And a lot of our geek readers remember January Jones as Emma Frost (Ice Queen, White Queen) in X-Men: First Class. Yup, especially her supposedly steamy scene with an Eastern European general (or was it Russian?).
This feature is a Throwback to us, superhero movie fans. And yes, this will be a series. We are going to feature babes showcasing their costumes and other sexy outfits. So enjoy this pilot feature, friends. And yes, you better watch out for more!
Who is January Jones
January Jones is an American actress best known for her role as the icy-yet-complex Betty Draper on Mad Men (2007–2015), a performance that earned her two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nod—because playing a chain-smoking, emotionally repressed housewife isn’t as easy as it looks.
She later showed off her comedic chops as Melissa Chartres in the post-apocalyptic sitcom The Last Man on Earth (2015–2018), proving she can survive the end of the world and deliver a punchline.
Her film credits are just as varied, with appearances in American Wedding (2003), We Are Marshall (2006), The Boat That Rocked (2009), and Unknown (2011)—where she reminded us that nothing says mystery like a blonde with secrets. She also suited up as Emma Frost in X-Men: First Class (2011), because why not add mutant powers to the résumé?
Her Early Life
January Kristen Jones was born on January 5, 1978, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Karen Cox, a store manager, and Marvin Jones, an exercise physiologist. Her name was inspired by January Wayne, a character from Jacqueline Susann’s 1973 novel Once Is Not Enough—because apparently, dramatic names run in the family. She grew up alongside her two sisters, Jina and Jacey, keeping the “J” theme going strong.
In 1979, the family relocated to the small town of Hecla, South Dakota, before eventually moving back to Sioux Falls in 1996. There, January finished high school at Roosevelt High, setting the stage for a future far beyond the South Dakota plains.
Modeling Career
January Jones kicked off her career in New York at 18 after being scouted while still in high school—though she’s the first to admit modeling wasn’t exactly her dream job. In fact, she never really took it seriously. Her first agency apparently took it very seriously, going so far as to claim she owed them money when she decided to ditch the runway and head for Los Angeles.
Still, she made her mark before leaving the fashion world behind, modeling for brands like Abercrombie & Fitch, Versace, Clearasil, and Kérastase. She also graced the covers of a long list of fashion magazines from around the globe—Interview, Allure, Rolling Stone, Town & Country, The Hollywood Reporter, GQ, and W in the U.S.; Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, Tatler, Glamour, and Red in the U.K.; Cosmopolitan in Germany; and both Grazia and Tu Style in Italy. Not bad for a job she wasn’t even that into.
Acting Career
January Jones got her start in acting the way many do—through TV commercials. Despite having zero high school theater experience and no formal training, she discovered she had a knack for it. After a few roles in television pilots and a short-lived cable series, she made her big-screen debut in All the Rage (1999), an indie film that, ironically, didn’t generate much rage—or even a real release.
She followed that with a minor part in the teen thriller The Glass House (2001), but her first real brush with attention came in Bandits (2001), playing a near-silent beauty who catches the eye of Jane Fonda’s son (played by Troy Garity). It wasn’t exactly a breakout moment, but it got her noticed. At the time, she was also wrapping up a three-year relationship with a then-rising Ashton Kutcher—so her personal life was getting just as much press.
Jones landed her first major leading role in Love’s Enduring Promise, playing the eldest daughter of a pioneer family who falls for a mysterious man that saves her father’s life. But it was Mad Men that truly launched her career. For seven seasons, she captivated audiences as Betty Draper Francis, the glamorous yet troubled 1960s housewife with a flair for icy stares and emotional repression. Her performance earned her two Golden Globe nominations and an Emmy nod—proof that playing emotionally complex was kind of her thing.
She also brought humor to the big screen as Cadence Flaherty in American Wedding (2003), the third American Pie movie, where she played the love interest of both Stifler and Finch—a delicate balancing act few could pull off. Around that time, she popped up in an episode of Law & Order as a cunning con artist, proving she could be just as convincing on the wrong side of the law.
Jones later joined the cast of The Boat That Rocked (2009)—a British comedy about pirate radio in the ’60s—renamed Pirate Radio for its U.S. release (because apparently Americans need things spelled out). Then came a busy 2011: she starred opposite Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger in the thriller Unknown, played alongside Nicolas Cage and Guy Pearce in Seeking Justice, and suited up as the telepathic, diamond-skinned Emma Frost in X-Men: First Class.
From 2015 to 2018, she brought her comedic side to the Fox series The Last Man on Earth, playing Melissa Chartres, a woman navigating life in a post-apocalyptic world (and proving that even the end of humanity needs a bit of glam).
In 2019, she joined Netflix’s The Politician as Lizbeth Sloan, a fabulously bored rich housewife. And in 2020, she switched gears again in Spinning Out, playing Carol Baker, a former figure skater and single mom struggling with bipolar disorder. Though the series only lasted one season, her performance once again showed her range, depth, and ability to steal a scene, even off the ice.
Facts and Trivia
Back in the late ’90s, January Jones and Ashton Kutcher were both fresh-faced models working for Abercrombie & Fitch—and yes, they dated during that era of moody black-and-white catalog photos.
One of January’s all-time favorite actors is Robert Stack (think Unsolved Mysteries). When she was dating Jim Carrey in 2002, he went full thoughtful boyfriend mode and gave her a birthday gift that was both quirky and cool: an autograph from Stack himself.
From 2003 to 2006, she was in a relationship with singer Josh Groban, proving her taste in men ranges from goofball comedians to soulful crooners.
In 2009, January put her star power to work for a good cause by teaming up with Oceana, a marine conservation group. As a celebrity spokesperson, she’s been a vocal advocate for saving endangered sharks—and even swam with them for a public service announcement. (Talk about diving into a cause.) Later, in 2021, she lent a hand at the Los Angeles Mission’s annual Thanksgiving event, serving food alongside fellow actress Malin Åkerman.
She briefly dated SNL alum Jason Sudeikis in 2010, but by January 2011, they’d called it quits. That same year, in September, January welcomed a baby boy into the world. She’s kept the identity of the father private, and honestly, we respect the mystery.
Speaking of mysteries, she’s a fan of them, so much so that she believes she’s seen a UFO. She also has a tattoo that reads “Bellatrix,” which is Latin for “female warrior.” Fitting for someone who’s played everything from a 1960s housewife to a mutant telepath with diamond skin.
Her Body Measurements
January Jones stands 5 feet, 6 inches, and she rocks a 37-24-36 figure.
January Jones Photos
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