January Kristen Jones (born January 5, 1978) is an American actress. She played Betty Draper in Mad Men (2007–2015), for which she was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She also portrayed Melissa Chartres in The Last Man on Earth (2015–2018) and has starred in films such as American Wedding (2003), We Are Marshall (2006), The Boat That Rocked (2009), Unknown (2011), Seeking Justice (2011), and X-Men: First Class (2011).

January Jones
Jones in 2008
Born
January Kristen Jones

(1978-01-05) January 5, 1978 (age 46)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
Years active1999–present
Children1

Early life

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January Kristen Jones was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on January 5, 1978,[1] the daughter of store manager Karen Cox and exercise physiologist Marvin Jones.[2][3][4][5] She was named after January Wayne, a character in the 1973 Jacqueline Susann novel Once Is Not Enough. The names of her two sisters also start with the letter J, Jina and Jacey.[6] In 1979, her family moved to Hecla, South Dakota, but moved back to Sioux Falls in 1996, where she graduated from Roosevelt High School.[4]

Career

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Modeling

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Jones began her modeling career in New York at the age of 18, after a modeling scout expressed interest while she was in high school.[7][8] She noted that modelling was not her passion and she never took it seriously. Her first agency claimed she owed them money when she decided to move to Los Angeles.[6] Jones has modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch,[9][10] Versace,[11] Clearasil and Kérastase.[12] She has been on the covers of numerous international fashion magazines, including Interview, Allure, Rolling Stone, Town & Country, The Hollywood Reporter and W in the United States; Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Tatler, Glamour and Red in the United Kingdom; Cosmopolitan in Germany; Grazia in Italy; and Tu Style and GQ in Italy.[13]

Acting

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Jones appears in the video "Love is Blind" from the album Into the Light (2000) by David Coverdale and had supporting roles in Anger Management (2003), Love Actually (2003), and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004). In 2005, she appeared as a U.S. border guard's wife in the film The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones. She has remarked that it was one of the most creative experiences of her career.[6] In We Are Marshall (2006), she played Carol Dawson, wife of American football coach William "Red" Dawson. She also starred in Good Kill (2014), opposite Ethan Hawke.[citation needed]

She has the lead female role in the movie Love's Enduring Promise as a pioneer family's oldest child, where her character falls in love with a mysterious man who saves her father's life.[14] She also appeared in the AMC original television drama series Mad Men for seven seasons as young suburban housewife and mother Betty Draper Francis. She received two Golden Globe nominations and one Emmy nomination for her performances.[15][16]

Jones is also known for her role as Cadence Flaherty, the love interest of both Steve Stifler and Paul Finch in the 2003 comedy film American Wedding, the third installment of the American Pie film series. She played a con artist in the Law & Order episode "Quit Claim" who, as a lone surviving suspect connected to a real estate scam involving organized crime, frustrates the efforts of Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter to convict her.[citation needed] She also appeared in The Boat That Rocked, a British film about offshore pirate radio in the 1960s, renamed Pirate Radio for North American release in 2009.

Jones was ranked No. 82 on the Maxim Hot 100 Women of 2002.[17] She appeared on the cover of "The Hot Issue" of British GQ magazine in May 2009.[18] She appeared on the cover of the November 2009 issue of American GQ magazine, and has been a 'topic' in the magazine several times.[19] On November 14, 2009, Jones hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live, which featured musical guest The Black Eyed Peas.[20]

In 2011, Jones starred in two thriller films, first in Unknown alongside Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, and later in Seeking Justice alongside Nicolas Cage and Guy Pearce.[21] She portrayed Emma Frost in X-Men: First Class.[22]

Jones appeared as Melissa Chartres in the Fox television comedy series The Last Man on Earth (2015–18).[23][24] In 2019, she joined the cast of Netflix's comedy-drama series The Politician, playing the role of a bored and rich housewife Lizbeth Sloan.[25][26] In 2020, Jones joined the cast of the Netflix series Spinning Out as Carol Baker, a former figure skater and a single mother who suffers from bipolar disorder.[27] The series concluded after one season.[28]

Charity work

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In 2009, Jones joined the marine conservation organization Oceana as a celebrity spokesperson, working to save endangered sharks and to inform others about sharks' vital importance in nature.[29][30] She has gone swimming with sharks for a public service announcement for the group.[31] She served food with fellow actress Malin Åkerman at the Los Angeles Mission's annual Thanksgiving event on November 24, 2021.[32]

