Born May 3, 1978 in Knoxville, TN, Hendricks spent her early childhood in Twin Falls, ID before relocating with her family to Fairfax, VA as a teenager. Encouraged by her mother to take part in a school play, Hendricks quickly caught the acting bug, landing parts in the Junior Musical Playhouse productions of “Bye Bye Birdie,” “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “All My Sons” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Taking up a brief career in modeling after high school, Hendricks graced the pages of magazines such as Elle and Harper's Bazaar. Setting her sights on an acting career, she landed parts in a number of commercials before making her television debut in the 1999 made-for-TV movie, “Sorority.” Showing a talent for her craft, she quickly landed small roles on MTV’s “Undressed” (1999-2002) and the WB’s cult “Buffy the Vampire” spin-off, “Angel” (WB, 1999-2004). Landing her first recurring role in 2000, Hendricks portrayed career-climbing intern Kelly Kramer on Showtime’s “Beggars and Choosers” (1999-2001).
Hendricks went on to appear in a number of memorable guest appearances; she portrayed a battered housewife given refuge by Maura Tierney on NBC’s long-running hit “ER” (1994- ) and a seductive con artist who wreaks havoc on the crew of Joss Whedon’s “Firefly” (FOX, 2002-03). Though only one of Hendricks’ episodes made it to air, her role remained a memorable one to fans of the short-lived sci-fi series. Landing her first regular role on a television series, she went on to portray attorney Nicolette Raye opposite Taye Diggs on the courtroom drama “Kevin Hill” (UPN, 2004-05). Though the series received favorable reviews, it slid in ratings after its first season and failed to be renewed.
Hendricks’ acting career continued to progress however, as she went on to land guest spots on “Without a Trace” (CBS, 2002- ), “Cold Case” (CBS, 2003- ), and “Life” (NBC, 2007- ) before landing a career break in 2007 on AMC’s critically acclaimed original series, “Mad Men” (2007- ). Cast as buxom office manager Joan Holloway, Hendricks found her breakout role, full of equal parts sexy sass and an almost masculine swagger. Centered on fictional advertising agency Sterling-Cooper, the series captured the visual style and social satire of Madison Avenue in the early 1960s. Hailed by critics for its historical accuracy and poignant depiction of sexual politics in the workplace, “Mad Men” won the Golden Globe Award for Best Drama in 2007 and went on to receive 16 Emmy Award nominations in 2008 – a first for the network. Although Hendricks herself was not nominated, critics and fans were in agreement that a large part of the show’s appeal came in the shapely form of the only woman at Sterling-Cooper who not only understood it was a man’s world, but learned to play by their rules, as well.