Mad Men star Christina Hendricks has practically become synonymous with red hair—over the years, her fiery shade has become iconic. However, she hasn’t always been a redhead. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, she discussed how she came to develop her signature crimson shade at a young age while discovering her love for performance.

“Little by little, I began to discover myself. In town, there were artsy stores and thrift shops, where I created a persona,” Hendricks said in the interview. ” I was a blonde, but I loved Ann-Margret and Lucille Ball, so my mom suggested I change my color to red with a rinse.” That’s how she came to the bright red we all know her for now.

Elsewhere in the interview, Hendricks opened up about starring in the hit show and revealed that she originally auditioned for the role of Peggy Olson, which was played by The Handmaid’s Tale star Elisabeth Moss. She decided against it because she felt she was “too old for the part.”

“So I auditioned for Joan, the office manager, and Midge, Don Draper’s extramarital beatnik girlfriend,” Hendricks said. “I thought she was the sexier and more exciting role, but we landed on Joan.”

The actress said that the roles she’s drawn to are usually darker in tone, which is why she was intrigued to her most recent project, Good American Family. “I’m most comfortable unpeeling the sorrow that lives in all of us,” she said. “Perhaps there’s a little sadness in me that translates into my work.

She plays Cynthia Mans and stars alongside Grey’s Anatomy alum Ellen Pompeo and The Morning Show‘s Mark Duplass.