(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Christina Hendricks says she had to learn to love the body she was born with.

The actress, whose infamous curves are causing a stir on US hit show Mad Men, says that she used to feel awkward about her looks until she started to model.

The 36-year-old explained that while her body shape has changed a lot over the years, she is now embracing her figure at every stage of her life.

"I'd always felt awkward," she told British newspaper The Daily Mail, "and having those pictures done was the first time I really felt pretty. I'd done ballet for years and was tiny then, a size 4 [UK size 8], so I didn't have any problems about conforming to a certain body type. As you get older your body changes, and I've tried to embrace how I look at every stage. Modelling taught me how to be professional and responsible at a young age. Plus, you experience a lot of rejection and criticism, which is a great boot camp for Hollywood."

The gorgeous redhead also revealed that she was shocked to hear that a report suggested there has been a rise in breast augmentations in the UK to create her busty look.

"I hope I'm not encouraging that. If there's anything to be learned from me it's that I'm learning to celebrate what I was born with, even though it's sometimes been inconvenient," she said. "Having larger breasts has made it harder for me to shop throughout the years, but I've learnt to love it. It's so bizarre that people are constantly asking if my breasts are real or fake." (C) Cover Media