January Kristen Jones (born January 5, 1978) is an American actress. She is best known for playing Betty Draper on Mad Men.
Early life
Jones was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the daughter of Karen and Marvin Jones, a coach and gym teacher. She is named after January Wayne, a character in Jacqueline Susann's Once Is Not Enough. She has two sisters – Jacey and Jina.
Career
Jones has had supporting roles in Anger Management (2003), Love Actually, and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. In 2005, she appeared as a U.S. border guard's frustrated wife in the film The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada directed by and starring Tommy Lee Jones. In We Are Marshall (2006), she played the role of Carol Dawson, wife of football coach William "Red" Dawson.
She had the lead female role in the movie Love's Enduring Promise as a pioneer family's oldest child. Her character fell in love with a mysterious man who saved her father's life. She currently appears in the AMC original television drama series Mad Men as young suburban housewife and mother Betty Draper. She is also known for her role as Cadence Flaherty in the 2003 comedy American Wedding, the third installment of the American Pie film series.
She appeared in the season 18 Law & Order episode "Quit Claim," playing a con artist who matches wits with Assistant District Attorney Michael Cutter, in which she is the lone surviving suspect connected to a real estate scam involving organized crime. 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. She appeared on the cover of "The Hot Issue" of British GQ magazine in May 2009. In 2010, she was ranked No. 17 on the TC Chandler's "Most Beautiful Faces" list.
On November 14, 2009, Jones hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live which featured the musical guest The Black Eyed Peas, giving a performance that was met with negative reviews.
In 2011, she starred alongside Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger in the thriller film Unknown, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. And portrayed Emma Frost in X-Men: First Class.
Awards and nominations
In 2005, Jones won a Camie (Character and Morality in Entertainment Awards) for Love's Enduring Promise (2004) (TV), shared with Robert Halmi, Jr. Larry Levinson Lincoln Lageson William Spencer Reilly Michael Landon, Jr. Cindy Kelley Janette Oke Logan Bartholomew Mackenzie Astin Dale Midkiff and Katherine Heigl
In 2006, she won the Bronze Wrangler at the Western Heritage Awards for Outstanding Theatrical Motion Picture for The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005), shared with Tommy Lee Jones Michael Fitzgerald Luc Besson Pierre-Ange Le Pogam Guillermo Arriaga Barry Pepper Dwight Yoakam Julio Cedillo Levon Helm Melissa Leo and Vanessa Bauche
In 2008, she was nominated at the 14th Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for Mad Men (2007), shared with Bryan Batt, Anne Dudek, Michael Gladis, Jon Hamm, Christina Hendricks, Vincent Kartheiser, Robert Morse, Elisabeth Moss, Maggie Siff, John Slattery, Rich Sommer and Aaron Staton.
In 2008 and 2009, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series Drama for Mad Men, and won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for Mad Men.
In 2010, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama for Mad Men.
Personal life
Jones dated actor Ashton Kutcher when she first moved to Los Angeles. She then dated singer Josh Groban for three years. She dated the SNL star Jason Sudeikis from July 2010 until January 2011.
She announced in Vanity Fair in 2009 that she has joined Oceana as a celebrity spokesperson, working to save endangered sharks.
It was announced in April 2011 that she was expecting her first child. She gave birth to a son, Xander Dane Jones, in September 2011.
Filmography
1999
Sorority Number One
Get Real Jane Cohen Episode: "Pilot"
All the Rage Janice Taylor
2001
The Glass House Girl
Bandits Claire / Pink Boots
2002
In My Life Diane St. Croix TV movie
Taboo Elizabeth
Full Frontal Tracy
2003
Anger Management Gina
American Wedding Cadence Flaherty
Love Actually Jeannie
2004
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights Eve
Love's Enduring Promise Missie Davis TV movie
2005
Huff Marisa Wells Episode: "The Good Doctor"
Episode: "The Sample Closet"
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada Lou Ann Norton
2006
Swedish Auto Darla
We Are Marshall Carole Dawson
2007–
Mad Men Betty Draper Francis 52+ episodes
2008
Law & Order Kim Brody Episode: "Quit Claim"
2009
The Boat That Rocked Elenore Pirate Radio in North America
2011
Unknown Elizabeth Harris
X-Men: First Class Emma Frost
Seeking Justice Laura Gerard
