Raised in Hollywood, Kiernan Shipka escaped the curse of the child star through judicious choices and beautiful scenarios. An intellectual and sexy balance that allows her, at 19 years old, to be as comfortable on a photo shoot for Fendi as a star witch of the teen phenomenon Netflix, “The New Adventures of Sabrina”.
04.01.2019
by Boba Stanic
Matthew Weiner, the creator of Mad Men, recently considered following up on his masterpiece by saying, “The only reason is to see what happened to Sally Draper. That I owe to Kiernan, she is the heart of this series.” By playing Sally, the impertinent daughter of advertising executive Don Draper, Kiernan Shipka, from 2007 to 2015, she was indeed made unforgettable. Her secret: to play this privileged little girl like a rebel, while showing that she remains a pure product of her conservative environment. Mad Men was also an opportunity for the actress to assert her style.
Thanks to Sally Draper’s wardrobe, her performer, of Irish-Slovak origin, born in Chicago to parents totally foreign to the world of cinema and fashion, made the girls in Hollywood jealous, without having time to take the big head. Matt Weiner extended the scenes in which she appeared, and Kiernan built a golden reputation that allowed him to last in Hollywood, and to be today the star of Sabrina’s New Adventures. Second TV adaptation, this time quite dark, sometimes horrific, of an ultra-popular comic book, after the very kitsch one of the 1990s, this Netflix version is a modern rereading of Sabrina’s character, who must choose between two incompatible worlds: that of mortals and that of witches. Magic tricks, witty words about intersectional feminism, even Satan’s patriarchal authoritarianism… Kiernan dazzles Sabrina’s fans. “Sometimes you need an icon to play another icon,” says Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, the showrunner of the series.
You play Sabrina, half witch, half human. Is it easy?
Kiernan Shipka: The real challenge is fourteen hours of shooting every day: laughing at one take, fighting a demon in the next, then sprinting, bursting into tears and solving a mystery by reciting two pages of Latin. Not to mention giving the answer to Salem, the black cat to whom I am allergic. In those moments, I could really use Sabrina’s superpowers.
Do you feel vulnerable?
I have been living in the film business for a long time. As I grew up, I fortunately managed to consider it as a profession. This hindsight allowed me to ask myself, “Do I want to make this my life?” It reveals the need to organize my existence. Besides, I love making project lists!
What was the best advice you received?
Finding the balance between fun and professionalism!
Sally Draper’s personality has it rubbed off on you?
The time of the show, yes, I was fashion addict like her. Then I had a period of withdrawal where I managed to cultivate my fascination for fashion while finding my own style of clothing.
And Sabrina, doesn’t she also take up a lot of space in your life?
His fan club is such that I have become the object of immense attention. But I keep in mind that Sabrina is a great source of inspiration for kids: shared between two worlds, she finally sets her own path, and I hope she will encourage her fans to be themselves.
So spending your life in the public eye has an advantage?
For a long time I was the only child on the set, but I never felt in danger. It’s invaluable, especially since at my age, the experiences are always new. But those around me make sure that I keep my head on my shoulders.
Is your collaboration with Fendi one of them?
The wide variety of their clothes touches me: with Fendi, I can be seductive, fun, fashionable or edgy. As for the glasses, I can’t do without them anymore.
You are active on social networks, yet your media rise has protected you from smear campaigns.
How can this miracle be explained?
If you dig in the depths of the internet, you will find pictures of me at 7 and 19 years old, so I never google myself. I only manage my Instagram account and I touch wood to protect it from trolls. I would prefer Wes Anderson and Sofia Coppola to notice it, because I dream of touring with them.