Christina Hendricks is an American actress better known as Joan Holloway in the television series Mad Men, and as Saffron in Fox's series Firefly. During the late 1980s, Christina Hendricks joined the acting group Junior Musical Playhouse and appeared in their production of “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.”

Christina Hendricks then began making a name on television by appearing in various television shows. Her first breakout role on TV was in the series “Beggars and Chasers,” where she made the character Kelly Kramer popular. Christina Hendricks then had roles in two TV shows, namely “The Big Time” and “The Court,” where she was able to work with actors Craig Bierko and Sally Field.

Continuing her career in TV, Christina Hendricks starred in the law drama “Kevin Hill,” and had recurring character roles in the shows “Firefly” and “ER.” Christina Hendricks also made notable guest appearances on the shows “Miss Match,” “Angel,” “Tru Calling,” “Presidio Med,” “Las Vegas” and “Without a Trace.”

Most recently, Christina Hendricks had a starring role in the movie “South of Pico,” where she teamed up with actor Kip Pardue. She later had a four-episode guest role in the NBC TV show “Life” where she became known as Olivia, fiancée of Ted Earley and soon-to-be stepmother of Charlie Crews.

But what really established Christina Hendricks as a credible actress was her role as Joan Hallloway in the award-winning series “Mad Men.” The show, known for winning an Emmy and a Golden Globe, focuses on the world of New York City advertising during the 1960s, where people were infused with booze and a lot of machismo. Playing Joan Halloway, Christina Hendricks provided leadership and authority in the office of Sterling Cooper, and among her duties was to teach the women how to deal with their male advertising executives in a cunning yet professional manner.

Because of her prolific acting skills, Christina Hendricks received recognitions from various award bodies. In 2006, she received a SyFy Genre Award for Best Special Guest/Television for her role in “Firefly.” Christina Hendricks was also nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series for “Mad Men” in 2008, an award she also won in 2009. Also in 2009, Christina Hendricks won the 2009 Best Actress in a Drama Series at the Monte-Carlo TV Festival for her role in “Mad Men.”

Other notable TV and movie credits of Christina Hendricks include roles in “La Cucina” (2007), “Hunger Point” (2003), and “Sorority” (1999).