By Melanie Linn Gutowski

Though it's unclear whether any of the leading ladies of Mad Men are aunties in real life, several of them play aunts on the show. Here's a roundup of their auntly personalities.

If you haven't watched seasons one, two and three yet, there are spoilers ahead!

Betty Draper (January Jones) is an aunt to her younger brother William's children. Regular viewers of the show know that Betty doesn't display much maternal instinct, even to her own children. Her role as an aunt is even colder, relegated mainly to tolerating her boisterous nieces while they visit.

Peggy Olson (Elisabeth Moss) is an aunt to her older sister Anita's sons. She mentions her role as an aunt at the office and has brought items home from work for her nephews to play with. The boys seem to be a painful reminder to Peggy of the baby she chose to give up for adoption between seasons one and two.

Joan Holloway Harris (Christina Hendricks) is probably our favorite TV PANK (Professional Aunt, No Kids). While she doesn't have any nieces or nephews on the show, Joan is an auntie to every employee of Sterling Cooper (and its new counterpart, Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce). She can solve any problem and is always thinking three steps ahead of her charges. She's got a savvy understanding of tact, grace and style and is always discreet.

Tune in Sunday, July 25 to catch up on the adventures of Aunties Betty, Peggy and Joan in season four!

Melanie Linn Gutowski, Savvy Auntie's Associate Editor, is a proud Godmother and ABC.

Photo: AMCTV.com
Published: July 20, 2010