Kiernan Shipka (cropped)

Kiernan Brennan Shipka (born November 10, 1999) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Sally Draper in the AMC drama series ''Mad Men'' (2007–2015), and Sabrina Spellman in the Netflix fantasy series ''Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'' (2018–2020) and the sixth season of The CW series '' Riverdale'' (2021–2022).

In addition to supporting roles in films such as ''Longlegs'', '' Twisters'', and ''The Last Showgirl'' (all in 2024), Shipka has also had starring roles in '' The Blackcoat's Daughter'' (2015), '' Totally Killer'' (2023), and '' Sweethearts'' (2024), among others.

Early life

Shipka was born in Chicago, Illinois, to John Young Shipka, a real estate developer, and Erin Ann Brennan. She is of mostly Irish descent. Shipka started taking ballroom dancing classes at the age of five, and was still attending classes as of March 2012. When she was six, her family relocated to Los Angeles, California to help with her acting career.

Career

2006–2015: Beginnings and ''Mad Men''

Shipka made her television debut at five months of age on the hospital drama '' ER''. She started commercial-print modeling when she was a baby. After undertaking small television roles, her first major role was as Sally Draper, the daughter of main character Don Draper, on the 2007–2015 TV series ''Mad Men''. She won the role after two auditions. She was a recurring guest star for the show's first three seasons, then became a series regular in season four.

As part of ''Mad Men''s ensemble cast, she won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2008 and 2009. Shipka received praise for her performance on ''Mad Men''. In 2010, ''Austin American-Statesman'' critic Dale Roe named her as his dream nominee for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, writing, "This 10-year-old actress was so affecting as troubled Sally Draper last season that it seems odd that she's only just been upgraded to series regular. If Shipka's upcoming ''Mad Men'' work—struggling with the broken marriage of her parents and entering preteendom in the tumultuous 1960s—remains as amazing as it was in season three, this is a ballot wish that could come true next year."Dale Roe. "Devoted TV watchers name their dream Emmy winners", ''Austin American-Statesman'', July 4, 2010, page H-1.

Beginning in 2012, Shipka voiced Jinora in the Nickelodeon animated series ''The Legend of Korra'', the sequel to ''Avatar: The Last Airbender''. In 2014, Shipka was named one of "The 25 Most Influential Teens of 2014" by ''Time'' magazine. That same year, IndieWire included her in their list of "20 Actors To Watch That Are Under 20". She starred in the 2014 Lifetime movie ''Flowers in the Attic'', based on the 1979 novel of the same name by V. C. Andrews. The following year she co-starred with Emma Roberts in the Osgood Perkins horror film '' The Blackcoat's Daughter'', and with Timothée Chalamet in the fantasy thriller '' One & Two''. Additionally, she voiced the title character in the English dub of Studio Ghibli's '' When Marnie Was There''.

2016–2021: ''Chilling Adventures of Sabrina''

In 2017, Shipka portrayed B.D. Hyman, daughter of Bette Davis, in the FX television series '' Feud: Bette and Joan''. In January 2018, it was announced that Shipka would be starring as Sabrina Spellman in Netflix's ''Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'' series based on the comic series of the same name. The first part was released by Netflix on October 26, 2018, and an episode that December. The show ran for three more parts, concluding on December 31, 2020, with a total of 36 episodes. Shipka reprised the role in two episodes of '' Riverdale'', "Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Witching Hour(s)" and "Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen: The Witches of Riverdale", which aired on December 7, 2021 and July 10, 2022, respectively.

Shipka played a deaf teenager opposite Stanley Tucci in John R. Leonetti's horror film ''The Silence'', based on the 2015 novel of the same name by Tim Lebbon. Netflix released the film on April 10, 2019. Shipka learned American Sign Language for the role and Leonetti praised her performance, saying: "She's acting alongside Stanley Tucci, and believe me, she's more than holding her own. It's been spellbinding watching her." That same year, Shipka co-starred in the Christmas romantic comedy film ''Let It Snow'', based on the novel '' Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances''.

2022–present: Further work

In 2022, Shipka starred alongside Diane Kruger in the psychological drama series ''Swimming with Sharks'', inspired by the 1994 film of the same name. She also played Bea Johnson, the daughter of two intellectually disabled parents, in the drama ''Wildflower''. The following year she appeared in the HBO political drama limited series ''White House Plumbers'', portraying Kevan Hunt, daughter of E. Howard Hunt. In October 2023, Shipka starred alongside actress Olivia Holt in Amazon Prime Video's 1980s horror-comedy '' Totally Killer''.

In July 2024, Shipka appeared in the horror thriller ''Longlegs'', reuniting her with ''The Blackcoat's Daughter'' director Osgood Perkins. Later that year, she had supporting roles in the films '' Twisters'', ''The Last Showgirl'' and '' Red One''. In addition, she co-starred alongside Nico Hiraga in the Max romantic comedy '' Sweethearts''.

In March 2025, Shipka was cast in the fourth season of the HBO/BBC drama ''Industry''. She will next star in the thriller film ''Stone Cold Fox''.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Video games

Awards and nominations

See also

Notes

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Shipka, Kiernan
1999 births
21st-century American actresses
Actresses from Chicago
American child actresses
American film actresses
American people of Irish descent
American television actresses
American voice actresses
American video game actresses
Living people