Christina Hendricks discusses her curves

Ever since she hit our screens as Joan Holloway in 'Mad Men', Christina Hendricks has been inspiring women everywhere to embrace their curves. In an industry where thin tends to equal beautiful, she's bucking the trend with her hourglass figure and (gasp) big boobs. But how does she feel about the fact that she has become a pin-up?

'It’s such a compliment, because of all those times I had agents who were like, “You have to lose some weight,” and all of a sudden, people are celebrating it,' she told this month's Health magazine. 'It’s like: Oh, thank you! Thank you for letting me be me.'

Of course, just because we love her figure doesn't mean that she hasn't come in for critiscism in some circles. Most notably when she hit the red carpet for this year's Golden Globes one journalist wrote a piece about her look entitled 'You don't put a big girl in a big dress.' Needless to say much discussion and argument ensued across the internet, with most branding the comments ridiculous. And we're pleased to hear that Hendricks seems unfazed by all the furore - and she's not about to go on a crash diet either.

'I guess my mom raised me right,' she says. 'She was very celebratory of her body. I never heard her once say, “I feel fat.” Back when I was modeling, the first time I went to Italy I was having cappuccinos every day, and I gained 15 pounds. And I felt gorgeous! I would take my clothes off in front of the mirror and be like, Oh, I look like a woman. And I felt beautiful, and I never tried to lose it, ’cause I loved it.'