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Mad Men's Moss Puts Bad Bangs to Good Use

Deceptive secretary leads TV 'renaissance of female nerdliness'

By Drew Nelles,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 21, 2008 8:25 PM CDT
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(Newser) – She’s only 26, but actress Elisabeth Moss has already commandeered a niche: She has a knack for playing “easily underestimated innocents,” Emily Nussbaum writes in New York. Moss describes Peggy Olson—“the secretary with the unflattering bangs” she plays on the hit AMC show Mad Men—as “the one who is stepped on a little bit and has a really good heart.”

“She’s a brilliant loner,” Nussbaum writes of Moss’ character, “repelled by the grosser aspects of the men around her but even more alienated by her fellow secretaries … an eaglet disguised as a wren, capable of keeping secrets when she needs to, even from herself.” Moss, along with counterparts on The Office, 30 Rock and others, is leading a “renaissance of female nerdliness,” Nussbaum thrills.

Actors Elisabeth Moss, left, Christina Hendricks and John Slattery are seen at the set of Mad Men.
Actors Elisabeth Moss, left, Christina Hendricks and John Slattery are seen at the set of "Mad Men."   (AP Photo)
Actresses Christina Hendricks, left, Elisabeth Moss, center, and January Jones pose in press room at the 67th Annual Peabody Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria on Monday, June 16, 2008 in New York.
Actresses Christina Hendricks, left, Elisabeth Moss, center, and January Jones pose in press room at the 67th Annual Peabody Awards at the Waldorf-Astoria on Monday, June 16, 2008 in New York.   (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
Elisabeth Moss, center, at the New York Times Arts & Leisure week.
Elisabeth Moss, center, at the New York Times Arts & Leisure week.   (Getty Images )
Matthew Weiner, center, creator of the Mad Men television series on AMC, is joined on the show's set by stars Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss in Los Angeles, June 29, 2007.
Matthew Weiner, center, creator of the "Mad Men" television series on AMC, is joined on the show's set by stars Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss in Los Angeles, June 29, 2007.   (AP Photo)
Elisabeth Moss arrives at the 67th Annual George Foster Peabody Awards.
Elisabeth Moss arrives at the 67th Annual George Foster Peabody Awards.   (Getty Images (by Event) Individuals)
Elisabeth Moss arrives at the premiere of AMC's Breaking Bad.
Elisabeth Moss arrives at the premiere of AMC's "Breaking Bad."   (Getty Images)
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