Personal life

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Jones dated Ashton Kutcher when they were both models for Abercrombie & Fitch in the late 1990s.[33]

One of Jones' favorite actors is Robert Stack. During her relationship with Jim Carrey in 2002,[34] he presented her with Stack's autograph as a birthday present.[35]

She was in a relationship with singer Josh Groban from 2003 to 2006.[36][37]

She dated actor Jason Sudeikis in 2010 and People reported in January 2011 that they had split.[38] In September 2011, she gave birth to a son whose father's identity was not publicly disclosed.[39][40]

Jones has an interest in unsolved mysteries and believes she has seen a UFO.[35] She has a tattoo that says "Bellatrix", the Latin word for female warrior.[6]

Filmography

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Film

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Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes
1999 It's the Rage Janice Taylor
2001 The Glass House Girl
Bandits Claire / Pink Boots
2002 Taboo Elizabeth
Full Frontal Tracy
2003 Anger Management Gina
American Wedding Cadence Flaherty
Love Actually Jeannie
2004 Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Eve
2005 The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada Lou Ann Norton
2006 Swedish Auto Darla
We Are Marshall Carole Dawson
2009 The Boat That Rocked Elenore
2011 Unknown Elizabeth Harris
X-Men: First Class Emma Frost
Seeking Justice Laura Gerard
2013 Sweetwater Sarah Ramírez
2014 Good Kill Molly Egan
2015 Unity Narrator (voice) Documentary film
2023 God Is a Bullet Maureen Bacon

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1999 Get Real Jane Cohen Episode: "Pilot"
1999 Sorority Number One Pilot
2002 In My Life Diane St. Croix Pilot
2004 Love's Enduring Promise Missie Davis Television film
2005 Huff Marisa Wells Episodes: "The Good Doctor," "The Sample Closet"
2007–2015 Mad Men Betty Draper Main; 67 episodes
2008 Law & Order Kim Brody Episode: "Quit Claim"
2009 Saturday Night Live Herself (host) Episode: "January Jones/Black Eyed Peas"
2010 Project Runway Herself / Guest Judge Episode: "A Rough Day On The Runway"
2015–2018 The Last Man on Earth Melissa Chartres 63 episodes
2017 Animals. Diana (voice) Episode: "Roaches"
2017 Return of the Mac Herself Episode: "New Kid on the Talk"
2019 The Politician Lizbeth Sloan 3 episodes
2020 Spinning Out Carol Baker 10 episodes

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Project Result Ref.
2010 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series Mad Men (episode: "The Gypsy and the Hobo") Nominated [41]
2008 Golden Globe Award Best Actress – Television Series Drama Mad Men (season 1) Nominated [42]
2009 Mad Men (season 2) Nominated
2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Mad Men (season 1) Nominated [43]
2008 Mad Men (season 2) Won [44]
2009 Mad Men (season 3) Won [45]
2010 Mad Men (season 4) Nominated [46]
2015 Mad Men (season 7) Nominated [47]

