---
name: "January Jones"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/january-jones"
fi1m_id: "january-jones"
imdb_id: "nm0005064"
tmdb_id: 31717
wikidata_id: "Q223786"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "5 January 1978"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 60
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-07T04:16:18.156375+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# January Jones

## Identity

January Jones

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/january-jones
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** january-jones
- **IMDb ID:** nm0005064
- **TMDB ID:** 31717
- **Wikidata ID:** Q223786
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_Jones, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223786, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005064/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/31717

Actor. Born 5 January 1978 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 5 January 1978, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
- **Active:** 2002–present
- **Also known as:** January Kristen Jones, Τζένουαρι Τζόουνς, جنیوری جونز
- **Average Fi1m score:** 60, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 61 (3), 2020s 56 (1)
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 3 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 3 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 2, Drama 2, Romance 2, Sport 1
- **Screen time:** 4 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $235m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_Jones, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q223786, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005064/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/31717

## Streaming the US now

- **AMC+:** [*Mad Men*](https://film.one/tv/mad-men.md) (88)
- **Netflix:** [*Spinning Out*](https://film.one/tv/spinning-out.md) (56)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on January Jones

> January Jones is most persuasive when a character cannot explain her own unhappiness. We rate the stiffness that makes Betty Draper difficult to like, though roles that ask only for coolness leave her with too little to do.

January Jones holds Betty Draper so stiffly in *Mad Men* (2007) that a small change of expression has room to register. The posture can look forbidding, but it also makes the character's unhappiness hard to dismiss as a run of bad moods. We find her convincing precisely because she does not make Betty easy company. The performance asks us to notice distress in someone whose manner gives us ample reason to look away.

*American Wedding* (2003) gives her a narrower job as Cadence Flaherty, the woman Stifler is trying to impress. We laughed at Stifler trying to seem respectable, because Seann William Scott makes the strain of behaving himself visible. Jones gives those efforts someone to be directed at, but Adam Herz's script keeps letting the antics take over. It is a thin use of her, and a reminder that being the person another actor wants to impress does not amount to much of a part.

The decisive change came with *Mad Men*, whose creator and writer-director Matthew Weiner wrote scenes for Jones after she auditioned for Peggy Olson. Across seven seasons, the role gave her stillness enough time and context to become expressive. Her precise posture and small changes of expression suit a woman who struggles to understand what would make her happy. Weiner's writing gives us reasons to watch her closely, rather than requiring Jones to advertise every feeling. Treating the stiffness simply as an acting fault misses how much it tells us about Betty's discomfort.

*X-Men: First Class* (2011) shows how little that coolness can achieve on its own: her Emma Frost lacks the wit that would make the reserve interesting. Her subsequent television work includes Melissa Chartres in the comedy *The Last Man on Earth* (2015), a useful reminder not to treat Betty as her only possible occupation. We would welcome more parts that give her something to do beyond maintaining an immaculate distance. Start with *Mad Men* and give her time; expecting Betty to charm everyone would rather defeat the purpose.

## Biography

January Jones is an American actress and model. She was born on 5 January 1978 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Jones is best known for playing Betty Draper in the AMC series *Mad Men* (2007–2015). For the role she received nominations for two Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama and a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Her other film credits include *American Wedding* (2003), *The Boat That Rocked* (2009), *Unknown* (2011), *Seeking Justice* (2011) and *X-Men: First Class* (2011). She later appeared in the series *The Last Man on Earth* (2015–2018).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *Spinning Out* (2020), Fi1m 56, as Carol Baker — [page](https://film.one/tv/spinning-out.md)
- *Mad Men* (2007), Fi1m 88, as Betty Draper — [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-men.md)
- *American Wedding* (2003), Fi1m 54, as Cadence Flaherty — [page](https://film.one/film/american-wedding.md)
- *Full Frontal* (2002), Fi1m 40, as Tracy — [page](https://film.one/film/full-frontal.md)

