January Jones: Betty Draper Not Originally In 'Mad Men' Pilot

Betty Francis' (formerly Draper) life takes a number of wicked twists and turns, but as the woman who plays her reveals, she almost never existed at all.

January Jones covers the new issue of W Magazine, opening up about her rise from being a model to TV actress to movie star. She originally auditioned for the role of barrier breaking, career-focused Peggy -- the role went to Elisabeth Moss -- and instead, series creator Matthew Weiner created a role for her.

"There was no Betty in the pilot when I auditioned. Matthew Weiner, the creator of the show, had no intention of showing Don Draper’s home life," she revealed. "I read for Peggy two times—it was between me and Elisabeth Moss, who eventually got the part. At the end of the scene, there was a casual mention that Don was married. Matt went home that night and wrote two scenes that featured Betty. I auditioned a couple of days later, and he made me a verbal promise that the character would grow. I took the part on faith—there was no script or fleshed-out character or Betty plotline."

After a dramatic, public back and forth, Weiner and carrier AMC reached a deal for three more seasons, meaning Jones will once get to play the part for a good while longer. She's also set to star in this summer's "X-Men: First Class," playing the role of Emma Frost.

"I’m a villain. As Emma Frost I’m telepathic, and I can turn into a diamond, which means I’m very, very cold," Jones said. "I always wear white: lots of iridescent stretch leather, lots of sparkle, and ass-kicking white boots."

Jones recently featured on an alternate cover of the British magazine Total Film, wearing white -- though not much.

For more, click over to W Magazine.

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Comments

[ibreathe4u]

07:48 AM on 04/15/2011

I usually think she's beautiful, but she sort of looks like an angry drag queen in that picture. No offense to drag queens, I love 'em but not when they're angry.

[Kay-B]

01:52 AM on 04/15/2011

I didn't believe in marriage, until I saw this woman.

[themightyabealrd]

05:00 AM on 04/14/2011

She had a small role in 'Unknown'. The age difference between her and the two actors (Liam Neeson and Aidan Quinn) her character was involved with bordered on creepy, but she acquitted herself well. Yet when it comes to hot babes on 'Mad Men', I'll take the woman who plays Carol. Yowza! Definitely a throwback to a time when women were supposed to look like they have been eating properly on a regular basis.
Jones is very pretty, but too skinny for my liking.

[Gjorg]

10:22 PM on 04/13/2011

I prefer Don Draper but January Jone gives me an erection!

[situationcritical]

05:22 PM on 04/13/2011

So, would I have to watch Madmen to know who this woman is?

[Rich Moraghan]

05:10 PM on 04/13/2011

I wish they'd stop putting pictures of January Jones on the site! I feel like a creep ogling for 5 minutes at a time ;)

[crayola 08b]

03:44 PM on 04/13/2011

i swear she's channeling Brigitte Nielsen in that cover shot.

[Nelle]

01:37 PM on 04/13/2011

She's beautiful but that hairstyle on W Magazine made me think of Max Headroom---"catch the wave..."

[Rich Moraghan]

05:10 PM on 04/13/2011

Poor Nelle...you were looking at her hair.

[bipolarbears60]

12:28 PM on 04/13/2011

There was no Betty in the pilot when I auditioned. Matthew Weiner, the creator of the show, had no intention of showing Don Draper’s home life," she revealed. "
"
Wow. That explains a lot. No wonder most of us Maddicts that hang out on MMs official site and endlessly discuss and analyze each and every episode before, during and after airing have had so many problems pin-pointing the Betty timeline. Many have speculated how her age, her adventures as a model in Europe (the mystery being whether her modeling took place during or after college) and, exactly when she worked for the furrier where she and "Don Draper" met. Those are just a few of the mysteries. Many have pin-pointed Sally's birth year by backtracking Sally's age at the beginning of the series in 1960--and so far, many theories and speculation about Betty's age and personal history can be found throughout MMs offical talk site.

Us die-hard fans are relieved that 3 more seasons are guaranteed. Most of us wish it would never end.

[mremanne]

01:03 PM on 04/13/2011

It will have to end because the 60's ended. Same thing w/ "That 70's Show". They ran out of 70's.

[lustforlife802]

11:01 AM on 04/13/2011

She's playing a villain in the new X Men and on Mad Men.

[Daws]

10:45 AM on 04/13/2011

Very interesting. I can't imagine what the show would have been like w/o showing Don's home life. Seems like an indispensable layer.

Betty is not a likable character but at the same time you kind of feel for her. It was a different time for women and I like how Betty's character (cold, straight laced) differs from Peggy's (ambitious, progressive) and Joan (strong willed, aware).

This past season may have been my favorite thus far. Great show.

[Anne Rubin]

09:44 AM on 04/13/2011

Ummm---to bad that character never grew. I mean, JJ has a really stunted range.

[gemini68]

10:37 AM on 04/13/2011

And so does the character- so she fits perfectly. The whole point is that Betty is stuck in her own ideas about how things should be in her life. She is a vapid character.

[dahpunkster]

10:21 PM on 04/13/2011

i don't think she will change. She will be one of those older woman who still acts like a pouty, entitled teenage girl . Even when she is 80.

[Rich Moraghan]

05:17 PM on 04/13/2011

I completely disagree. When the show started (1st two years) JJ was playing a pouty 1950's housewife, stuck in the early 1960's. She has grown to embrace her own interests -- even better, her character, unlike Peggy's, isn't prescient, which is refreshing. Too many times, the lead characters are given stances that are way too forward looking to be realistic (Don & Peggy are both surrealistic, in this sense). I like the fact that Betty is struggling with her own demons, and not always coming to a "forward thinking" conclusion at the end of a particular episode. Sometimes she regresses, which is even more human than Don's character is written. Plus, she's really hot, which, as any psychologist can tell you, does alot to mediate any potential shortcomings in her acting ability ;)

[grasyknol]

07:45 AM on 04/13/2011

Two of my favorite shows ever - Mad Men & Friday Night Lights.