Christina Hendricks debuts new blonde hair

NEW YORK, March 20 (UPI) -- Christina Hendricks has traded her signature red mane for a blonde one.

The 39-year-old actress, best known for portraying Joan Harris on AMC's Mad Men, spoke about her new do with E! News Wednesday, telling the network she expects her new hair color will open many doors in her career.

"I was the one who chose to be a redhead years ago. I always felt that maybe I was supposed to have been a redhead," she said.

"So it felt very natural for me to be that. And I became known as a redhead. I think it's kind of fun to be adventurous [as a blond], and change people's idea a little bit. I think it will open up different characters to play and my own personality."

Hendricks, a natural blonde, says it's going to take her a while to get used to her hairdo.

"I'm a natural blond and I haven't been for years, so I did a nice and easy shift—two or three shades lighter than I normally am," she said. "And I sort of feel like a kid again!"

Hendricks will return to the small screen when Mad Men returns for the last half of its seventh season on April 5.