Kiernan Brennan Shipka is an actress from America, and you may know her for her role as Sally Draper in Mad Men, an AMC series from 2007.
She’s voice-acted in a number of popular animated shows, such as in Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra.
We’re going to be breaking down the successful career that Shipka has had, from her early life to the present day, and everything in between. If you’re a fan of this actress, then you’ve come to the right place. Read on for more about Kiernan Shipka!
Early Life
Kiernan Shipka was born in Chicago, Illinois, to John Young Shipka, a developer in the real estate business, and Erin Ann.
Since the age of five, the actress has been taking ballroom classes, and it’s safe to say that she’s quite a skilled dancer and could sweep anyone off their feet with her moves. Shipka has been in the public eye since she was very young, taking up commercial print modeling when she was just a baby.
Her acting career started quite early on as well, and, as part of the ensemble cast for Mad Men, she won the Outstanding Performance Award from the Screen Actors Guild.
She has also received much praise for her performance in Mad Men, and the show had quite a contribution to her success as an accomplished actress. Since then, she has gone on to feature in many popular television shows and films and has also dabbled in voice-acting.
An Actress from a Young Age
Like we said, Kiernan has been in the public eye for quite some time. She has made plenty of appearances as a young girl on television and in movies, from Mad Men to Flowers in the Attic, to The Blackcoat’s Daughter.
She has always been a very versatile actress and has received praise from Dale Roe, a critic from Austin, Texas. It’s no wonder she’s gone on to have a brilliant career.
In the next few sections, we’ll be covering some of the biggest film and television projects that Kiernan has worked on, from The Legend of Korra to The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and beyond. Shipka has had a busy career, and we’re certain that she’s going to be cemented in the Hollywood scene for years to come.
Dimension
In Dimension, regret and loneliness permeate throughout a small Chicago neighborhood, and its residents will do just about anything to turn their lives around. Under circumstances that can only be divine, their wish is granted.
The story follows Chance Pullman’s tragic tale, and Shipka plays Molly, a tertiary character, and an important role in the child actress’s career. This was one of her first large-scale films ever and paved the way for her successful career.
Molly has a small interaction with Chance in which she asks him if he’s big enough to be a professional football player. “Probably. I am six-foot-three, but I’ve gained so much weight, I only appear to be five-foot nine.” is his answer. Molly’s response: “Huh?”
While this may have been a brief exchange, it was an important moment in Shipka’s career since it was one of the largest films she’d ever worked on.
Very Good Girls
In Very Good Girls, two girls from New York make a pact to lose their virginity during their first summer after graduating from high school. However, when they both become infatuated with the same street artist, the connection between these friends is tested for the first time, and gritty teen drama ensues.
It’s a great teen movie and highlights the importance of a strong bond between friends. In it, Shipka plays the role of Eleanor.
Once again, Shipka is playing quite a small role here, but she does it flawlessly. In Very Good Girls, she’s grown up quite a bit, and it’s obvious that she’s had a lot of time to mature and hone her acting skills into something more adult and professional.
The actress wouldn’t be playing many small roles for long after this movie, as she had a number of major roles after appearing in this teen drama.
One & Two
One & Two was one of the first major films that Kiernan starred in, and it’s a thrilling one too. In it, Zac, played by Timothee Chalemet, and Eva, played by Shipka, are locked away from the outside world because they live with a secret that their father refuses to let the world know.
The siblings are able to teleport from one place to another simply by concentrating. However, they must be able to visualize their destination for their power to work.
While the two have grown used to their ability, Daniel, their father, remains fearful. He watches his children play in an open field and prays that their powers are not a curse of the divine variety.
We hear him ask God, “I am asking for your help. I am asking for your clarity.” when speaking about Eva.
The interpersonal dynamics in this film are portrayed expertly, especially by Shipka and Chalemet, and we consider this a must-watch for Kiernan fans.
The Blackcoat’s Daughter
All three leads in this film, namely Kiernan Shipka, Emma Roberts, and Lucy Boynton, are compelling to watch in this thrilling horror film following the events of their encounter with a sinister supernatural force.
While somewhat lackluster in some areas, the story is intriguing and mystifying, though sometimes too much. However, where the film lacks in substance, it makes up for in aesthetic brilliance and sonic mastery, with a frightening score that will keep you trembling.
The film deals with themes of mourning, alienation, and the fear of abandonment, which manifest themselves in the form of the evil entity terrorizing the girls.
The film is set in a Catholic boarding school, which should tell you all you need to know about its substance and themes. While this is not the best film that Shipka has ever performed in, it is still a compelling one to watch and marks a significant era in the actress’ career.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
In Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, the story of a woman’s attempt to start life over after being rescued from a doomsday cult in New York City, Kiernan plays the role of Kymmi, the titular character’s sister.
While she only makes a few brief appearances throughout the show, she does a fantastic job of portraying the moody and despondent teenager that her character is, and her interactions with Kimmi will have you crying with laughter.
Kymmi harbors some resentment for Kimmy because she was named after her red-headed sister and also feels that Kimmy stole her parents from her. Again, this is a relatively small role, but one that’s performed masterfully.
It can be difficult to make yourself memorable on a show with so many fantastic performances, so we applaud Shipka for this one. We also didn’t see many comedic performances from her prior to this show, so it’s also proof that she is a very versatile actress.
The Legend of Korra
The Legend of Korra is the sequel series to the iconic show Avatar: The Last Airbender. It takes place 100 years after the events of the latter show and follows the story of Korra, the Avatar of her time. Avatar Korra fights to preserve the safety of Republic City from evil forces of both the physical and spiritual varieties.
In the show, Shipka portrays Jinora, an Airbender and proficient Spiritbender, who aids Korra in her mission to protect Republic City. The voice acting for this young Bender is exceptionally well-done and is very convincing.
Kiernan captures the essence of Jinora perfectly through her tone and inflections, once again putting her versatility as an actress on display.
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
This is arguably Shipka’s biggest role and is perhaps the role that she is most well known for. She plays the titular character in the show, where Sabrina must choose between the human world of her friends, and the Witch world of her family, on her 16th birthday, no less. We don’t think she could have played the role any better.
In the Archie comic, which the show is based on, Sabrina is a level-headed, somewhat-sassy teenage witch who knows exactly who she is but is faced with some pretty tough choices. Kiernan Shipka does a great job of bringing her to life in the Netflix show, which is a darker adaptation.
If you would like to learn how Priyanka Chopra got to where she is today, that is also a great story!
Awards & Accolades
Of course, Shipka has won her fair share of awards in her life as an actress. In 2007, she was awarded the Best Cast award by Satellite Awards in Mad Men. Then, two years later, she received nominations from both the Screen Actors Guild and the Young Artist Awards for Mad Men and won the former.
In the following years, she would go on to win plenty more awards, the likes of which include more Young Artist Awards, Young Hollywood Awards, and more.
Conclusion
Overall, Kiernan Shipka is an accomplished actress. However, her career is far from over. We can not wait to see what she doesn't in the future. What is your favorite role of hers?
