January Jones Gets Messy For W Magazine [PHOTOS]

Mad Men?s January Jones is featured in a very stylized photo shoot for the May 2011 issue of W Magazine. One most fascinating things that we learn from the accompanying article is that she originally auditioned for the Mad Men role of barrier breaking, career-focused Peggy ? the role went to Elisabeth Moss ? and instead, series creator Matthew Weiner created a role for her.

PHOTOS: January Jones Gets Dramatic

Here are some highlights from the interview by Lynn Hirschberg:

Despite the fact that you are perfectly cast as the chilly, gorgeous WASP-ish housewife Betty Draper on Mad Men, you originally auditioned for the part of ambitious plain-Jane Peggy, the lapsed Catholic career gal.
January Jones: There was no Betty in the pilot when I auditioned. Matthew Weiner, the creator of the show, had no intention of showing Don Draper?s home life. I read for Peggy two times?it was between me and Elisabeth Moss, who eventually got the part. At the end of the scene, there was a casual mention that Don was married. Matt went home that night and wrote two scenes that featured Betty. I auditioned a couple of days later, and he made me a verbal promise that the character would grow. I took the part on faith?there was no script or fleshed-out character or Betty plotline.

More from the article?

Do you like Betty? She?s superficial, strange, and often mean, and yet fascinating.
I don?t judge Betty or necessarily understand her. The audience is passionate about her. After season one they wanted her to speak out against Don and his infidelities. Then in season two, when she did, there was a huge reaction against Betty. They want her to talk?just not too much.

You often seem to be cast as a villain?Betty Draper has a scary mean streak, and in X-Men: First Class [out June 3], you play Emma Frost, aka Diamond Girl.
It?s a huge responsibility! [Laughs] And I?m a villain. As Emma Frost I?m telepathic, and I can turn into a diamond, which means I?m very, very cold. I always wear white: lots of iridescent stretch leather, lots of sparkle, and ass-kicking white boots.

A lot of people?men and women!?probably went as Betty Draper for Halloween.
Who knows? But because of the clothes, I understand. It?s strange, but when the season ends I miss wearing all Betty?s underpinnings. I love long-line bras and girdles. There?s a sexiness about girdles?on Mad Men I wear them four months out of the year, and I see my body changing. When you wear a girdle, you can?t bend in the usual way. Your thighs are cinched together, which makes your stride shorter. You automatically get a wiggle in your walk. It?s sexy.

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