Smooth-talking ad man Don Draper (Jon Hamm) has been through a number of secretaries on AMC's Mad Men over the last seven seasons. This past year Tayonna Parris got the opportunity to play Draper's secretary Dawn for a time.

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In a recent interview with Hit Fix (featured below), Parris talked about the opportunity to play a character with a real story arc on such an incredible series.

"It has been gratifying and I am so grateful to the cast and [showrunner] Matt [Weiner] and everyone for just embracing me and really taking the time to tell Dawn's story," admitted Parris, who had the difficult feat of entering a much-talked about show a few seasons into the series.

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"She really got to flourish this season," continued Parris, "And I think the audience really connected with that and I was really proud and excited to be a part of it."

Parris has no idea when she signed on for the program that she'd last for has long as she did. "I had no clue so when I read there script I was so excited…you never know what's gonna happen. I was so excited to last as long as I did," she gushed, adding with a laugh "that guy's [Draper] got a history."

Mad Men returns to AMC to finish out the remainder of its seventh and final season in early 2015.

Tags: Mad Men AMC television