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Headline:

Mad about Mad Men's Jon Hamm

Synopsis:

Actor Jon Hamm chanelled his dead father to create Mad Men’s Don Draper, one of the most memorable characters in recent TV history.

Hollywood has rules. Especially where journalists and hot actors are concerned. Interviews take place in a publicist’s office or on set, your time is strictly calibrated — an hour is good going — and there’s always someone listening to make sure nobody misbehaves or says anything interesting. Those are the rules, and Jon Hamm breaks every one.

Perhaps it’s because the 37-year-old Golden Globe-winning star of the hit television drama Mad Men came to fame later in life that he’s so dismissive of showbiz convention. Perhaps it’s down to his teaching career, or his gut-wrenching personal tragedies. Whatever it is, he picks his local diner for the interview, arrives bang on time, stays for an astonishing two and a half hours, insists on picking up the bill himself (“These are my people”), then walks me to a cab rank a good 20 minutes away. By the end of the interview, I’m telling him what I think, as if he actually cares what a journalist has to say.

And I’m not alone. During the interview, people keep walking up and breaking into conversation with him — usually about smoking. “Man, your show is great,” a passing Australian surfer dude tells him. “I’ve given up, but I still smoke a couple when I’ve had a beer or two.” He’s the third in an hour, but Hamm breaks into a grin, as if it’s the first time anyone’s spotted him. “I know what you mean,” he shakes his head ruefully. “I still sneak a few in. When you’re 22, you smoke cigarettes like, ‘I’m bulletproof!’ Then you get older and . . . ” We all nod wisely, and the dude walks away. ...

Publish date:

30 November 2008

Author:

Stephen Armstrong

Source:

Sunday Times

Media:

Access Interview