Jessica Paré
A Canadian actress who stole the spotlight on Mad Men with a single, smoldering performance of a French pop song.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Canadian actress·Birthday: December 5·Generation X
Biography
Jessica Paré's career is a study in compelling contrasts, from Montreal indie films to the sleek, smoky world of 1960s Madison Avenue. The bilingual actress began working in her native Quebec, earning a Genie nomination for her role in 'Stardom.' A move to Los Angeles led to steady work in films like 'Lost and Delirious' and 'Wicker Park,' but it was television that provided her defining moment. Cast as Megan Calvet, the secretary who marries Don Draper on 'Mad Men,' Paré became central to the show's later seasons. Her performance of 'Zou Bisou Bisou' at a party in Season 5 was an instant cultural moment, a burst of modern sexuality that destabilized the show's carefully controlled atmosphere. Beyond that hit show, she has shown impressive range, from the comedy 'Hot Tub Time Machine' to the military drama 'SEAL Team,' where she held a lead role for multiple seasons. Paré carries herself with an intelligence and subtlety that makes even her most glamorous roles feel grounded and real.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jessica was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jessica Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jessica's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Megan Calvet, the second wife of Don Draper, on the critically adored series 'Mad Men'.
- Starred as Amanda 'Mandy' Ellis for five seasons on the CBS military drama 'SEAL Team'.
- Received a Genie Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'Stardom' (2000).
- Performed the song 'Zou Bisou Bisou' on 'Mad Men,' which charted on the Billboard Digital Songs chart.
Did You Know?
She is a trained singer and released a French-language EP titled 'À l'aube' in 2018.
She is married to musician and producer John Kastner.
She was once considered for the role of Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
She is fluent in both English and French.
“I'm drawn to characters who are a little bit broken.”