## Complete filmography (31)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *God Is a Bullet* (2023), as Maureen Bacon
- *Spinning Out* (2020), series, as Carol Baker — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/tv/spinning-out.md)
- *The Politician* (2019), series, as Lizbeth Sloan
- *Unity* (2015), as Narrator (voice)
- *Good Kill* (2015), as Molly Egan
- *The Last Man on Earth* (2015), series, as Melissa Shart
- *Sweetwater* (2013), as Sarah Ramírez
- *Seeking Justice* (2011), as Laura Gerard
- *X-Men: First Class* (2011), as Emma Frost
- *Unknown* (2011), as Elizabeth Harris
- *The Boat That Rocked* (2009), as Eleonore
- *Mad Men* (2007), series, as Betty Draper — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/mad-men.md)
- *We Are Marshall* (2006), as Carole Dawson
- *Swedish Auto* (2006), as Darla
- *The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada* (2005), as Lou Ann Norton
- *Love's Enduring Promise* (2004), as Missie Davis
- *Huff* (2004), series, Actor
- *Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights* (2004), as Eve
- *Love Actually* (2003), as Jeannie, American Angel — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/love-actually.md)
- *American Wedding* (2003), as Cadence Flaherty — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/american-wedding.md)
- *Anger Management* (2003), as Gina
- *Full Frontal* (2002), as Tracy — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/full-frontal.md)
- *Taboo* (2002), as Elizabeth
- *In My Life* (2002), as Diane St. Croix
- *Bandits* (2001), as Claire/Pink Boots
- *The Glass House* (2001), as Girl
- *North Hollywood* (2001), as May
- *It's the Rage* (2000), as Janice Taylor
- *Get Real* (1999), series, as Jane Cohen
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Kim Brody — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Altar*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![January Jones](https://film.one/media/person/61021/gallery-9babba42a54f.jpg) January Jones — Original:  Peabody Awards / Derivative work:  Danyele, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/January_Jones_%288290347069%29_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Christina Hendricks, John Slattery and January Jones 67th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY USA June 16, 2008](https://film.one/media/person/61021/gallery-9047a08c4556.jpg) Christina Hendricks, John Slattery and January Jones 67th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY USA June 16, 2008 — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Christina_Hendricks%2C_John_Slattery_and_January_Jones%2C_June_2008_%281%29.jpg/1280px-Christina_Hendricks%2C_John_Slattery_and_January_Jones%2C_June_2008_%281%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Christina Hendricks, John Slattery and January Jones 67th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY USA June 16, 2008](https://film.one/media/person/61021/gallery-e1f2515e68cd.jpg) Christina Hendricks, John Slattery and January Jones 67th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY USA June 16, 2008 — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Christina_Hendricks%2C_John_Slattery_and_January_Jones%2C_June_2008_%282%29.jpg/1280px-Christina_Hendricks%2C_John_Slattery_and_January_Jones%2C_June_2008_%282%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Christina Hendricks, John Slattery and January Jones. 67th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon. Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. New York, NY USA. June 16, 2008.](https://film.one/media/person/61021/gallery-999c675b88c2.jpg) Christina Hendricks, John Slattery and January Jones. 67th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon. Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. New York, NY USA. June 16, 2008. — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Christina_Hendricks%2C_John_Slattery_and_January_Jones_at_67th_Annual_Peabody_Awards%2C_June_2008.jpg/1280px-Christina_Hendricks%2C_John_Slattery_and_January_Jones_at_67th_Annual_Peabody_Awards%2C_June_2008.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![January Jones](https://film.one/media/person/61021/gallery-808724bfd69f.jpg) January Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![January Jones](https://film.one/media/person/61021/gallery-1670b9a22baa.jpg) January Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![January Jones](https://film.one/media/person/61021/gallery-73649d87bf14.jpg) January Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![January Jones 67th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY USA June 16, 2008](https://film.one/media/person/61021/gallery-0626f5f416f2.jpg) January Jones 67th Annual Peabody Awards Luncheon Waldorf=Astoria Hotel New York, NY USA June 16, 2008 — Peabody Awards, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6c/January_Jones%2C_June_2008_%281%29.jpg/1280px-January_Jones%2C_June_2008_%281%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![kristin.eonline.com - 60th Annual Emmy Awards, Nokia Theater, Sept. 21, 2008](https://film.one/media/person/61021/gallery-43257d67b501.jpg) kristin.eonline.com - 60th Annual Emmy Awards, Nokia Theater, Sept. 21, 2008 — watchwithkristin, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/January_Jones.jpg/1280px-January_Jones.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![January Jones](https://film.one/media/person/61021/gallery-60f7e57f4d80.jpg) January Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![January Jones](https://film.one/media/person/61021/gallery-00bf4b84e875.jpg) January Jones — Image via TMDB
- ![January Jones](https://film.one/media/person/61021/gallery-f82ffe965a6e.jpg) January Jones — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- Lucy Award 2013: Lucy Award (won)
- European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film 2011: European Film Award – People's Choice Award for Best European Film (nominated), for *Unknown*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/january-jones