References

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  1. ^ "UPI Almanac for Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019". United Press International. January 5, 2019. Archived from the original on January 5, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2019. actor January Jones in 1978 (age 42)
  2. ^ "Genealogy Data Page 1928 (Pedigree Pages)". freepages.rootsweb.com.
  3. ^ "RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project: Bon Homme County, South Dakota". worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Bahr, Jeff (March 20, 2011). "Hecla revisited: Actress' family recounts time in South Dakota". The American News. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved October 14, 2015.
  5. ^ Ahmad, Sophia (September 18, 2009). "'Mad Men' mom wears D.M. dress to 'Oprah'". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on July 25, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2011 – via qasb.pqarchiver.com.
  6. ^ a b c d Heaf, Jonathan (August 6, 2014). "January Jones Interview". British GQ. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "January Jones". Interview. July 6, 2009. Archived from the original on October 16, 2017. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  8. ^ Handy, Bruce (August 5, 2009). "Mad Men Q&A: January Jones". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on July 13, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  9. ^ "20 Celebs You Didn't Know Were Abercrombie Models". Cosmopolitan. March 14, 2014. Archived from the original on December 7, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  10. ^ Handy, Bruce (August 5, 2009). "Mad Men Q&A: January Jones". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on July 13, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  11. ^ Aboutaleb, Britt (November 22, 2010). "January Jones Is the New Face of Versace". Elle. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  12. ^ Mychaskiw, Marianne (March 8, 2016). "January Jones Just Scored a Beautiful New Gig". InStyle. Archived from the original on January 31, 2018. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
  13. ^ "January Jones Magazine Cover Photos - List of magazine covers featuring January Jones". FamousFix.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  14. ^ January Jones; The Anger Management Actress Wants to Be More Than a Flavor of the Month Archived June 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, People, April 21, 2003. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
  15. ^ "People Magazine Celebrity Central – January Jones Biography". People. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2014.
  16. ^ Winds of change are blowing for AMC's 'Mad Men' Archived April 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (July 28, 2008). Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  17. ^ "Maxim Magazine Hot 100 Women of 2002". Maxim. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  18. ^ "January Jones on the Cover of UK GQ". May 26, 2009. Archived from the original on September 3, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  19. ^ "january jones". GQ. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
  20. ^ Stanhope, Kate. "January Jones, Joseph Gordon-Levitt to Host SNL". TV Guide. Archived from the original on November 4, 2009. Retrieved November 2, 2009.
  21. ^ Dark Castle Casts Up 'Unknown White Male' Archived October 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Bloody-disgusting.com (October 26, 2009). Retrieved May 27, 2011.
  22. ^ Lesnick, Silas (August 18, 2010). "January Jones Joins X-Men: First Class". Superhero Hype!. Archived from the original on August 21, 2010. Retrieved August 18, 2010.
  23. ^ O'Connell, Michael; Goldberg, Lesley (December 1, 2014). "January Jones Joins Fox Comedy 'The Last Man on Earth'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 27, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  24. ^ Turchiano, Danielle (May 10, 2018). "'The Last Man on Earth,' 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine,' 'The Mick' Canceled at Fox". Variety. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  25. ^ Stahler, Martha Sorren,Kelsea. "The Politician Cast Includes A Few Straight-Up Legends". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved November 28, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Janes, DeAnna (October 15, 2019). "The Politician's Cast Is the Reason You'll Laugh and Ugly-Cry While Bingeing". Oprah Daily. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  27. ^ Bahr, Robyn (December 31, 2019). "'Spinning Out': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  28. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 3, 2020). "'Spinning Out' Canceled By Netflix After One Season". Deadline. Retrieved November 28, 2021.
  29. ^ "Miss January". Archived January 16, 2009, at the Wayback Machine Vanity Fair. February 2009.
  30. ^ "January Jones: A Real 'Shark' About Saving Marine Life". People. May 12, 2011. Archived from the original on January 9, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  31. ^ "VIDEO: January Jones Swims With Monster Whale Shark in PSA". The Hollywood Reporter. May 13, 2011. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  32. ^ "Vice President Kamala Harris Supports Small Businesses in D.C., Plus Emily Ratajkowski and More". People. November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
  33. ^ "January Jones Became Famous Despite Ashton Kutcher". People. October 13, 2009. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  34. ^ "January Jones and Jim Carrey". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
  35. ^ a b January Jones & Jimmy Kimmel Have Seen UFOs, archived from the original on November 9, 2021, retrieved June 3, 2021
  36. ^ "January Jones Son Born". People. September 15, 2011. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  37. ^ Yetzer, Brandi (March 5, 2021). "January Jones Has an Empowering Take on Being Single — 'I Don't Feel Unhappy or Lonely'". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  38. ^ Jines, Isabel (July 22, 2021). "January Jones Joked That Then-Boyfriend Jason Sudeikis Would Never See Her Naked". InStyle.
  39. ^ "Baby News: January Jones Gives Birth to Son". Entertainment Tonight. September 15, 2011. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  40. ^ "January Jones gives birth to a son". Cosmopolitan. September 16, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  41. ^ "Nominees / Winners 2010 Emmy Awards". Television Academy. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  42. ^ "January Jones". goldenglobes. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  43. ^ "14th Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  44. ^ "15th Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  45. ^ "16th Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  46. ^ "17th Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  47. ^ "22nd Screen Actors Guild Awards". sagawards.org. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
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