooper to a role as junior partner by the end of the series.
2 of 10
FOX
January Jones
Jones played Don’s wife, Betty Draper, a character who grew increasingly independent as the show progressed.
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Jemal Countess / Getty
Elizabeth Moss
Alongside Jones and Hendricks, Moss (Peggy Olsen) rounds out the show’s female triumvirate. Moss has worked on tons of projects since the show’s completion, including the TV series Top of the Lake.
4 of 10
Maarten de Boer / Getty
Anna Camp
Camp’s brief stint on the show came in the character of Bethany Van Nuys, an aspiring actress who works as a stand-in at the Metropolitan Opera. She shares a handful of dates with Don Draper.
5 of 10
Mike Windle / Getty
Alison Brie
Brie played Pete Campbell’s wife, Trudy, a remarkably patient character given all she had to put up with when it came to Pete. Like many of the show’s female characters, she grew out of her husband’s shadow, creating one of the most compelling story arcs on TV.
6 of 10
Mike Coppola / Getty
Jessica Paré
Paré, who played Megan Calvet, stole the show in the later seasons and she served as Draper’s love interest once he and Betty split. Calvet and Draper shared a complex romance—and, it goes without saying, a complicated work life.
7 of 10
Maarten de Boer/Getty Images Portrait
Caity Lotz
Lotz played Stephanie Horton, Draper’s estranged niece who makes her debut in the final season. Her work in the finale is the most substantive of it all.
8 of 10
Francois G. Durand/Getty Images Portrait
Abigail Spencer
Spencer’s role on the show was Draper’s daughter Sally’s schoolteacher with whom Draper begins an affair.
9 of 10
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for TNT
Cara Buono
Buono (Faye Miller) played a consumer-research strategist. Buono has a knack for landing on impressive shows—she came over to the Mad Men cast after a run on The Sopranos, where she played the wife of Kelli Moltisanti.
10 of 10
Steve Granitz/WireImage / Getty
Rainey Qualley
Qualley’s very brief run on the show was highlighted by a famous fur coat scene between her and Draper.
Hendricks’ character, Joan Holloway, rose from a role as the office manager of Sterling-Cooper to a role as junior partner by the end of the series.
January Jones
Jones played Don’s wife, Betty Draper, a character who grew increasingly independent as the show progressed.
Elizabeth Moss
Alongside Jones and Hendricks, Moss (Peggy Olsen) rounds out the show’s female triumvirate. Moss has worked on tons of projects since the show’s completion, including the TV series Top of the Lake.
Anna Camp
Camp’s brief stint on the show came in the character of Bethany Van Nuys, an aspiring actress who works as a stand-in at the Metropolitan Opera. She shares a handful of dates with Don Draper.
Alison Brie
Brie played Pete Campbell’s wife, Trudy, a remarkably patient character given all she had to put up with when it came to Pete. Like many of the show’s female characters, she grew out of her husband’s shadow, creating one of the most compelling story arcs on TV.
Jessica Paré
Paré, who played Megan Calvet, stole the show in the later seasons and she served as Draper’s love interest once he and Betty split. Calvet and Draper shared a complex romance—and, it goes without saying, a complicated work life.
Caity Lotz
Lotz played Stephanie Horton, Draper’s estranged niece who makes her debut in the final season. Her work in the finale is the most substantive of it all.
Abigail Spencer
Spencer’s role on the show was Draper’s daughter Sally’s schoolteacher with whom Draper begins an affair.
Cara Buono
Buono (Faye Miller) played a consumer-research strategist. Buono has a knack for landing on impressive shows—she came over to the Mad Men cast after a run on The Sopranos, where she played the wife of Kelli Moltisanti.
Rainey Qualley
Qualley’s very brief run on the show was highlighted by a famous fur coat scene between her and Draper.
