Christina Hendricks finds it hard to shop because so many designers are inspired by her 'Mad Men' character.

The 39-year-old actress portrays secretary-turned-director Joan Harris in the 50s advertising drama and finds it ''surreal'' how the show has had such an influence on fashion, though, she worries about looking too much like her alter ego when she isn't working.

She told Grazia magazine: ''It's fun to see people inspired by the fashions and to see designers I've known and respected forever all of a sudden be inspired by our show - it's surreal.

''But it's difficult to shop because you go to a store and it looks like a Joan costume hanging on the rack. You think, 'Oh gosh, I cant wear that, I'll look like I'm trying to dress like my character.' ''

Since filming ended, Christina has lightened her hair and admits changing her look allowed her ''emotional separation'' from Joan.

She said: ''It had been the same for 20 years, so I thought, darn it, I'm going to change it. That was just a girl thing.

''But I'd started to relate the colour to the character of Joan so it was a little emotional separation.''