January Jones was born on January 5, 1978, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Karen Sue (née Cox),a sporting goods store manager, and Marvin Roger Jones, a gym teacher and fitness director. She is of Czech, Danish, English, Welsh, and German ancestry, and was named after the character January Wayne in Jacqueline Susann's novel turned film, Once Is Not Enough (1975).
Her family moved to the small town of Hecla, South Dakota, with a population of approximately 400 people, when she was just one year old. They returned to Sioux Falls in 1986. After graduating from Roosevelt High School, she moved to New York City to pursue a career in modeling. Despite her relatively short stature at 5'6", she managed to secure modeling gigs, including Abercrombie & Fitch ads. However, modeling was merely a means to an end, allowing her to escape South Dakota and avoid attending college.
January's entry into acting began with TV commercials, where she discovered a natural flair for the craft, despite having no formal training or experience in high school. She appeared in a few television pilots and a cable television series before making her big-screen debut in the indie film All the Rage (1999),which unfortunately never received a wide release. She followed this up with a small role in the teen thriller The Glass House (2001).
Her breakout role came when she played the beauty who entices Troy Garity, Jane Fonda's son, in the comedy Bandits (2001),alongside Bruce Willis, Cate Blanchett, and Billy Bob Thornton. Although the film did not catapult her to stardom, she continued to land small roles in films like Anger Management (2003) and American Wedding (2003).
January's career received a significant boost when she landed the role of Betty Draper in the AMC series Mad Men (2007),which premiered in 2007. Her portrayal of the character earned her two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nomination for Best Actress. Her striking, retro-inspired looks, featuring her blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, have solidified her status as a style icon of the 21st century.
Throughout her career, January has deliberately chosen roles that deviate from her own personality, stating, "I choose roles that are not me." Her versatility and willingness to take on diverse characters have contributed to her enduring success in the entertainment industry.
