Red-head’s revelation: I’m not even a red head

Actress Christina Hendricks, of hit American TV series Mad Men, said she started dying her hair at the age of ten when she became obsessed with the literary character, Anne of Green Gables.

The 36-year-old, who plays Joan Holloway in the 1960s-set drama, also admitted trying a variety of other colours as a teenager, largely with the support of her mother.

Hendricks, speaking before the launch of the fifth series of Mad Men, said: “I’m naturally a dark blonde. I couldn’t tell you what shade because I haven’t seen it in ages.

“I started playing with red hair when I was ten years old. I recognise how odd it is now, but my mum let me do it.

“I was obsessed with Anne of Green Gables. There was something about her that spoke to me – and I wanted to have her beautiful red hair. My mum said: ‘Well, let’s throw a rinse on it.’

“My hair was very blonde at the time, but it went carrot red. And I was over the moon. I went to school the next day and felt like myself.”