‘Toy Story’ Star Christina Hendricks Takes Her DJ Side Hustle to Pasadena, and Fans Can’t Get Enough
Christina Hendricks has built an impressive acting career, earning 6 Primetime Emmy nominations and starring in projects like ‘Mad Men’, ‘Drive’, ‘The Neon Demon’, ‘Toy Story 4’ and the first 2 seasons of ‘The Buccaneers’. But over the past year, the 51-year-old has also quietly developed a surprising second passion.
Hendricks first tried her hand behind the decks at Part Time Lover, a listening bar in San Diego, where musician Mary Lattimore showed her the ropes. She returned to the venue on April 1, this time flying solo for a free 4-hour set that many fans initially assumed was an April Fools’ Day joke.
Now, Hendricks has taken her turntable talents to a new crowd. The actress played a DJ set at Sid’s Bar in Pasadena on Saturday night, with the event billed as a dream pop, shoegaze and indie evening running from 7 PM to 11 PM.
Videos from the night quickly went viral, racking up tens of thousands of views on social media. In the clips, Hendricks can be seen spinning in front of dramatic red velvet curtains, wearing a dark polka-dot outfit with her signature red hair falling around her shoulders.
Christina Hendricks spinning ln in Pasadena…mother of all mothers https://t.co/DLhCD1GUER
— alexa (@alexadoingstuff) October 11, 2026
The gig was free, with entry on a first-come, first-served basis and a waitlist. That approach helped it feel more like a neighborhood event than a celebrity publicity stunt. The reaction online has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic. One fan who shared footage from the Pasadena set called Hendricks the mother of all mothers, while others joked about her going from ‘Mad Men’ to mad beats.
It’s clear that her DJ sets have struck a chord with audiences. Many fans have praised her for leaning into a genuine passion rather than treating it as a gimmick. Hendricks isn’t just pressing play on a laptop, either. During her April set in San Diego, she spun actual vinyl records across a 46-song playlist.
Her selections included music from Spiritualized, Wolf Alice, The Knife, Cocteau Twins, St. Vincent, Lana Del Rey, Tori Amos, The Stone Roses and Beach House. She also played tracks from Chromatics, Sky Ferreira, Broken Bells, Warpaint, Mitski and Slowdive.
Throughout that set, Hendricks was seen dancing and singing along behind the decks. Her husband, camera operator George Bianchini, was right there cheering her on. The DJ gigs are part of a broader nostalgic chapter for the actress. In May, she reflected on the 10th anniversary of the ‘Mad Men’ finale in a heartfelt Instagram post.
She was also spotted at the Cruel World festival in Pasadena, taking in performances from some of her favorite bands of the 1980s and 1990s. Her musical tastes clearly run deep, and her sets reflect that love of atmospheric, guitar-driven sounds.
For now, Hendricks seems to be treating DJing as a joyful side project rather than a career change. Still, the growing crowds and viral clips suggest there’s plenty of demand for more.
Whether she continues popping up at intimate venues across Southern California or expands to bigger stages, fans will be watching closely. One thing is certain: Hendricks has found a fun new way to connect with audiences off screen.
Would you go see Christina Hendricks DJ a dream pop and shoegaze set?
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