lifestyle SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 2014

Features

A woman with her face painted takes part in the Mermaid Festival in city of Braslav, some 270 km from Minsk on August 8, 2014. — AFP ‘Mad Men’ star does her best for Emmy

hristina Hendricks is “thrilled” about her Emmy nomina- about in that group. What can I say? Five times is a pretty nice been living under a rock these past 7 seasons and might be tun- tion for “Mad Men,” but you won’t catch the 39-year-old thing. ing in for the first time right now. Cactress holding her breath. Hendricks’ masterful portrayal It’s a very adult, intelligent drama about an advertising of the racy and resilient Joan Harris Holloway in AMC’s critically Do you think this is your year? agency in the 1960s that really focuses on the characters and acclaimed period drama has earned her five straight, but so far I never think it’s my year. We joke we’ve got the “Mad Men” their relationships. none of those nominations has netted her a trophy. In fact, curse - none of us has ever won. One of us has to break it at despite the show winning an unprecedented four Outstanding some point, right? How has it evolved since Season 1? Drama Series Emmys in a row, the actors and actresses on “Mad We really stick to a chronological experience. We’ve done a Men” are batting an unfathomable zero for 28 when it comes to Did you prepare a speech? beautiful job of remaining accurate to the times and also staying individual accolades - not a single one of them has emerged vic- I’ve never had a speech prepared. Of course you think of accurate to the show. It’s not just about what’s going on around torious. When TheWrap spoke with Hendricks Wednesday she things in your head. You know last year, when I didn’t win again? you; it’s not just about the 1960s all the time. You’re very aware admitted the cast had joked about the “‘Mad Men’ curse” before, I called Matt Weiner and I said ‘You know what, I had all these of where you are politically and socially, yet you’re watching but the charming actress also figures the streak has to end. wonderful things I wanted to say to you, so why don’t I just say these characters we’ve known from the beginning have chil- Eventually. Unfortunately, the series wrapped three weeks ago them to you right now on the phone? I don’t have to wait to tell dren, get divorces, get married, have affairs, rise in the ranks of and time is running out. you how thankful I am and all the great things you’ve done,’ so I the work place. It has progressed in a very natural way. But with co-star Jon Hamm (Don Draper) and guest star just called him and told him. Robert Morse (Bertram Cooper) also nominated this year and a How about your character Joan? Are there huge differences whole mini-season still set to run in 2015, the future and present If you had to cast a vote for another actress in your category, between who she was when the show started and who she’s both hold promise. Especially considering how far Hendricks’ who would it go to? become? character has come since the series began. She started off as the That sounds like a loaded question! I think there are huge differences. [Series creator, executive office’s head of secretaries, but has since maneuvered herself It was. If you can’t pick, you can’t pick. But maybe you prefer producer and frequent writer, director] Matt writes these charac- into being named a junior partner at the Sterling Cooper Draper one of those shows... ters that aren’t stereotypes or the epitome of something, they Pryce advertising firm. Will her skillful ascent up the corporate I was just talking to my friend about the extraordinary per- seem real because they seem to learn from their mistakes, or ladder finally help her win the award for Outstanding formance Anna Gunn [of “”] gave this season - I got make the same mistakes, or grow. It seems like they have an Supporting Actress? With the countdown to this year’s show goosebumps talking about it. She’s just amazing. They all are. actual life. Joan is certainly one of them. I think she’s grown the winding down, she spoke to us about her character’s growth as They all are. most, next to Peggy [Olsen, played by Elisabeth Moss.] She’s the series has evolved and, in doing so, made an excellent case learned a lot from her life experiences. for why “Mad Men” deserves to win. Are you a huge “Breaking Bad” fan? Yes, of course. I just love that show so much. I think they’re all Is this the Golden Age of television? TheWrap: You’re nominated for Outstanding Supporting phenomenal. It’s a really special time, I think the projects out there are Actress in a Drama Series for the fifth year in a row. You haven’t super exciting, More exciting than they were 10 years ago when won yet. What’s up with that? You should be winning. Why aren’t Did you watch it every week or binge watch it on Netflix? I started “Mad Men.” It’s encouraging to finish a show and think you winning? With “Breaking Bad” it was a weekly basis. I was always like, “Is about all of the shows I love watching and think, “these are great Christina Hendricks: Gosh, there are so many amazing people it on yet? Is it on yet?” I was pretty addicted to that show. shows, this would be exciting to work on.” — Reuters and so many amazing performances each year. What do you do? You do your best, and you’re thrilled to be talked about, thought How would you describe “Mad Men” to someone who has

Beatles’ Abbey Road crossing could get traffic warden

he pedestrian crossing on London’s Abbey Road immortal- Fans often block traffic as they stand on the black and white ance of parking regulations, “causing total chaos to traffic and at the crossing, but stressed that no decisions had yet been tak- ized by The Beatles could soon have its own dedicated traf- zebra crossing outside Abbey Road Studios to recreate the Fab causing danger to people trying to get their photograph”. en. Stars of the Beatles musical “Let It Be” posed on the crossing Tfic warden to ensure the safety of the fans who flock there, Four’s famous pose on the cover of the 1969 album “Abbey “Obviously we don’t want to be spoilsports, we are really on Friday to mark 45 years since the iconic album cover was media reported yesterday. The local authority is considering Road”. “It’s a residential area and it’s not geared to receiving proud of our musical heritage,” Hall said. “I’ve set things in shot. — AFP employing a “lollipop lady”-a warden holding a “Stop” sign that thousands and thousands of people,” Lindsey Hall, an elected motion to have a lollipop lady or man there.... It would be good resembles a sweet on the end of a stick-to help regulate the flow member of Westminster Council, told The Daily Mirror newspa- to have somebody there permanently.”A spokesman for the of cars past the landmark. per. She said large buses often parked near the crossing in defi- council confirmed that a discussion was underway about safety

The cast of the musical “Let It Be” perform near famous Abbey Road zebra crossing in London. — AFP photos A man holds a copy of the Beatles album “Abbey Road”.