Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Telly addicts

January Jones (Betty Draper - Mad Men)

21 replies

Ilovedaintynuts · 15/03/2012 11:28

I love Mad Men. Currently watching season 3. But I'm struggling with January Jones' acting. It's so bloody wooden, really really bad. Can't remember ever seeing such a bad actor in a high profile programme.
Anyone else? I just googled "january jones bad actress" and I'm clearly not alone Grin

OP posts:
BrightnessFalls · 15/03/2012 20:58

I know what you mean. I dont know if thats how she is supposed to be. Stiff upper lip type.

Nyac · 15/03/2012 21:01

She's supposed to be like that - stiff, repressed and unsympathetic.

I think it's a test by the creators - are you able to sympathise with her oppressed position and the awful way Don treats her, or does her dislikability make it OK in viewer's eyes for him to treat her so badly?

Nyac · 15/03/2012 21:01

She plays brittle very well indeed.

MrsCampbellBlack · 15/03/2012 21:02

Oh I think she's excellent - her role is so interesting and complex. All that weirdness with the little boy who was her daughter's friend.

Ilovedaintynuts · 15/03/2012 21:32

Nyac I think you're over thinking it. I get that she's stiff and repressed. I just feel I hold my breath with every scene she's in, waiting for her to fluff it.

For a beautiful woman she's damn wooden. Even her smoking is unconvincing, she looks a bit frightened of the cigarette.
Oh well I guess we all perceive things differently!

OP posts:
Nyac · 15/03/2012 21:34

LOL at being told I'm overthinking Mad Men. That's pretty much what the show is about. Everything in it is complicated and subtle.

Stase · 15/03/2012 21:34

I'm with Nyac, she keeps a lot wrapped up. Or maybe I love Madmen so much I tell myself that as to think otherwise would spoil it for me a bit.

southeastastra · 15/03/2012 21:35

i love her role too, she goes a bit bananas as having to keep up the wholesome image. Grin

i like her alot

MrsCampbellBlack · 15/03/2012 21:37

I also agree with NYAC and think MadMen is definitely one of those programmes where you have to over-think it.

How unsettling her performance is - well that's the point as far as I'm concerned.

Stase · 15/03/2012 21:38

Remember when she calmly shot the neighbour's pigeons and nowt was said. That was odd.
We're on the season 3 box set, but having withdrawal this week as FH is on lates, and it would be a bit off to watch one without him.

BrightnessFalls · 15/03/2012 21:40

Oh, I cant wait for the new season. I think its next week. I wonder what year we will find ourselves in?

southeastastra · 15/03/2012 21:43

am a bit peed off it's on sky atlantic now :(

MrsCampbellBlack · 15/03/2012 21:44

So am I SEA. We won't see it for ages

bringbacksideburns · 15/03/2012 21:46

I thought she was quite good?

I think she's supposed to represent the WASP Upper Middle Class/Ivy League Grace Kelly lookalike.

One of my favourite scenes is when she just goes out in her back yard and starts shooting down her neighbour's birds.

Her character is definitely cold and distant with her daughter and she plays that well.

MrsCampbellBlack · 15/03/2012 21:47

I think its going to get very interesting as her daughter gets older

BrightnessFalls · 15/03/2012 21:49

I was a bit Shock to see the daughter doing a fashion spread in this weeks Grazia. Shes twelve

southeastastra · 15/03/2012 21:53

no she's a good character too and she looks like a child, not like all these weird disney clones

CeliaFate · 17/03/2012 20:43

I think she plays it well. Betty is very cold, brittle and doesn't show emotion until she loses the plot (like slapping Sally or shooting the birds). She gives me the impression that she's just managing to hold it together, but could have a meltdown at any moment.

Pitmountainpony · 23/03/2012 23:12

I think she actually plays it really well and is meant to be like that. Very subtle rather tHan wooden. All the actors do a great job in that show.
She is perfectly cast.

GrendelsMum · 24/03/2012 18:42

I think shes very good as Betty - that very wooden, emotionless portrayal.

But I think she isn't actually an actress by profession.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page