Kiernan Shipka, the talented actress known for her iconic roles as Sally Draper on Mad Men and as Sabrina Spellman on The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, recently opened up about her unique experiences growing up on one of television’s most influential series. Now 25, Shipka joined actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson on his podcast, Dinner’s On Me, to reflect on her years on Mad Men, which she joined at just six years old, and the ways in which the show’s team protected her from adult themes while allowing her to embody the complexity of Sally Draper.

Shipka reminisced about the crew’s thoughtful handling of her scenes, especially as her character, Sally, witnessed the turbulent dynamics between her parents, Don and Betty Draper, played by Jon Hamm and January Jones. “While Sally Draper saw everything, the real Kiernan didn’t see much,” she shared, recalling how Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner and the crew would strategically use props, like Hamm playing Words with Friends, to keep her shielded from the show’s mature content.

Despite her young age, Shipka says she remembers almost every moment of her seven-season journey on Mad Men, a series she regards with deep affection and respect. A pivotal moment for Sally’s character, like walking in on Don Draper’s affair, was carefully directed to ensure Shipka understood the emotional weight without needing full context, allowing her to deliver a powerful performance while maintaining her innocence.

During the pandemic, Shipka decided to rewatch Mad Men as an adult, seeing new layers in Sally’s journey and finding deeper meaning in scenes she experienced as a child. This retrospective experience has only amplified her interest in exploring Sally Draper further, sparking a personal desire to revisit her character’s storyline. While she has since moved on to star in projects like Sabrina, Shipka hinted that Sally’s story might have more to tell—possibly outside New York, with an adult Sally navigating life in Los Angeles.

As Kiernan Shipka continues to captivate audiences with her maturity and versatility, her reflections on Mad Men reveal a rare blend of professionalism, nostalgia, and a sense of gratitude toward a series that shaped her as an actress and as a person. Fans are eager to see if Sally Draper’s story might one day continue, bringing a new chapter to the life of one of television’s most compelling characters.