Obviously, my life and my job in 2010 is very different from Peggy's experience in the 1960s. I exist in a world that enjoys more equality between men and women. But I don't take any of that into my performance. I just want to play the character as who she is as an individual - scene to scene.

In this quote, Elisabeth Moss reflects on the contrast between her own life in 2010 and the life of her character, Peggy Olson, in the television series Mad Men, set in the 1960s. Moss acknowledges the significant progress made in terms of gender equality between men and women over the years, highlighting how her personal experience of the world is far different from Peggy’s, who lived in an era marked by gender discrimination and societal limitations on women’s roles.

Despite this awareness of the changing social landscape, Moss emphasizes that she doesn’t let the historical context of her character’s struggles shape her performance. Instead, she focuses on playing Peggy as a unique individual, with her own set of complexities, motivations, and experiences, scene by scene. This suggests that Moss doesn’t want to let her knowledge of gender equality or contemporary perspectives influence her portrayal of Peggy's challenges and personal journey in the 1960s.

Moss’s approach reveals a deeper commitment to portraying her character authentically, independent of her personal experience of gender equality. Rather than playing Peggy as a representation of the broader gender dynamics of the time, Moss opts to connect with Peggy’s specific circumstances, emotions, and growth as an individual. This decision allows for a nuanced and emotionally truthful performance, focused on the character’s evolution rather than societal trends.

Ultimately, this quote underscores the tension between the historical context in which a character exists and the personal interpretation an actor brings to the role. While Moss acknowledges the significant advances in equality between the sexes, her choice to focus on Peggy’s individuality as a character highlights the importance of portraying human complexity and personal narrative, regardless of the social changes happening around her.