Over the years as I’ve watched the beauty of Mad Men, I’ve noticed that they cast one of the finest child actors working today. Her name is Kiernan Shipka, and she’s ten years old. She plays Sally “Salamander” Draper, Don and Betty Draper’s oldest child. In this current season of Mad Men (Season 4), she’s finally been bumped up to full cast member, with her name appearing on the opening credits and everything. Honestly, she deserved to be a full cast member the whole time – she’s always acted her ass off. The Sally Draper character is wonderful, at times used as a Greek chorus to give voice to the audience, at times she’s used to simply call out her mother and her father on their bad behavior. In this season, Sally is starting to grow up and act out – in one memorable episode, Sally even masturbated while watching The Man From U.N.C.L.E. While at a sleepover. She’s in therapy now, she’s losing her lisp, she’s throwing fits, and she’s running away, and she’s going to come of age when some really bad sh-t is going down. She’s wonderful.

Anyway, HuffPo has an interview with Kiernan, and she’s just the kind of effortlessly precocious and intelligent young lady that you would expect:

The 10-year-old actress who plays Don and Betty Draper’s daughter Sally on “Mad Men” is getting a lot of airtime this season, but she’s not allowed to see much more than her own scenes.

“I’m not allowed to watch the show,” Kiernan Shipka says. “My mom will tape it and then show me the scenes she feels are appropriate.”

The critically acclaimed series stars Jon Hamm, January Jones and Elisabeth Moss and centers about a 1960s-era ad agency. Episodes routinely feature topics that include alcoholism, adultery and sexism in the workplace.

Even if she follows the story lines only on a need-to-know basis, Kiernan says it’s not difficult to channel Sally.

“I’m very method when I’m on set,” Kiernan says. “It’s just kind of thinking the thoughts of Sally, and I pretty much just become her. It’s a character that I’ve known for a really long time, so it’s pretty easy.”

It’s that kind of talent that has upped Kiernan to a full-time cast member on the show, which is on its fourth season. Its writers are giving her a lot to do, too: Sally’s parents are now divorced and she’s acting out.

Some of Sally’s most recent offenses include running away to see her father in New York City, chopping off her hair and fondling herself in front of a friend’s mother. Kiernan says Sally will bring more drama to the show in future episodes.

“Believe it or not, there’s a lot more coming,” Kiernan teases. “You’re just gonna have to wait and see what it is.”

Kiernan also defends Sally’s recent behavior.

“I don’t think she’s a bad kid at all. She’s going through a rough time. Don is absent and Betty has never once catered to Sally’s emotional needs, so I feel that they’re not the best parents,” Kiernan says.

[From Huffington Post]

Don’t you love her? “Betty has never once catered to Sally’s emotional needs” – do you know any 10 year olds who talk like that? She’s epic. I predict a long career for this one – at least I hope so. Because this one could truly be the second coming of Jodie Foster (suck it, Lohan).