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Kiernan Shipka facts for kids

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Kiernan Shipka
Kiernan Shipka in 2018 - 1.png
Shipka in 2018
Born
Kiernan Brennan Shipka

(1999-11-10) November 10, 1999 (age 25)
Occupation Actress
Years active 2006–present

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).

Shipka has also starred in several films, including Carriers (2009), Flowers in the Attic (2014), The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015), The Silence (2019), Wildflower (2022), and Totally Killer (2023). Her other television roles include Feud: Bette and Joan (2017).

Early life

Shipka was born in Chicago, Illinois, to John Young Shipka, a real estate developer, and Erin Ann Brennan. Shipka started taking ballroom dancing classes at the age of 5, and was still attending classes as of March 2012. When she was 6, her family relocated to Los Angeles, California to help with her acting career.

Career

2006–2015: Beginnings and Mad Men

Kiernan Shipka (cropped)
Shipka at the 2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards

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."

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". Shipka starred in the 2014 Lifetime movie Flowers in the Attic, and co-starred (with Emma Roberts) in the 2015 Oz Perkins horror film The Blackcoat's Daughter.

2016–present: Further work and streaming projects

In 2017, she 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 a sixth season episode of Riverdale, “Chapter Ninety-Nine: The Witching Hour(s)", aired on December 7, 2021.

Shipka co-starred in the 2019 Christmas romantic comedy film directed by Luke Snellin, Let It Snow, based on the novel Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances. Shooting began in February 2019.

Shipka played a deaf teenager opposite Stanley Tucci in John R. Leonetti's horror film The Silence, based on the 2015 horror novel of the same name by Tim Lebbon. Netflix released The Silence on April 10, 2019. Shipka learned American Sign Language for the role. 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."

In May 2021, Shipka was cast in the HBO political drama limited series White House Plumbers. She played Bea Johnson, the daughter of two intellectually disabled parents, in the 2022 drama Wildflower.

In September 2022, Shipka was cast in Red One, co-starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans. She starred in Maximum Truth, which was released on June 23, 2023.

In October 2023, Shipka starred alongside actress Olivia Holt in Amazon Prime Video's 1980s horror-comedy Totally Killer. In July 2024, she appeared in Twisters.

Shipka will next star in the thriller film Stone Cold Fox.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 Dimension Molly
2008 Lower Learning Sarah
2009 Rag Doll Story, AA Rag Doll Story Girl Short film
Land of the Lost Tar Pits Kid Uncredited role
Carriers Jodie
House Broken Tammy Tawber
2010 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Little Girl
Ryan and Randi Show, TheThe Ryan and Randi Show Lala La Lala Short film
Squeaky Clean Emily
2012 Empty Room, TheThe Empty Room Juliet
2013 Very Good Girls Eleanor Berger
2014 Edge of the Woods, TheThe Edge of the Woods Alice Short film
2015 One & Two Eva
When Marnie Was There Marnie (voice)
The Blackcoat's Daughter Kat
2019 The Silence Ally Andrews
Let It Snow Angie
2022 Wildflower Bea Johnson
2023 Maximum Truth Hartlynn Cassidy
Totally Killer Jamie Hughes
2024 Longlegs Carrie Anne Camera Cameo
Twisters Addy Cameo
The Last Showgirl Jodie
Red One Grýla
Sweethearts
TBA Stone Cold Fox Fox Filming

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Monk Little Girl Episode: "Mr. Monk Gets a New Shrink"
Angriest Man in Suburbia, TheThe Angriest Man in Suburbia Lola TV movie
2007 Cory in the House Sophie's Classmate Episode: "Mall of Confusion"
Mad TV Upset Child Episode: "Madtv Ruined My Life"
Heroes Little Girl in Fire Episode: "Four Months Ago..."
2007–2009 Jimmy Kimmel Live! Various 6 episodes
2007–2015 Mad Men Sally Draper Recurring in seasons 1–3
Main role in seasons 4–7
2011 Smooch Zoe Cole TV movie
2012 Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Herself Episode: "Parent Trap..."
2012–2014 The Legend of Korra Jinora (voice) Recurring in Book 1
Main role in Books 2–4
2013–2018 Sofia the First Oona (voice) Recurring role; 3 episodes
2014 Flowers in the Attic Cathy Dollanganger TV movie
2015 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Kymmi Episode: "Kimmy Has A Birthday!"
Fan Girl Telulah "Lu" Farrow TV movie
2017 Feud: Bette and Joan B. D. Hyman Recurring role; 5 episodes
American Dad! Student (voice) Episode: "The Witches of Langley"
Family Guy Meg's Bully #3 / Singing Cheerleader (voice) Episode: "The Peter Principal"
Neo Yokio Helenist (voice) Episode: "O, the Helenists"
2018–2020 Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Sabrina Spellman and Sabrina Morningstar Main role, 36 episodes
2021–2022 Riverdale Special guest; 2 episodes
2022 Swimming with Sharks Lou Simms Main role; 6 episodes
2023 The Other Two Herself Episode: "Cary & Brooke Go to an AIDS Play"
White House Plumbers Kevan Hunt Miniseries, 3 episodes

Music videos

Year Title Artist(s) Role Ref.
2013 "We Rise Like Smoke" Kyler England Young Kyler
2020 "Straight to Hell" Kiernan Shipka & LVCRAFT Sabrina Spellman

Video games

Year Title Voice role
2016 Marvel Avengers Academy Jessica Drew / Spider-Woman

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2007 Satellite Awards Best Cast – Television Series Mad Men Won
2009 Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Series – Recurring Young Actress Nominated
2010 Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Short Film – Young Actress Squeaky Clean Nominated
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress Carriers Nominated
2011 Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Mad Men Nominated
 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film – Leading Young Actress Ten and Under Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore Nominated
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Supporting Young Actress Mad Men Nominated
2012 Young Hollywood Awards  Scene Stealer Female Won
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Movie, Miniseries or Special – Leading Young Actress Smooch Nominated
2013 Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Mad Men Nominated
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role (Television) – Young Actress The Legend of Korra Nominated
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Series – Recurring Young Actress Mad Men Won
Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards Lucy Award Won
2014 Young Hollywood Awards You're So Fancy Nominated
2019 2019 MTV Movie & TV Awards Best Performance in a Show Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Actress in a Streaming Presentation Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV Actress Nominated
2024 San Sebastián International Film Festival Special Jury Prize The Last Showgirl Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kiernan Shipka para niños Notes

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